Dedicated to former Cottage Park studmaster, John Shiels, who passed away in June, the 23rd annual Cottage Park on-property ram sale was always going to be a good one.
With a great deal of comment prior to the sale on the quality of the draft and auctioneer Rick Power summed it up best when he said: “It’s an absolute credit to you, Mark, the sheer scale and structure, the nourishment, the wool quality, it’s an absolute credit to you and I know John would be looking down in absolute proudness, so congratulations”.
The Pendergast family offered 98 productive heavy cutting one-year-old Merino rams with 97 meeting the market for a $2383 average.
There was very strong local support including numerous Monaro Merino studs purchasing their next stud sires, as well as multiple buyers who had travelled a distance for Cottage Park genetics including across NSW and Victoria and as far north as Blackall in Queensland.
The top money of $10,500 was paid for the first son of new sire Wangenella 40 to be offered at Cottage Park.
Purchased by Michael and Katrina Hedger, Snowy Plain Merino stud, Berridale, he had a great outlook and was well balanced with a wool test of 18.1 micron, a comfort factor of 99.9 per cent and a greasy wool percentage of 135pc.
He was described by Snowy Plain classer, Rick Power, as an absolute standout young sire. “When we viewed the line-up on Sunday he caught our eye as soon as we came into the shed, sired by the W40 sire he had great nourishment and wool quality.”
Snowy Plain principal, Michael Hedger, added: “He has been bought to join to a particular family of ewes to thicken them up a bit and complement their wool style and structure”.
The support from Monaro Merino studs continued with the second top price ram sold for $5250 to Steve Tozer, Main Range Merino stud, Cooma.
Sired by Roseville Park 715, he tested 18.8 micron with a comfort factor of 99.9 pc and an equal sale highest greasy wool percentage of 142 pc.
He was described by Mr Tozer as “a free growing, soft handling ram with extra staple and a free growing lock”.
Main Range also purchased the third top price ram at $5000 a Cottage Park 468 son who tested 17.9 micron with a comfort factor of 99.3 pc and a greasy wool percentage of 132 pc.
“I loved his width and length, he has a beautiful body and my type of wool with great crimp definition,” Mr Tozer said.
Volume buyers were led by Allen Trust, “Carumbi”, Temora, long-term clients of Cottage Park, who secured eight rams for their mixed farming business paying to a top of $3000 for a Roseville Park 715 son with an average price of $2475.
Not far behind J.M. and M.W. Barry, Jindabyne, averaged $2433 for their six, paying to a top of $3000 on two occasions for rams sired by Roseville Park 715 and Cottage Park 110.
Arthella Pastoral Company, Cooma, put together a line of five rams paying to a $2800 top for a Wangenella 40 son, averaging $2320 for the five.
W.J. and E.M. O’Connor, Mangalore, Victoria, purchased five rams for a $920 average.
Long-term client, Alison Krieg, “Benalla”, Blackall, returned in 2017 after a break due to dry times and issues with wild dogs.
She purchased four rams for $2450 average paying to a top of $3400 for a Cottage Park 468 son.
Local wool grower and strong supporter, Doug Constance, “Werralong”, Berridale, paid to a top of $3000 for a Roseville Park 715 son as he put together a draft of four rams for a $2400 average.
Gary Thompson, “Broadview”, Bibbenluke, averaged $2000 for his four paying to a top of $3000 for a Wangenella 40 son.
While Glenavon Pastoral Company, “Pineleigh”, Delegate, fought hard to also purchase four rams paying to a top of $2200 for an average of $1650.
Cottage Park principal, Mark Pendergast, was delighted. “I am really pleased with the sale, very happy with the result,” he said.
“It is great to see some older clients back after a few years, in particular Alison Krieg from Blackall who has had troubles with dry times and wild dogs but is back buying rams this year.
“It is humbling to have such great local support complemented with buyers from across NSW and Victoria and into Queensland,” Mr Pendergast said.
The auction sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark with Landmark’s Rick Power completing the auctioneer duties.
