RETURNING clients and new buyers paid up to $6500 twice and a $2296 average for 125 of the 130 head offered at the 20th anniversary GullenGamble Poll Merino ram sale, at Yeoval, last Tuesday.
Stud principals Mark and Kym Kerin, said they were very pleased with the sale result, particularly as the weather in the past 12 months had played havoc on sheep breeders and the livestock industry generally.
Mr Kerin said he welcomed the four new buyers and wished them well with their ventures.
Returning buyer of some 18 years standing, Michael Heywood, Old Mungery, Peak Hill, paid $6500 equal top money for an 119 kilogram son of GullenGamble 120018 growing 18.1 micron wool and a Dual Purpose Index (DP+) of 138.
“This ram has a good fleece weight score and is growing big bold crimping length of staple wool all on a 119kg body,” Mr Heywood said.
Looking for a multi-purpose ram, Mr Heywood said the figures said it all.
“He’s the full package.”
Mr Heywood said he normally joined 1200 ewes of 19 micron average cutting 6.5kg of wool, but the number will be a few less this joining.
He also purchased a 16.5 micron son of GG150925 for $3000 for his flock of 19 micron cutting an average 6.5kg fleece.
First-time buyers Dave and Erica Shorter, Boola, Burren Junction, paid the other $6500 equal top money for a high wool cutting ram weighing 100kg and with a DP+ of 174 among a four-ram purchase.
Another at $4250 was a 19.7 micron son of Moorundie 150092, purchased by GullenGamble in 2016.
The Shorters are running two flocks of Hazeldean (21 micron cutting 8kg) and Ballatherie (21 micron cutting 10kg) blood and are looking to keep the high wool-cutting qualities, but increase body weight.
Mr Shorter said they saw the GullenGamble display at Nyngan Ag Festival and were impressed with the body length. Their four rams averaged $3625.
Ted and Fiona Hodges, Avoca, Baldry, returned and secured five rams for a $4000 average while paying up to $5250 for a 17.2 micron ram by the Moorundie sire.
They have been keeping their Merino breeding ewe numbers in a 50/50 self-replacing Merino flock with half joined to GullenGamble Merino rams and half to Gillmore Poll Dorset rams to produce prime land with heavy weights.
“I don’t run any crossbred ewes so I get wool cut of 19 to 20 micron off each ewe and a lamb every six months,” Mr Hodges said.
Geoff Taylor, Ulingala Pastoral, Wellington, purchased three rams at a $4000 average topping at $5500 for a son of the Moorundie sire growing 19.4 micron wool.
Nearby, John Holland and family’s Uungula Pastoral, Wellington, returned to buy 10 rams while paying an average $3175 and a top at $5750 for a WPSYD sire with a DP+ of 153.
Rocky Glen Ag, Rocky Glen, Barraba, bought four rams averaging $2875 and topping at $4000, while Womea Investmensts of the Lyons family, Euchareena, returned to buy 10 rams averaging $2375 and topping at $4000.
Yeoval-based Makag Family Trust, Netherwood Park, paid an average of $2375 for six rams topping at $3500.
Grant and Cathy MacAlpine, with son, William, Salisbury, The Marra, who have been buying for some five years, returned and purchased 12 rams for a $2063 average and top at $3000 twice.
The MacAlpines normally join 5000 ewes of 19 to 20 micron in their self-replacing flock cutting between 5.5 to 6kg fleeces and this year recording 115 per cent lambing figures.
They recently bought another property at Grenfell where they plan to fatten their wether lambs.
The sale was conducted by Elders, Dubbo, with auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth.
