STUD ewes were in favour among buyers from NSW, Victoria and Queensland at the 10th annual NSW-Qld combined Wiltipoll breeders sale at Gulgong last Saturday when 32 sold to a top of $650.
Eight NSW studs including first-time vendors offered 37 stud ewes, 13 flock ewes and 29 stud rams with ewes in strong demand while rams met limited buying strength clearing 13 head for a $777 average and top price of $1200 with many going to commercial breeding flocks.
Sale-topper was an August 2017 drop (twin) ram bred and offered by Ian Hopwood and Loris Denyer of Reavesdale stud, Muringo, purchased at $1200 by Ann Wunsch, Frog Rock stud, Ithaca, Frog Rock, between Gulgong and Mudgee.
Loris Denyer said the ram’s sire Reavesdale 285, traced back to an original foundation Gunhurst bloodline at Reavesdale stud, while the ewe, R97, went back to Munna and Grangevale blood.
Reavesdale stud sold five rams for a $1060 average, 11 stud ewes to $650 (twice) and $348 average, plus four commercial ewes topping at $250 and averaging $213. The stud’s two top-priced stud ewes were purchased by John Blackburn, Mt David, who purchased six of the Reavesdale ewe draft plus another six stud ewes from Ironbark stud of Coralie and Damien Moss, Tamworth, and two from Peter and Judy Colless’ Carthona stud, Wingham.
Two Reavesdale rams sold for equal second top money of $1100 with one going to Michael O’Neill, Gruyere, Vic, and the other to Lee Milford, Waitara, Tambar Springs.
Paul and Bev Holloway, Forbes, bought one stud and two commercial ewes from Reavesdale, stud ram and stud ewe from Westmoreland Wiltipolls, Wisemans Creek, and a stud ewe from Carthona.
Cathona stud gained $1000 for a stud ram from the Hughes family, Willow Vale, Parkesbourne, plus five stud ewes while Westmoreland stud sold eight ewes and one ram.
The sale was conducted by McDonald Lawson, Mudgee with Andy Carter the auctioneer.