Uardry snaps up $10,000 ram

Uardry Merino stud manager, Ben Lane, Hay, paid $10,000 in a private sale for a Collandra North Poll Merino ram. He is pictured with Collandra North Poll Merino stud principal, Sydney Lawrie, Tumby Bay, South Australia, and the $10,000 ram

The race continues for many Merino breeders to find quality Poll merino rams to diversify their operations and introduce poll sires to their genetic arsenal.

Manager of Uardry Merino and Poll Merino stud, Hay, Ben Lane, took just 15 minutes on the weekend at the Australian Sheep and Woold Show, Bendigo, Victoria, to inspect a stylish 20-micron Poll Merino sire from Collandra North Poll Merino stud, Tumby Bay, South Australia.

Mr Lane looked over the ram with several other potential buyers but made his decision quickly and snapped it up for $10,000, which left at least three other parties scratching their heads as to what to do next, after missing such a great opportunity.

Mr Lane said he admired the overall outlook of the ram, its sirey muzzle, excellent bone and constitution.

“He is pretty close to the complete package. He is a well balanced poll with great dual purpose characterisitcs and hindquarters,” he said.

The ram, by Collandra North Hot SPot, was bought from Charinga three years ago, and is a grandson of the former Australian supreme, Ashrose Blue Print.

The ram was 107 kilograms at 14 months and will go into the Sims Uardry Poll Merino program.

Mr Lane said the ram had a Collinsville background, which was similar to, and expected to suit, the stud's Sims Uardry breeding program.