BUYERS from four states purchased all 150 rams in a total auction clearance paying up to $12,000 and an average of $3183 at the Coddington family's Roseville Park Merino ram sale at Dubbo on Thursday.
Another two sold at $10,000 each.
Rodney and Graham Kent and family, Kurrajong Park stud, Delungra, paid the top money for a 19.3 micron poll ram sired by the $30,000 Willandra Desmond (W12-26) and with impressive Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBV) of 157 for Merino Production Plus (MP+) and 156 for Dual Purpose Plus (DP+).
The Kents also paid $9000 for a 17.9 micron son of Borambill 15-124.
James and Danette Watson of Portadown Pastoral, South Greenbank stud, Young, paid equal second-top price of $10,000 for a poll son of Willandra Desmond growing 19.5 micron wool for the family's stud and commercial flock of 4000 ewes growing 18.5 to 19 micron wool.
The Kelly family's Kilbournie Pastoral Company, Newbridge, was looking to continue to improve their flock's wool cut which has been happening since they first bought Roseville Park rams five years ago.
This year they paid equal second top price of $10,000 and top Merino ram price for an 18.1 micron son of the $30,000 Alfoxton 15-430, which is by Charinga DocXL anf from a One Oak ewe by Roseville Park 9-14.
Cliff and Robynne Kelly were represented by sons Stuart and Andrew and the family this year joined 5000 ewes of 18 micron average in April/May. The last shearing produced a 15 er cent increase in wool cut from the year previous, proof Roseville Park rams are doing the right job, according to Stuart Kelly.
Their classer, Andy Mcleod, Dubbo, said the ram purchased was long-bodied with very well nourished bright medium wool suitable for the Newbridge area.
The Honeysett family's daughter stud, Try Now, Spicers Creek, paid $8000 for a new stud sire, a 19.8 micron son of the Alfoxton sire. Bill Honeysett said the ram had scale and bone with real sire appeal.
First-time buyers Peter and Mark Fraser, Derry Lodge, Hamilton, Victoria, paid an average $3200 for five rams, three polls and two horned for the family's enterprise consisting of Merino and Dohne sheep flocks and Angus beef herd.
Mark Fraser said they were keen to gain the genetic history from within the Roseville Park stud with rams of proven backgrounds and would suit the high rainfall country in the Western Districts.
William Croker of Bolong River Pastoral, Golspie, returned for his second year and took home nine poll rams for an average $2556 and paying up to $5000 for one and $4000 each for another two.
He said he was aiming for faster maturity and liked the total structure of RP sheep.
"I want more profitable, heavier framed sheep without losing emphasis on wool quality, and I can find them here," Mr Croker said.
The sale was conducted by Landmark Stud Stock, Dubbo, and Elders Stud Stock, Dubbo, with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, sharing duties with John Settree.
- Full report in The Land September 26 edition.