The strength of the 38th annual on-property Merino ram sale at Willandra, Jerilderie, on account the Wells family, was the committed support from longterm clients, which resulted in 47 Merino rams sold for $2160 average, and 49 Poll Merino rams sold for $3089 average.
A further 27 rams were sold privately following the auction for $1000 each.
Studmaster, Ross Wells said it was good to see former buyers from the “good old days,” competing strongly for their selections.
“Although on a much smaller scale, it gave me a feeling equal to that after our record breaking sale in 1988 when we sold 610 rams in three hours for record gross $524,400,” Mr Wells said.
Top-price was $22,000 paid by Doug Comb, “Keiross”, Hay, for a Poll Merino which attracted his attention for the length of staple on a big body, and was also influenced by the ram’s measurements.
Mr Comb has formed a Poll Merino stud, having bred a few replacement sires for his commercial flock by AI, and intends his new purchase to lift the quality of his stock, especially length of staple and fleece weight.
The July 2015-drop ET son of Desmond had been judged the March-shorn fine/medium champion Poll Merino at Dubbo, and has the impressive figures of 17.4-micron, CF 99.9 percent, bodyweight of 118kg, and eye muscle depth (EMD) 42mm.
The ram was sold with half share in semen rights, and the Willandra stud has already collected 600 doses.
“He is a big outstanding ram with soft and long-stapled wool which will put weight of fleece onto my flock,” Mr Comb said.
“And he will be joined to tall, ‘stretchy’ types with nice white wool. I aim to shear each eight to nine months and still get a good carcase.”
Mr Comb, a first time buyer at Willandra also purchased a second Poll Merino for $4000.
Losing bidder was Rogara Poll Merino stud, Yass, who later purchased two Poll Merinos at $4000 and $3000 respectively.
Top priced Merino ram at $6500 was bought by John Johnston, Austral-Eden Merino stud, West Wyalong, for his bright and soft 60’s style wool, with thickness and lock.
“You don’t often see wool like this today,” Mr Johnston said.
You don’t often see wool like this today
- John Johnston
The ram was straight out of the paddock and his measurements were equally significant with mean micron 16.7, 99.7pc CF, bodyweight of 109kg and EMD of 44mm: he will be joined to true medium wool ewes with scale, and the Willandra stud has retained 200 doses semen.
Representing his family, Peter Walker, Woolaroo Merino stud, Yass, purchased two sons of Desmond for $4000 and $5000 respectively, plus a semen package, while Banyandah Pastoral Co, “Leiwah”, Moulamein paid $4250 for their choice of the Merino rams..
Volume buyers included repeat clients Sleigh Pastoral Co., Jerilderie who purchased 14 rams for average $1982, M.J. and N.M. Hicks, “Springfield”, Cootamundra, who bought 10 rams to average $2050 and T.W. Lord and Sons, “Homeview”, Junee, who bought 11 rams to average $2545.
W Gould and Sons, Richmond Plains, Victoria, a loyal client of 35 years and winner of the 2016 Peter Westblade wether trial bought four at average price $2375.
Brewarrana Holdings, Narrandera, bought 10 new sires during the sale for a $1275 average, and completed their selection with five grade rams at $1000, while Redcliffe Pty Ltd, “Tyrone”, Trundle, operated at the top end of the sale selecting three rams for average price $2917.
Longterm supporters of the Willandra stud, M.B. McKinnon and Co., “Yarrawin”, Brewarrina, purchased a Poll Merino at $4000, along with two Merino rams for $4000 and $2250 respectively.
On their extensive aggregation across western NSW, the McKinnon family annually join 50,000 Merino ewes complemented by 3,000 Santa Gertrudis cows.
Clients returning from ‘the good old days’ included A Naismith, Goolgowi, who paid to $4000 for his draft of three bought during the sale plus three $1000 grade rams, and TJ Henwood Family Trust, Carrathool, who selected 13 rams during the auction to top $3000 and average $2096, with a further 15 grade rams at $1000.
Victorian wool grower, Bullawyn Pastoral Co., Karabeal, paid $6000 for their choice of the Poll Merinos, while loyal client George Simpson, “Yooroobla”, Jerilderie, paid $6000 and $3000 for his selection of Merino rams, with the stud retaining 200 doses semen from the $6000 sire.
Another Jerilderie district client, Cara Pty Ltd, paid $3500 for their selection of a Merino ram, while Lymhay Pty Ltd, “Bimbadeen”, Urana, bought a Merino ram at auction for $4500 and completed their draft with four purchased for $1000
Landmark Mills, Finley and Elders, Jerilderie, conducted the sale, with Peter Godbolt and Ron Rutledge taking the bids.
