THE 22nd annual Langdene Merino Stud sale was held recently at the Cox family property at Dunedoo.
With an offering of 130 Merino and Poll Merino rams, 126 sold under the hammer with more after the auction.
The top-priced Merino ram was sold for $9500. The top Poll ram made $8000 with an auction average of $3287.
The Merino son of 140700, Langdene 171208, who weighed 118 kilograms on sale day, carries an 18.5 micron fleece, and has a comfort factor (CF) of 99.2 per cent. It had Australia sheep breeding values (ASBVs) of 9.7 for yearling weight (YWT), -1.2 yearling fibre diameter (YFD), 162 dual purpose index (DP+), 160 Merino production index (MP+) and 144 for fibre produce index (FP+).
Hollow Mount Pastoral Company, Bigga, purchased it with another ram Langdene 171186. This ram carries 19.1 micron fleece and a CF of 99.8pc.
Stud advisor David Zouch, and stud principal Ken Wolf, from Hollow Mount, run 3000 ewes and have been return buyers for about 10 years. Taking home the top ram for about eight of those years.
“I felt he has an extremely sirery outlook.” Mr Zouch said. “He has a really good, rich, long stapled and nourished wool, we are looking at more punch in our wool.”
“Garry’s rams look magnificent a credit to him.”
The second top-priced ram was Langdene 171052, also a son of 140700, sold for $9000. It carried a 19.0 micron wool with a CF of 100pc and had ASBVs of 9.8 for YWT, -1.0 YFD, 151 DP+, 149 MP+ and 139 FP+.
Wattle Grove Partnership, Dunedoo, purchased the top Poll ram, Langdene 170703, with a 18.1 micron fleece and a CF of 100pc.
Volume purchaser were Alto Rural, Corumbene, Dunedoo. They secured 17 rams for a top of $5000 and a draft average of $3691. Stud manager Phillip Redding, runs 2000 ewes and was after more rams as he runs at one ram to 60 ewes.
“I thought that the draft was very even.” he said. “They are consistent, have good style and frame with good wool.”
Return buyers, Tovolea Partnership, Gulargambone, purchased nine rams for a top price of $3500 and a draft average of $2250.
Langdene stud principal Garry Cox, said the sale was very satisfying.
“We were back a bit on last years record breaking sale but I am please about as every one was able to get a ram for their budget.” he said.
“The progeny of Langdene 140700 sold exceptionally well. The top priced ram was sired by him. He is +33 for fleece weight and +10.9 for yearling growth. His progeny stood out and sold accordingly.
“This sale was definitely up there, people are willing to pay for the quality.”
The sale was conducted by Elders Mudgee with Andy McGeoch taking the bids.
