*Total clearance of 181 rams sold to $19,000, av $4790
STONG bidding from across four states saw the 30th Wallaloo Park Merino and Poll Merino stud on-property sale average soar to $4790 - up $2059 on the 2020 sale - on a total clearance.
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The sale, on behalf of John and Jenny and Trent and Kate Carter, was conducted as an open auction and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
The offering of 181 rams sold to a top of $19,000 for Lot 1 via a phone bid on behalf of Simon and Amanda Bahr, Meadow View Poll Merino stud, Henty, NSW.
Mr Bahr said not being able to see the ram in person, he relied on the expertise of Nutrien's Stephen Chalmers, as well as the accurate and reliable data that was available.
"It was an easy decision to make with the data and the advice about what it would do for the stud," he said.
He said the ram had a combination of heavy fleece weight figures and carcase figures as well as "a good safe wool for our area".
"I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes, particularly with his grandsire 422 in his background."
The ram was a double poll by WP 180820 with a 19.4-micron fleece, coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.9, standard deviation (SD) of 3.1 and comfort factor (CF) of 99.3 per cent.
It had a top 20pc of the breed yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) of +44.
It had a Merino Production (MP+) index of 207 and Dual Purpose (DP+) index of 216.
Trent Carter said it was an overwhelming result.
"It was astonishing but we put up our best 181 that we always stand by and back and we've got a strong following," he said.
"The wool market, the maiden ewe prices are just really elevated, the whole industry is humming.
"It's great and the NSW sale results are flowing back into Victoria."
Mr Carter said the support was again evident from WA and NSW as well as Victorian breeders.
Nutrien auctioneer Andrew Sloan said it was a "very strong sale", highlighted by the return buyers as well as new clients.
Mr Sloan said there was great depth of quality in the offering right to the end.
The Heal family's Classic Pastoral Co, Wirrate, Nagambie, paid $16,000 for Lot 16, a ram by WP180491 with a 17.8-micron fleece, a CV of 16.6, SD of 2.9 and CF of 99.1pc.
Bidding through AuctionsPlus, Giranda, Dinninup, WA, paid $14,000 for Lot 2, a son of WP180491.
Top-priced horned ram at $9000 was bought by Greg and Campbell Penny, Gleneden Merino stud, Douglas.
