NEW entrants to the Wiltipoll breed flocked to the 10th annual Munna stud sale at Coolah last Saturday and happily paid to a top of $250 a head for the 56 stud ewes offered.
The contingent of new buyers and returning clients then continued to outlay an average of $203 for 99 flock ewes topping at $240 a head in a total clearance of all ewes.
Vendors and foundation members of the Australian Wiltipoll Association, Harry and Jill Powell with their daughter Anna and son-in-law Tom Dunlop, then sold 20 of 25 stud rams topping at $1300 and averaging $945.
Buying the top-priced ram, Rob Laurie, "Brumaxhu", Nowendoc, said he'd purchased 150 ewes of Munna blood from the Coonamble district last year and needed a couple of new sires.
He also paid $900 for a second ram.
Traditionally a cattle producer, Mr Laurie decided to look to sheep as that market was "pretty healthy".
"I've cut cattle back to 300 breeders and see that Wiltipoll sheep are a lot similar to cattle as far as breeding and management is concerned, so this is an experiment," he said.
Buying 15 ewes for their son, Ian and Callie Taylor, Dubbo, outlaid $10,250 for Munna and Carthona-sired two and three year-old stud ewes.
"We are buying for our son, Roger Brogan, who has just started up Wiltipoll breeding in the Cumboogle district near Dubbo," Mrs Taylor said.
Ann Wunsch, "Ithaca", Frog Rock near Mudgee, returned for her fourth year and purchased six stud and 12 commercial ewes to include in her flock.
First-time buyers Geoff and Maureen Moorhouse, "Valley View", Dunedoo, selected 12 commercial ewes for their introduction to Wiltipolls.
Warren Yeo, Dunedoo, liked the easier management of the breed, so his first venture resulted in him buying six stud and 10 commercial ewes and one ram at $900.
Buying 48 commercial ewes topping at $240 was Andrew and Stephen Brown, "Goburn", Eumungerie, who bought six Munna ewes last year.
"We're likely to switch-over entirely from traditional prime lamb production," Stephen Brown said.
The brothers said they needed to change income by "chasing revenue or reducing costs".
The sale was conducted by Hartin Schute Bell, Narro-mine, with Bill Tatt, Christie and Hood, Binnaway, the auctioneer.
Mark Griggs
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
Journalist for The Land at Dubbo.
