On-property sale success continued to improve for the Lachlan Merino stud, Forbes, last Wednesday when 136 rams of 140 sold at auction to $12,000 and averaged $3294.
The average increased on last year’s result by $611 for owners Glen and Margot Rubie and family.
The draft of 98 Poll Merino rams averaged $3464 while 38 Merino rams averaged $2854.
The Rubies said they like to let the sheep do the talking, which was why they shear ewe lambs (sisters to the rams) in front of the crowd during the day.
Lambs averaged 9.7kg fleece (avg $161.24), and the top ewe fleece was valued at $190.96 (16.6m, weighed 10.3kg) by Jemalong Wool.
Backing up their breeding goals of fast growth rates, sale rams averaged 112kg, and the heaviest topped at 139kg with 71 per cent only 12 to 13 months old and the majority still carrying lambs teeth.
To back this up, to date sire, LM30 is still Australia number one for yearling weight at +13.5 in Australian Superior Sires since 1989.
Woodstock sheep classer, Alison Rutledge, attending with clients, out-bid all opponents to secure the $12,000 top-priced ram for Green Partnership, Brooklyn, Forbes, buyers for eight years standing.
The sale-topper, a poll sired by LM102 from the August 2017 drop was growing 18.9 micron wool and weighed 117kg and still showing his lamb’s teeth.
The Green family of Kingsley, and sons Robert and Mark, run a self-replacing Merino flock presently of 3000 ewes, growing what Robert Green terms, true medium wools.
“Lachlan Merinos have produced good size, well muscled sheep that produce results,” he said.
“Lambs have the ability of being sold as suckers or grow out on grain depending on seasons, but return well.”
First-time buyers from Western Australia, D.F.D. Rhodes Pty Ltd, Boree Park, Dinninup, bought two rams averaging $8500 including the second-top-priced at $10,500, an May ‘17 drop by the 02 syndicate of LM179 growing 18.6 micron wool and weighing 117kg.
Another ram also by LM 179 with 17.4 micron wool was purchased for $6500.
Boree Park manager, Michael Wright, said the enterprise runs 18,000 ewes consisting of 11,000 joined to Merino and 7000 joined to White Suffolks.
“The cost of buying rams was an issue, so we began a small nucleus flock to breed our own rams,” Mr Wright said. “We need well-nourished rams to stand up to our weather.”
The Boree Park self-replacing Merino flock hoggets average 18 micron while grown sheep average 20.
“We try to target a return of 45kg of wool per hectare from winter grazing,” Mr Wright said.
Returning for his fourth year was Sid Dickins, Audreylea, Booligal, who paid $7000 for the top-priced Merino ram, a May ‘17 drop of 18.6 micron weighing 122kg also sired by LM179.
Mr Dickins joins 7500 ewes in his self-replacing flock of 19 to 19.5 micron, cutting 8kg-plus wool.
The Knight family, Wattle Villa, Grenfell, bought four rams after paying an average $4286 and a top of $5000 for a 16.6 micron son of LM73, while Mark, Carol and Brad Jones, Booroola, Condobolin, returned and secured 18 stud rams averaging $4208 and topping at $6500 for a Merino ram weighing 107kg, plus two grade rams.
The Taylor family, Collingwood, Caragabal, bought four rams to $4250 averaging $3938 with the top lot a son of LM179. Poll Merino breeders, the Thornton family, Lemon Grove, Nyngan, purchased three poll rams for a $3917 average and top of $4000 twice.
Kevin and Therese Welsh, Round Range, Eugowra, returned for their 16th year to buy four rams, two topping at $4000 to average $3625 while one poll ram at $7500 was purchased by the Willson family, Tarago, a 20 micron weighing 109kg.
Three rams topping at $5250 and averaging $3917 were purchased by the Edwards family, Catombal Park, Wellington, with their top rams a Merino of 18.7 micron.
The Mort family, Mudgee, paid $5250 and $4000 for two poll rams for their Yarrabin Road district flock while Victorian breeders the Colvin family, Powlett Plains in the Boort district, Victoria, returned and bought three rams, one Merino and two Poll Merinos while paying to $3500 and a $3167 average.
The sale was conducted by Landmark, Forbes and Elders, Forbes, with Dubbo stud stock sale specialist auctioneers John Settree, Landmark, and Paul Jameson, Elders, sharing duties on the rostrum.