Hype started early with a pre-sale announcement that the South West Slopes Merino ram of the year, decorated earlier this month, had sold in a private sale agreement worth $60,000 to the Hollowmount, Tara Park, and Wurrook studs with a 50 per cent semen share being retained by Yarrawonga. 

A quality draft of 240 rams saw strong competition with 238 sold to a top price of $16,000 and sale average of $4300.

Studmaster Steve Phillips said it was an incredible sale with a very strong contingent of stud buyers. 

“We had a lot of new buyers and repeat clients, with rams heading off to four states, our sheep are performing well so producers are paying a bit more for quality,” he said. 

“It is also encouraging to see people are chasing heavy fleeces of nourished wool on large frames.

“The 240 rams offered today had an average weight of 102 kilograms.”

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