Glendonald Merino Stud owner Robert Harding, left, with his nephew James Harding, with their $11,000 ram at the Hamilton Sheepvention sale.

NHILL’S Glendonald Merino stud sold the top-priced $11,000 ram at the Hamilton Sheepvention sale on Monday.

Robert Harding’s Glendonald Merino Stud sold Lot 23, a 14 month-old 19.3 micron, to the Belswick stud at Condoblin, New South Wales, through VC Reid Smith Livestock.

The Glendonald stud had the biggest offering in the sale and averaged $3400 across the 20 rams it sold. One ram wasn’t sold.

Mr Harding said considering the current price of sheep and wool, the sale result was “pretty good.”

Selling agents Elders and Nutrien sold 64 Merino, Poll Merino and Corriedale rams from the 73 catalogued for an average price of $3515.63. The 40 Merino rams sold for an average of $3443.75 and up to $11,000, the 19 Poll Merino rams made to $9000 and averaged $3776.32 and the five Corriedale rams averaged $3100 and made to $3500.

Mr Harding said the Merino is still holding its ground in the industry, despite the lower lamb and mutton prices.

“It’s a bit interesting now, even though our (Merino) wool price isn’t great, a lot of sheep will cut more dollars in wool than they would be worth as meat.

“At least with Merinos you’ve got two incomes, whereas if you go to crossbreds you’ve virtually only got one.”