BUYERS from the Monaro, Riverina, Central and Western area of NSW plus three large Queensland woolgrowing flocks engaged in spirited bidding to acquire the total offering of 150 Merino rams for an average of $1781 at the 30th annual Mumblebone on-property ram sale at Wellington last Wednesday.
This year an extra 30 rams were offered and sold while stud principals Chad and Louise Taylor had also received orders for another 150 grade rams to go the western NSW and southern Queensland breeders.
Two New Zealand commercial woolgrowers, Jimmy Butters and Graham Reed, “Glenallen”, Waikari, were losing bidders on the $5000 third highest-priced 18.2 micron son of Mumblebone 389, bought by returning client, Jim McLaughlin, Merryanbone North Poll Merino stud, Warren.
Mr Taylor said they have ordered semen from one of the young stud sires while 3700 doses of semen from three of this year’s young rams would be going to the Falkland Islands.
“Mr Butters and Mr Reed are particularly interested in rams that have a good DNA for footrot resistance which the $5000 ram has as does stud sire M151367,” Mr Taylor said.
Among stud sires progeny catalogued were 21 sons of Leahcim 111173 which averaged $2662 and topped at $11,000; 19 sons of Trigger Vale 604 which averaged $2111 and topped at $6500 second top money; plus 21 sons of Mumblebone 130850 averaging $1633.
Six rams by Trigger Vale 625 averaged $2008.
Paying the top price of $11,000 was long-time buyer of 43 years, David Pickette, “Ellerslie”, Kenebri north of Baradine, who is a stickler for crimp.
I look for body conformation, fleece weight, staple length and wool crimp,” Mr Pickette said.
“I always buy good rams and Mumblebone rams put meat on our wethers.
The sale-topper was a 19.5 micron son of Leahcim 1173 with a yearling Australian sheep breeding value (ASBV) weight of 4.9; fat of 0.3; eye muscle depth 0.8 and high clean fleece weight of 12 and staple length of 13.8.
Mr Pickette also paid $2750 for another son of the Leahcim sire growing 18.9 micron wool.
In a single purchase at $6500 Stephen Cavanagh of Cavanagh Partnership, “Makari”, Young, secured the second top-priced ram in a 19.2 micron son of TV604 with yearling ABSVs of 6.8 for weight; 1.2 fat; 1.2 eye muscle; 13.1 clean fleece weight and 16.3 staple length.
Returning to buy two rams including the $5000 third top was Jim McLaughlin, Merryanbone North Poll Merinos, Warren, who said the 18.2 son of Mumblebone 389 was very correct in the body and feet with excellent yearling ASBVs of 5.6 ywt; 1.0 fat; 1.4 eye muscle; 5.5 clean fleece weight and 12.1 staple length
“It’s very hard to find a ram with the balance of wool and carcase, but this ram certainly has that,” Mr McLaughlin said.
Mr McLaughlin’s other purchase at $4250 was by Mumblebone 130624 growing 19.6 micron wool with a 3.3 standard deviation, 16.7 coefficient of variation and 100pc comfort factor.
Coolah-based Tureevale Partnership,”Turee Vale”, now operated by Edward Martin and his father, Michael, purchased three rams for a $3333 average and paying to $3750 for a 19.3 micron son of the Leahcim sire.
The Martins have been buying from Mumblebone since the dispersal of Severn Park stud, Cooma, while another branch of the Martin family, Paul Martin of “Olde Dalkeith”, Cassilis, bought three rams for the first time and paid an average of $2417 and top at $3250.
Paul Martin said he had been breeding his own rams and needed to get extra size into his flock.
“I like the free growing wool of these rams which are also polls,” he said.
Stuart Kanaley, “Costukan”, Junee, bought two rams topping at $3250 and averaging $3125 and Mike Slack-Smith of Drumard Partnership, “Drumard Park”, Humula, also bought three rams paying to $3500 and a $2750 average.
Anne and Mervyn O’Hara, “Dunrovin”, Tottenham, have been buying for at least 15 years and returned to secure seven rams while paying a $2179 average and to $2750 twice.
They like the soft rolling skin and quiet nature of Mumblebone sheep.
“People comment on the quiet nature of our sheep and they are very good mothers.
Jim Hedger on the Jimenbuen Road, Dalgety, bought three rams to $3000 and a $2333 average while Dave Bonnington, “Bonayr’, Curban, returned to buy eight rams to $3000 and $2156 average.
Des, Murray and Charlie Balcomb, “Frisby Park”, Cudal, also returned to purchase seven rams paying to $2500 twice and a $2071 average and have been buying for the past four years and are currently joining 1300 ewes of 18.5 micron cutting an average six kilogram fleece. Des Balcomb said he liked the poll and Mumblebone’s dual purpose rams.
Major buyer of 22 rams was the JH Fairfax Pastoral’s Delubra Pastoral’s Kioma flock at Toobeah, Qld, who paid an average of $1764 and top of $3000 each for three rams.
Lucas Hamilton, “Kelvin”, Trangie, bought six rams to $2750 and averaged $1875. The sale was conducted by Elders Dubbo with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, the guest auctioneer.
