MERINO rams sold to a top of $7000 during the recent run of production sales in the NSW New England region.
Nerstane Merinos, at Woolbrook, cleared 145 rams to a top of $7000 and an average of $1655, in a result stud principal Jock McLaren described as similar to last year.
New England Merino producers have been among the first to adapt to Australian Sheep Breeding Values, with breech wrinkle classified for the first time at Martin Oppenheimer's Petali Poll Merino stud, at Walcha, in NSW.
Petali rams sold to $3200 and averaged $1600. Mr Oppenheimer said it was "the best sale average since 2002".
"The ASBV numbers are being understood and treated with respect in terms of ranking sheep. Of course (physical assessment) of rams is still vital," he said.
At Yalgoo, also at Walcha, Jo and Grant Nivinson sold 66 of the 70 rams they offered.
The best ram made $4600, while the offering averaged $2170, which was "slightly" better than last year's sale, Jo said.
Chris and Cindy Clonan's Alfoxton stud, at Armidale, sold 60 Merino rams from an offering of 74, to a top of $3600.
The rams averaged $1118.
