The Land, 14 Oct 2019, by Hannah Powe

A quality offering from Grassy Creek Merinos at their 8th annual on-property ram sale saw buyers from NSW and Victoria bid up to $6000 on three occasions to hit the sale top today.

Overall Michael and Jane Corkhill, and sons Toby and Hugh, sold all but one of the 136 rams on offer to average $2383.

With 110 Poll Merinos and 26 horned rams on offer, it was no surprise the polled rams created interest to make up a number of the high prices on the day.

The three $6000 equal top-priced rams with buyers, vendors and agents.

New buyer, Tony Roche, Meroo, Biala, purchased the first lot in the sale, Grassy Creek 73P, that hit the $6000 equal sale-top.

Sired by the Tallowong Poll 280 ram, he measured 16.4 in the micron, 3 standard deviation (SD), 18 per cent coefficient of variation (CV), 99.3pc comfort factor (CF) and weighed 98 kilograms.

Running 1500 sheep, Mr Roche was looking for a ram that he could potentially breed his own rams from.

Return clients Gary and Kay Davidson, Walpa, Vic, also selected a $6000 high-seller in Grassy Creek 734P.

The polled son of the Centre Plus 185 syndicate weighed 93kg and measured 18 in the micron with a 3.3 SD, 18.1pc CV and 99.1pc CF.

Another Victorian buyer, Colin Heywood from Bowman Forest, secured the third $6000 equal top-priced ram; Grassy Creek 801P. With a 17.4 micron, 2.8 SD, 15.8pc CV and 99.3pc CF, he weighed 101.5kg and was a son of Grassy Creek 253 who was the top-priced Grassy Creek ram of the 2017 sale.

Grassy Creek 303 was the top-priced horned ram that sold for $4500 to long-term clientsGarry and Matt Craig from Craigmoor Partnership, Taralga. Another ram is destined for Victoria after Wool Producers Australia vice president Steven Harrison from Bindawarra Merino stud, Gippsland, bought Grassy Creek 115.

Mr Harrison said he was interested in the rams breeding. “He is by Yarrawonga 961 and out of a top Grassy Creek ewe,” he said. “He is a bold crimper and will suit our are well.”

Tom Gunthorpe from Mt Buffalo, Rye Park, bought five rams for an average of $4350.

The largest volume buyer was D. and L. Crawford from Numby, Reids Flat, who purchased nine rams.

Willow Bend Station, Boorowa, Frombay Pty ltd, Breadalbane, and P. and L. Whittaker, Oaklands, Gunning, were also significant buyers taking home eight rams each, while Phils River Grazing at Crookwell purchased seven.

The sale was conducted by Landmark Yass with Rick Power taking bids as the auctioneer.