A COLLECTION of old and new buyers arrived to view and bid at another positive sale at this year's Crichton Vale stud ram sale in Narembeen last week.
Optimistic buyers were happy with the rams on offer this year and this was apparent in the clearance of 71 out of 80 rams offered comprising 50 Merinos and 30 Poll Merinos.
The rams were in outstanding condition and were averaging 108 kilograms for body weight across the catalogue as well as 21.5 average micron for Merinos and 21.75 average micron for the Poll Merinos.
Prices rose above the $1000 mark at many points throughout the sale with a preference toward Poll Merino rams becoming apparent in the average price paid for Poll rams in comparison to Merino.
It was therefore no surprise that the top price ram was a Poll Merino sire purchased by long-term supporters of the Crichton Vale genetics, JR & DR Greay & Co, Kondinin.
The Greays bid up to $3050 for the big-bodied Poll ram which had a body weight of 118kg and wool micron of 21.5.
Aside from the top-priced ram of the sale, the Greays were major volume buyers across the Poll Merino catalogue and took home a total of 13 Poll rams with an average body weight of 104kg and average micron of 21.7.
In total, the rams they secured under auction averaged $1153.
The top price paid for a Merino ram at Crichton Vale was $2250 and it was particularly pleasing to see that it was a new client to the stud which paid the sum.
It was the first time Ron Butler, RJ & MA Butler, Narembeen, had bought at the sale and he selected from the Merino section of the catalogue with the top ram weighing in at 114.5kg with a 22.2 micron wool test.
The top Merino ram was one of four Mr Butler secured at auction and all up they averaged $1088.
Another first time buyer Darryl Woodfield, DC & S Woodfield, Narembeen, made his presence felt at the sale purchasing 11 rams from both the Merino and Poll Merino catalogues.
Mr Woodfield paid up to $1150 for a Poll Merino ram and a total average of $568 for the team which all together averaged 20.79 for micron and 99.2 per cent comfort factor.
Other buyers who paid good money for their rams included KD & J Van Vierson, Narembeen, who took home seven rams all up paying to a top of $1900 and excellent average of $1314, while Abbeynauld Farms, Muntadgin, paid a top of $2100 for a Merino ram at an average of $1250 for a total of five rams.
GR Teasdale, Badgingarra, also bid to top dollar for their ram selections paying $2050 for one Poll ram and $1300 for another.
Crichton Vale stud co-principals Bill and Gabby Cowan were very happy with the range of rams offered at the sale and felt that they were in line with buyer needs and market requirements.
The development of the Crichton Vale stud continues with $80,000 being invested in the last two years to further improve the genetics the stud has on offer with recent purchases from the Seymour Park, Barloo, Strath-Haddon and Arawa studs.
"There are exciting times ahead for Crichton Vale with the stud looking at expanding the rams on offer for next year's sale to over 100 which will include an additional 30 Poll Merino rams," Gabby Cowan said.
"Next year's sale rams will specifically feature the progeny from the $25,000 Seymour Park ram purchased last year."