Agriculture
21 September, 2023
Local buyers drive strong clearance
JUST two rams were left in the pens at Tuesday’s Kamarooka Park Poll Merinos stud on-property auction. The clearance rate of 48 out of 50 was the highest of the Loddon’s annual ram sale season. Despite the absence of several regular buyers, the...
JUST two rams were left in the pens at Tuesday’s Kamarooka Park Poll Merinos stud on-property auction.
The clearance rate of 48 out of 50 was the highest of the Loddon’s annual ram sale season.
Despite the absence of several regular buyers, the sale average of $1234 was only down slightly on last year and saw Loddon farmers among volume buyers.
Equal top price was paid by Fentons Creek’s Steven Finch, bidding $2000 for a 17.9 micron Ridgway Advance-sired ram with a co-efficient variation of 17.9 and comfort factor of 99.6.
It was one of four purchases he made from Kamarooka Park and extends the influence of Loddon Valley stud genetics after buying six rams at the recent Kedleston Park, Calivil, sale.
Steven aims to boost fleece cut and lambing percentages with the Loddon Valley rams in his 2500 Merino ewe flock.
Also paying top price was Seymour’s David Freeman, a first-time buyer at Kamarooka Park.
David was encouraged to add the Kamarooka genetics to his Merino flock for their frames and ability to handle wet weather.
Regular buyers, the Puntons from Woodstock, purchased six rams.
Stud principal Erroll Hay said he was pleased with the strong clearance at a time when the market was being challenged.
“The average is down but I’m very happy with the clearance,” he said.
“While prices are down in the industry, we cannot ever drop the guard.”
Auctioneer Alex Collins, of McKean McGregor, said there had been some trepidation ahead of the sale with the absence of regular buyers.
“For many buyers today, they have had exceptional value that will hold them in good stead,” he said.
And he predicted that interested would continue to grow in Kamarooka Park rams with the stud’s investment in artificial insemination.
Buyers came from across Victoria and interstate for Tuesday’s auction with the stud retaining 50 per cent semen rights in the rams.