TWO top weight rams sold for top prices at Friday’s Kerrilyn Merino and Poll Merino Stud on-property sale.
Brendan Lanfranchi, of Mt Hooghly, near Dunolly, paid equal top price of $3000.
It was the second year Mr Lanfranchi had paid top price at the Kerrilyn auction.
His 2025 purchase of the 18.7 micron March 2024 drop ram was one of three for the day.
Weighing 98.5kg, the ram was one of the heaviest poll sheep that saw potential buyers bid against the clock.
A second poll ram, weighing 91.5kg, was bought by SA and JA Jackson.
Kerrilyn’s Norm Weir said the offering of 42 rams were the “biggest in weight we have put up for auction at our on-property sale”.
“And surprisingly, it has been the horned rams that have matured fastest this season,” he said.
“That goes against convential breeding outcomes and one that I can’t explain ... it’s just been the season.
“There’s a marked difference in maturing rates at the moment.” Mr Weir said the horned rams were between 7kg and 10kg heavier than the polled.
“One of the horned rams has come in at 124kg and yet he has a poll father,” he said.
The top weight ram sold to district buyers SJ and KS McClelland for $2000 who were among returning buyers at Kerrilyn.
The auction sold 18 of 42 rams offered for an average of $1678.
Last Friday’s auction also marked one of the final appearances for long-time stock agent Tim Hill, of Elders.
Meanwhile, Kerrilyn has again supplied wether lambs for the Victorian school sheep competition. Six shorn 2024 drop wethers have been judged for wool and meat traits with Greater Shepparton Secondary College overall winners for a second year with Australian Merino Sheep Breeders Association and Australian Wool Innovation backing the competition.