Not surprising, considering the current keen demand for wool and sheep, Poll Merino rams with the potential of breeding heavy cutting progeny with fat and eye muscle depth were keenly sought after during the 33rd annual sale on account of Rick, Jill and Ross Baldwin, Bundilla Poll Merinos, Young.
When opening the sale, co-principal Rick Baldwin noted the rams on offer, which he considered the best ever offered, were sired by one hundred per cent Bundilla-bred rams.
“You can have confidence in the genetic stability of the sheep bred here for the past 40 years,” he said.
Prices were consistent through the entire catalogue of 240 young rams, which witnessed a top price at $6500 and average of $2900.
There was keen interstate interest competing strongly with local woolgrowers for the rams on offer.
The top priced ram, born as a single but with fertility rating of 142, 17.3m, S.D 2.4 and comfort factor 99.7 per cent, attracted Young-based woolgrower Brendan Stoney’s attention for his excellent conformation beside the outstanding figures.
Mr Stoney has been purchasing replacement sires form Bundilla for the past seven years, and had been excited by their performance in his self-replacing Merino flock.
“We are focused on the dual-purpose traits of these sheep and I try to source a very good sire each year,” he said.
“I liked the ram’s figures and the way the stud is concentrating on selecting sheep with worm resistance.”
Returning for the second year to select a draft of sires was Lawry Simpson, Nowranie, Oaklands. Advised by his sheep consultant Anthony Shepherd, Sheepmatters, he bought five rams to a top of $5000 and averaged $3850.
“We are breeding a dual-purpose Merino, so I didn’t want anything with negative fat figures,” he said.
“I wanted the rams to be a twin, positive with YEMD and 20+ for greasy fleece weight.”
Mr Simpson’s top priced ram, a twin, measured 17.7m, S.D. 2.7 and comfort factor 99.7 per cent with YFAT 0.0 and YEMD 1.1.
“They are fairly uncomplicated sheep, the ewes have clean faces and their fertility is good,” he said.
“I have recently sold wether lambs for $150 after shearing $50 wool so they are dual-purpose sheep.”
First time buyer of the Bundilla genetics was WA sheep producer Alex and Lyn Leach, from Katanning, whose selection of a ram with bright wool cost them $5000.
With figures of 17.8m, S.D 2.6 and comfort factor 99.7 percent, Mr Leach said he liked the wool type on the Bundilla rams.
“The wool is bright and soft with a deep crimp and long-stapled,” he said.
“I also liked the EBV’s as we know what we are looking for.”
Mr Leach was referring to his ram’s YFAT 0.5 and YEMD 1.1, which he said was very important for lamb survival and performance during dry times.
Longterm supporter of the Bundilla genetic direction, C.W Mattiske and Co, Geraldra, Stockinbingal, selected eight new sires for their self-replacing Merino flock and paid to $5500 for an average price of $4312, while the principals of Rugby Pastoral Co, Rugby purchased 13 rams for $3807 average and $5000 top price, and K.W Nunn, Snake Valley, Victoria, took eight rams home for a $3500 average price.
Speaking after the sale, stud co-principal Rick Baldwin paid tribute to the vision of his father Ross, in establishing the stud on Wonga bloodlines 40 year ago.
In reply, Ross Bladwin admitted 40 years is a long time but they never stop working on improving the standard of their sheep.
“Tomorrow we will be thinking about the sheep we will be preparing for next year’s sale and those in the future,” he said.
The sale was settled by Landmark, Young, with Rick Power wielding the gavel.
Tomorrow we will be thinking about the sheep we will be preparing for next year's sale and those in the future.
- Ross Baldwin, Bundilla Poll Merinos