SUPERIOR genetics in wool and carcase are the traits buyers from four states and New Zealand were chasing at the 31st Mumblebone on-property sale of Chad and Louise Taylor and family at “Marapana”, Wellington, last Wednesday.
Forty buyers purchased every ram offered at auction resulting in 200 topping at $12,000 to average $2454 with the sale-topper and two other rams at $6500 each selling to New Zealand Merino breeders while rams sold to South Australia for the first time.
An 18.7 micron son of Leahcim 123153 with a growth value to 200 days in the top one per cent and eye muscle and fat in the top 5pc took the eye of a “Kiwi Syndicate” when visiting a couple of weeks ago and was purchased by phone at $12,000.
Syndicate members are Alistair Campbell, Eamscleugh Station, Alexandra; Gordon Lucas, Nine Mile Station, Tarras, and Will Gibson, Blue Stone stud, Middlemarch, NZ.
Jim Butters, “Glenallen”, Waikari, North Canterbury, NZ, paid $6500 each for two rams sired by two Moojepin sires for his flock of 2000 ewes of 19.6 average micron cutting 5.5 kilogram average fleeces.
Return buyer, Ian Taylor, Warrambeen Pastoral, Shelford, Victoria, paid $6500 for an 18.8 micron son of Moojepin 140377 for his 10,000 ewe flock producing unmulesed wool under contract to Scandinavia.
First-time buyer, Ben Edmonds of Hale River Ag, “Kadlunga”, Mintaro, S A, paid up to $3000 in his buying spree of 37 rams averaging $2054. Having purchased the property in February after moving from Western Australia, Mr Edmonds said he had heard of what Chad taylor was producing at Mumblebone and recently visited and liked what he saw.
He plans to transform the 3600 ewe flock to bigger framed sheep while maintaining the good quality wool. “I bought high post weaning weight rams today,” he said.
Bellevue Rural, Tottenham, bought four rams to $5000 averaging $4250. First-time buyers Greg and Jane Kellock, Farrell Flat, SA, bought two rams to $5500 to average $4750, buying for genetic fat for lamb survivability.
Anthony Glasson of Picarilla Pastoral, Thargomindah, Queensland, returned after four years and purchased eight rams paying to $5500 and a $4063 average. Mr Glasson said Mumblebone stud was “leading the charge in the Merino industry” for fat and muscle. “It excites me what Chad is doing here,” he said.
Returning was Tim Fairfax, “Kioma”, Toobeau, Qld, who bought 15 rams to $4000 to average $2733.
The sale was conducted by Elders Dubbo with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, guest auctioneer.
Rams sell to four states and N Z
Strong demand resulted in 200 rams averaging $2454 in a total auction clearance.
Mumblebone studmaster, Chad Taylor, was overwhelmed by the buyer support and said he was very appreciative of the faith Merino breeders exhibited in Mumblebone genetics.
Two New Zealand buyers bought three rams paying to $12,000 and a $8333 average.
Two buyers from Victoria bought four rams to $6500 averaging $3500.
Six buyers from Queensland purchased 41 rams to $5500 to average $2299.
And in a first for Mumblebone four South Australian buyers paid an average of $2256 for 41 rams topping at $5500.
New and returning NSW clients totalling 26 buyers secured 111 rams while paying to $5000 and a $2387 average.
