Superfine Merino rams in demand at Pomanara

The Land,  03/11/2024

Buyers Lance and Rhonda Rayner (centre), Bengora Partnership, Campbells Creek, with Robyn and Geoff Rayner, Pomanara, Sallys Flat, and the $3200 ram. Picture by Karen Bailey.

Superfine Merino rams sold to a top of $3200 a head during the 36th Annual Superfine Pomanara Stud Ram Sale last Friday.

Geoff and Robyn Rayner offered 32 rams during the on-property sale in their woolshed at Sallys Flat.

Numerous rams were sold after the auction, but during the sale, 16 rams were sold for an average of $1506.

Buyers came from far and wide and that resulted in rams heading as far north as Guyra and south to Bombala.

One ram was also destined for Tasmania, having been bought by a regular client of the Rayner family.

The top-priced ram was selected by Lance and Rhonda Rayner, Bengora Partnership, Campbells Creek.

Tagged 233, he was by KF2 (who was a son of Kiwi Fox), with 15.3-micron wool. His figures included 99.7pc comfort factor, 2.1 standard deviation, 13.8 coefficient of variation and 74.5 for curvature.

Lance Rayner said they were long-time buyers of Pomanara rams and he was looking forward to seeing what their new purchase would bring to their established flock of about 1200 Merino ewes.

"We were looking for a ram that would help us produce more wool without losing the finer micron fleece we aim to produce," Rhonda Rayner said.

Mr and Mrs Rayner said the Bengora Partnership flock had an average wool clip of 15.7 micron. "We normally have our main shearing in October, with the ewes shorn in about August/September," Lance Rayner said. All up, Bengora Partnership took home two rams - the second ram made $2000 and carried a slightly finer fleece of 14.7 micron.

Steve Harris, Fairview, East Guyong, put together a quality selection of rams to take home from the sale. All up, he bought five rams for a top of $2100 and average of $1260.

Geoff Rayner said Mr Harris had been buying Pomanara rams for about 20 years.

Mr Harris' top-priced ram was tagged 32 by KF2 and was also the second top price of the sale. His figures included 99.6pc comfort factor, 2.2 standard deviation, 13.8 coefficient of variation and 70 for curvature.

The O'Reilly family, Hill End Road, Mudgee, bought three rams for a top of $1600 and average of $1200.

The $1600 ram was tagged 64 by Pom Fox (son of Alfoxton President), with 15.1-micron wool.

Another stylish ram which made $2000 early in the sale was tag 26 and sold to the Johns family, Trunkey Creek. The 15-micron ram's figures included 99.8pc comfort factor, 2.3 standard deviation, and 75.3 for curvature.

Based on the state of the wool market, Mr Rayner said the rams "sold well for the times".

"Superfine wool is selling better than the medium and broader wools, but prices are not as well reported," he said.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Livestock Bathurst with Marcus Schembri as the auctioneer.