SHEDDING 160 rams for Friday’s 7th annual on-property ram auctin at Willera Merinos became one of the biggest challenges experienced by stud manager Simon Coutts.
Rams unused to being shedded were put under cover as strong winds and rains buffeted the Loddon Valley last week.
The region recorded more than 30mm of rain for the week, some from a heavy downpour during the auction at Serpentine that stopped auctioneer Nigel Starick taking bids for a few moments.
“I’ve shorn 26,000 sheep in rain and floods and it was harder work this week,” Mr Coutts said.
“We had the rams in and out of the paddock ... we wanted to present them well to potential bidders and I think they came up pretty well.”
Top price of $7750 was paid by the Knight family’s Nyton Park Ag, of Boort.
Alistair Knight said: “We were looking for body size and growth rate and this one was in the top five per cent for eye muscle and top five per cent for weaning. A good all-round ram and fingers crossed will help produce some good wool cutters.”
“We are looking to increase weaning percentages and keeping that soft white wool in the 18.5-20 micron range.”
Mr Coutts said the sale had again attracted strong interest from South Australian and Gippsland buyers with some bidders securing their purchases on the online auction platform.
“Some of our previous buyers returned for the open day inspections and then bought online today,” he said.
Friday’s Willera sale was up on 12 months ago, selling 152 of 160 rams under the hammer compared with 132 of 172 last year.
The average was up almost $300 to $2509.87 with multiple lots selling for between $5000 and $7500.
The sale pace was set when Lot 1 went for $7000 to North Allanvale Farming.
Volume buyers were topped by Tim and Susie Lockhart’s Kilkbirnie Farm that took home nine rams, major Western Victorian stud Ben Nevis (sixc), Langley Farms (eight)  and Glenera (eight).
Other local buyers included Deb and Daryl Hancock who this year purchased five rams. They were among regular returning buyers.