^ David with $5200 top-price Poll Merino ram buyers Brendan and Wayne Groves, Karawa, Booleroo Centre
MERNOWIE stud celebrated 40 years of breeding Poll Merinos in style, by recording a total clearance and increased average at its 28th annual ram sale at Marrabel on Friday last week.
In total, the Rowett family sold all 72 Poll Merino rams on offer to $5200, averaging $1725 – up $232 on the 2014 sale average.
The $5200 top-price ram sold to long-time clients the Groves family, Karawa, Booleroo Centre, who also bought the top ram at last year’s sale.
The 101-kilogram April/May-drop had a greasy fleece weight rating of 130 per cent measuring 20.3 micron, 3.3 standard deviation, 16.1 coefficient of variation and 99.1 per cent comfort factor.
It had Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 10.4 for yearling weight, 22 for yearling clean fleece weight, -0.5 for yearling eye muscle depth, -0.2 for yearling fat cover, and Dual Purpose Plus Index of 154.
The Groves’ bought three rams, including the second highest-price ram at $4800, averaging $4800.
Brendan Groves said they bought “easy-care” rams solely from Mernowie for their “free-growing, bright white wool, and big frames”.
“We are having a really good season at Booleroo Centre, receiving 20 millimetres for the month of September,” he said.
The third highest-price rams at $4600 went to Leonie Mills, Morley, Cowell, and PJ&AM Rowett, Bordertown.
Ms Mills bought another at $1400.
Her top ram weighed 101kg, had a greasy fleece weight rating of 113pc measuring 19.9M, 3.5SD 17.4CV and 99.7CF, while the Rowett ram – their sole purchase – was 98kg, with a 132GFW measuring 18M, 2.9SD, 16.2CV and 99.9CF.