Monte Verde sale to $1000

The Monte Verde stud of Tenterden offered more rams for sale this year than at last year's fixture.

Stud principals Stan and Sue Hall sold an extra 12 rams this year, with a total of 49 selling to a top of $1000 and average price of $619 compared with last year, when 37 sold for an average of $675.

New buyer Adam Cousins, acting on behalf of MK Sounness, Mt Barker, was after wool quality and hybrid vigour from his selection of seven Monte Verde Poll Merino rams.

"I will cross the rams over Dohne ewes," he said.

Mr Cousins paid to a top of $800 for new Bundilla Poll Merino sired progeny, which was on offer at the sale for the first time.

Mr Hall said the Bundilla sire, which was on display, had excellent wool quality and would add extra length and frame into the stud flock.

Working off the top Merino rams, repeat buyer Grant Cooke, of Grass Valley, bought the $1000 top-priced Merino ram out of pen one and the $950 top-priced Poll Merino from the last pen.

The sale topper recorded a 17.7 micron, 3.1 standard deviation and a comfort factor of 99.8 per cent.

Mr Cooke added another 11 rams, both Merino and Poll, to his shopping cart as the volume buyer.

"They will go to work in my family's 2500 ewe flock," he said.

Also buying off the top line was repeat buyer David Warburton, who bought a total of nine rams.

Mark Haynes, of Frankland, bought six rams.

Mr Hall said he was pleased with this year's line-up and that more rams gave buyers more options.

Monte Verde Ram Sale * Breed Offered Sold Top Price Average Merino 30 23 $1000 $611 Poll Merino 40 26 $950 $627 TOTAL 70 49 $1000 $619