|
|
Buyers Alistair (left) and Duncan Campbell, from Earnscleugh Station, and vendor Gordon Lucas with the top-priced ram, held by Jayne Rive, at the Nine Mile and Timburn merino ram sale. Photo by Tui Wilson/Infinity Images. |
A top price of $3200 was achieved at an inaugural merino ram
sale at Tarras, believed to be the first private polled
merino ram auction in New Zealand.
Nine Mile and Timburn stations sold 45 rams for an average
price of $1560.
The top-priced ram was sold by Nine Mile to Earnscleugh
Station.
A large crowd attended the sale, which was held at Nine Mile,
and there was great support from existing clients, as well as
new buyers, stud classer Jayne Rive said.
The sheep the two studs were breeding were carcass merinos
with superfine fleeces.
The studs were concentrating on fertility, high fat and high
eye muscle for better reproduction and better constitution.
It was hoped the sale would become an annual event.
Both stations will be open during a stud merino tour of
Central Otago in April, organised by the Central Otago Stud
Merino Breeders.
Registrations from throughout New Zealand and Australia were
expected for the tour, which will start with registrations in
Alexandra on April 1.
On April 2, studs in the Maniototo area will be open,
including Matarae, Lammerview, Stonehenge, Armidale, Glenshee
and Lauder.
On April 3, the tour will visit the Alexandra Basin and the
Strathclyde, Matangi, Little Valley, Moutere and Earnscleugh
studs, followed by a dinner in Alexandra at night.
The tour will conclude on April 4 with a visit to the Tarras
area and the Bendigo, Malvern Downs, Rhino Park, Timburn and
Nine Mile studs.
The last Central Otago stud tour was held in 2004 and about
150 people were expected to attend this year's event.
Registrations close on March 2.
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.