A TOTAL auction clearance of 100 Poll Merino rams for a $2105 average delighted Coddington Uardry principals, Graham and Susan Coddington at the stud’s on-property sale, Dunedoo, last Friday.
Leading the buying spree was return client and Poll Merino stalwart, Duncan Clowes, Valdemar, Millthorpe, who paid an average $5417 for three rams including the $9000 top money-maker, a 17.5 micron son of Alfoxton ALF0021 weighing 108 kilograms and an eye muscle area of 28 millimetres.
The May drop ram was the top of the catalogue, according to Mr Clowes, showing good balance between carcase and wool.
“I’m fussy about wool quality,” he said. “That’s because we’re in high rainfall country and need that crimpy wool, just like this ram has.” Valdemar receives an average 800mm of rain in normal years.
Mr Clowes has been returning to Coddington Poll since seeing the stud’s display at the South West Slopes field day in 2015.
He is getting the best of both wool and carcase worlds with the ewe flock averageing 16 to 16.5 micron.
The Osborne family, Rosedale, Caloola, paid an average $3083 for three rams topping at $3250 while Queensland district return buyer Grant Borchardt, The Deep, Tara, bought eight rams paying to $3250 and averaging $2063.
Mr Borchardt runs 2000 ewes of 18.5 micron and believes Coddington Poll breeds the “true dual-purpose Merinos”.
“Ewes off grass weigh seven to 80 kilograms and wether weaners are sold off the board at 45kg to 50kg at 10 months,” he said.
Another Queensland breeder, Tarrina Trust, Tambo, paid a $2250 average for seven rams, which sold to $3250 twice.
Warroo Partnership, Garah, bought 12 rams for a $2146 average with two at $3250, while Frances and Michael Retallack, Milla Molong, Mandurama, returned to secure 10 rams, paying to $3000 twice and a $1950 average.
Mr Retallack said he had been returning to Coddington Uardry Poll stud since the dispersal of the Severn Park stud.
“I like long staple wool types,” he said. He will join 5000 ewes of 18 to 18.5 micron and now shears every six months.
Anthony Triggs, Winton Station, Goondiwindi, Qld, bought 11 rams averaging $1045, while Peter Safstrom, Mt Camel, Vic, paid $2250 for one ram. Steven Colman, Sundene, Sutton Grange, Vic bought nine rams averaging $2194. The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders, Dubbo, with John Settree and Martin Simmons sharing auctioning duties.