SA Mutton Merino ram sets record-high price of R255 000

A new South African record price was recently achieved when R255 000 was paid for the SA Mutton Merino ram 1038 TOP. The sale of the ram underlined that demand for the breed was significantly on the rise, according to Jan Vosloo, president of the SA Mutton Merino Breeders’ Society of South Africa.

SA Mutton Merino ram sets record-high price of R255 000
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Vosloo added that buyers were increasingly showing commitment to top genetics.

The ram was sold on 27 June by Faans Pretorius of Hilltop Stud near Heilbron, Free State to Koos and Kobus Engelbrecht, also from Heilbron.

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Vosloo said that the ram was a prime example of the modern medium-framed SA Mutton Merino, with high reproduction efficiency, outstanding meat, and high-quality wool.

“A ram like this breeds top-performing replacement ewes and excellent weaners that are not overly fat. The value added by the breed’s quality wool makes the SA Mutton Merino highly profitable for both stud and commercial farmers,” Vosloo told Farmer’s Weekly.

Forty-nine rams were on offer at the sale and achieved an average price of R19 480. The highest price for an ewe (1375 TOP) was R26 000, and the average price of the 85 ewes on sale was R4 820.

The sale was held by BKB, with Jan Mostert as the auctioneer.

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Annelie Coleman represents Farmer’s Weekly in the Free State, North West and Northern Cape. Agriculture is in her blood. She grew up on a maize farm in the Wesselsbron district where her brother is still continuing with the family business. Annelie is passionate about the area she works in and calls it ‘God’s own country’. She’s particularly interested in beef cattle farming, especially with the indigenous African breeds. She’s an avid reader and owns a comprehensive collection of Africana covering hunting in colonial Africa, missionary history of same period, as well as Rhodesian literature.