SPIRITED bidding by 40 returning and new clients resulted in 193 rams clearing at auction for a $2529 average at Haddon Rig’s 34th on-property sale, Warren, last Thursday, topping at $9000.
This is the largest number of rams sold by the Falkiner family at an on-property sale for some years with many established clients of 10 to 40 years – plus returning to buy with 12 buyers securing from six to 15 rams.
A total of 145 of 150 Merino rams sold to $9000 and averaged $2638 while 48 of 60 Poll Merino rams topped at $5500 to average $2161.
Last year 139 Merino rams averaged $2626 while 25 polls averaged $2804.
Returning after five years with the intention of purchasing just one ram Tony and Rhonda Milgate, “Rockvale”, between Trundle and Parkes, paid the $9000 top money for the first ram offered, a 115 kilogram son of Wanganella 130750 (by East Mundalla 137) growing 17.7 micron wool.
Mr Milgate’s family settled in the area 130 years ago and he can’t remember just when they first bought Haddon Rig rams, “but Andy McLeod has been classing our flock for at least 30 years,” he said.
They now join 1000 ewes of 20 micron and crop winter cereals for their Merinos, prime lambs and Poll Hereford herd. Mr McLeod said their purchase was a very masculine ram with a strong head with open set horns and square body.
“He has good, rich long stapled heavy cutting medium wool,” Mr McLeod said.
Top-priced Poll Merino at $5500 was one of three rams averaging $3833 bought by Reg and Robyn Sweeney and daughter, Rowena, “Pinehurst”, Merrygoen, for their self-replacing Merino flock.
The Sweeneys also run the Bindaree Border Leicester stud and join their ewes to produce quality first-cross ewe production. Their top buy was a 21.9 micron son of the Wallaloo Park 003 sired HR 130007 weighing 120kg.
Buying two rams including the $7000 equal second top for his Boorooma Merinos, Walgett, John Wheaton, paid an average $5250 with the top ram weighing 119kg and growing 18.7 micron wool.
Mr Wheaton said the ram had a wonderful outlook, was long in the body, stood well, very square and had beautiful lustrous wool. Boorooma runs 4000 ewes of 18 to 19.5 micron wool cutting an average 6.4kg of wool at nine months growth.
Michael and Pauline Ricketts of Ralph Holdings, “Tumbleton North”, Young, paid an average $4938 for four rams topping at $6500 for a 120kg son of W130750 growing 17.6 micron wool.
Their flock of 2200 ewes has been on Haddon Rig blood for 10 years and grows 20 to 20.5 micron wool with “big” wool cuts. Feeding is the key, according to Mr Ricketts who runs the sheep on highly improved pastures resulting in 124.8 per cent lambing on ewes joined at marking.
Another of their buys at $5000 was a 119kg son of Wanganella 130816 with 20 micron wool.
The Tyrone flock at Gurley invested $7000 in the other equal-second top ram, an 18.6 micron son of HR 140045 by Wanganella 19 weighing 111kg.
Three rams averaging $4167 and topping at $6500 were secured by Ian Lambell for the family’s “Weenya” flock, Gulargambone, with the top ram weighing 110kg and growing 18.6 micron wool.
Cuan Pastoral Company, Scone, purchased 10 rams to average $3800 and topped at $5500 twice for two sons of HR1400045 of 18 and 19.6 micron wool weighing 105kg and 91kg respectively.
Bolinda Vale Pastoral Company, Dunedoo, returned to buy two rams topping at $5000 to average $4250.
Long standing Merino breeders of Haddon Rig blood, Frank and Arthur Bragg, Rossgole Pastoral Company, “Rossgole”, Aberdeen, and “Temi”, Willow Tree, bought 12 rams averaging $3146 and topping at $4500.
The Braggs run some 5000 ewes growing 19 to 20 micron wool and also run big mobs of wethers on “Temi”.
The Francis family. “Gobothery”, Forbes, returned to purchase 11 rams while paying a top at $3000 twice and a $2341 average while the Nicholls Family Trust, Burdenda Station, Tottenham, secured 15 rams to average $1330 including five rams topping the draft at $1750 each.
Harley Balowra Partnership, Nymagee, bought 13 rams averaging $1462 and topping at $2000.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Wilson Russ, Warren and Duboo, and Elders Dubbo with John Settree, Landmark, and Andy McGeoch, Elders, sharing the auctioneering.