2018 Rocklyn Merino Stud on-property ram sale report
The sixth annual Rocklyn Merino Stud on-property hogget ram sale was held on Thursday 13th September 2018. Under dry conditions, forty-five rams sold for an average price of $1,162.
Long-term clients, McKellar Pastoral Co. from Grenfell paid $2,300 for the top priced ram, a heavy cutting Poll Merino ram sired by Poll Boonoke 150026. With figures of FD 17.6, YCFW 29, YFD -1.1, YWT 5.4, DP+ 159, MP+ 164, he certainly was terrific value for money.
The top priced ram at the 2018 Rocklyn Merino Stud on-property ram sale went to McKellar Pastoral Co. for $2,300.
McKellar Pastoral Co. purchased the highest number of rams on the day, adding a total of 11 new sires to their flock for an average price of $1,373.
Other volume buyers included T.H. Cooper and Co. from Caragabal who took home seven rams to a top of $2,200, Ridley Bros. also from Caragabal who purchased five rams to a top of $1,900 and GH and A. Robertson from Junee who purchased five rams.
While the majority of buyers were returning clients, Rocklyn was pleased to welcome back several clients who have not attended the sale for several years.
Stud Principal, Ralph Diprose said ‘I would like to thank everyone who attended our 2018 on-property ram sale and those who assisted with the preparation for the day. Congratulations to all the successful bidders’.
This year all the sale rams were run unhoused, in the paddock as one mob so that buyers could really see what they were paying for and to make comparisons between the rams easier. ‘We haven’t fed the rams up just so they look good on show - we are more about getting real results for our clients who will be running the rams in the paddock, not a shed’ Ralph said.
‘The figures on our rams stack up against other studs, with the majority of the sale rams having trait-leading ASBVs. These figures are backed up by the encouraging performance of our sires in recent MerinoLink sire evaluations’. To read more about Rocklyn’s results in the 2016 and 2017 MerinoLink Central Test Sire Evaluations click here.
Recent technological advancements indicate that Rocklyn is only looking to get bigger and better in the years to come. ‘This year, we are investing significant resources in DNA parentage testing for all Stud ewes and 15K genomic testing for all Stud ram lambs which should fast-track our genetic gains’ Ralph said.
With an intrinsic knowledge of all his sale rams, Ralph can help you select sires to meet your Merino breeding objectives, with genetics from some of Australia’s leading sires. To date, Rocklyn sires have proven to be incredible value-for-money so why not give Ralph a call!
Surplus sale rams and graded rams not included in the sale are now available for purchase through private, on-farm sales. Please contact Ralph to arrange an inspection of the remaining rams.