Tough conditions and a shrinking client base saw Toland Poll Merino stud have a tough day at the shearing shed, as 80 of its prime rams went under the hammer.
Ram prices met lower, but expected, prices at a ram sale held in Caniambo on Monday, September 23.
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Toland Poll Merino stud offered 80 lots of which 58 were sold in front of about 50 buyers.
Anna Toland said the event was the stud’s 37th consecutive sale and that the season and commodities prices had impacted the market.
“It was pretty tough today,” Ms Toland said.
“They were well presented, but it is just a tough climate right now.”
The auction was jointly run by Nutrien and Elders.
Elders auctioneer Ross Milne said before opening the bids that the good quality of the rams was based on their carcass size.
“It’s a great draft today,” Mr Milne said.
“What impressed me the most when I walked in here was the good body size.
“They certainly have all of the great characteristics on the data right throughout.”
Farmers selling up or getting out of sheep altogether has triggered a drop in private sale prices.
The top-priced ram brought $4000 for the day, sold to Youngs Gap Pastoral Mansfield, and the average price was $1788.
John Evans from Youngs Gap Pastoral said he thought the highest priced ram was well-balanced, had nice wool and performed well with all its breeding values.
“He’ll be with a small nucleus mob that he will be siring,” Mr Evans said.
“Overall, there was some pretty good rams.”
The other six rams bought by Mr Evans will be put out with the farm’s flock Merinos at Bonnie Doon.
Ms Toland said the changing sheep production industry had accounted for the low sales and that such circumstances were “just a given”.
“Our biggest thing is that we are down on registered buyers; our client bases are going out of sheep altogether, sold their farms or have reduced their numbers because of the dry,” she said.
“It makes for a tough selling day.
“We have had a really good run in past years but given the conditions and prices, it is really hard on everyone.”
Nutrien’s Peter Godbolt and Ross Milne from Elders drove the hammer for the afternoon. Mr Milne said the rams’ body size was what impressed him most.
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