THE 37th annual ram sale of the Hughes family's Gullendah Dohne, Merino and Poll Merino studs, Baldry, was held on Tuesday to a very large gathering of supporters from states including Tasmania, Queensland, Victoria and most areas of New South Wales who were looking for type, frame and wool growth.
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On offer were 100 Dohne rams who sold to a top of $6000, averaged $2083 with 100 per cent clearance.
Also available were 12 Merino rams of which nine cleared and topped at $2750 to average $2278 and 28 Poll Merinos that topped at $4500, averaged $1420 for the 25 that sold.
Top priced ram was HR180047, a May 2018 drop, March shorn, twin son of HR160121, which was one of 10 rams lambs purchased at the Hamilton Run Dispersal Sale in November 2018.
HR180047 had a yearling weight (YWT) of +4.7 and an eye muscle depth (EMD) of +0.4 and was purchased by return buyers Albert and Heather Cook, Woodside Dohnes, Gilgandra.
They run 150 stud ewes and about 2000 commercial ewes and Mr Crook was attracted to the wool quality on the big, deep framed ram.
"I wasn't really after his heavy weight but we were after a change of genetics," he said.
"We have been using Gullendah rams for the last 20 odd years and now they are using new genetics, we are following them.
"We are hoping that he will add wool quality and density into the wool of our flock."
Second top price on the day was $4250, a May 2018 drop son of GD152606 with a yearling weight (YWT) of +4.8 and an eye muscle depth (EMD) of +0.1 who was picked up by Brenda Station, Goodooga.
Their draft of six Dohne rams averaged a sale topping $3250.
Top price Poll Merino was taken home by first time commercial purchaser, John Bullock, Fraddon Hills, Wellington, who run about 2000 ewes.
The Poll Merino SB49, a Willandra 120026 son with an 18.9 micron fleece and a coefficient of variation (CV) of 15.9 per cent, sold when the hammer fell at $4500.
Mr Bullock operates a self replacing flock and first cross ewes and liked the ram's frame and wool.
"He is ideal for what we want," he said.
"He is in the middle ground as far as Merinos are concerned. He is a good plain bodied sheep.
"He will suit what we are doing in our production."
Classer Allan Clarke, Dubbo, purchased rams on behalf of a number of clients.
He acted on behalf of Loongana Pastoral Company, Longreach, Queensland, who were the volume buyers in both the Dohne and Merino offerings. Their total draft of 20 topped at $1500 six times and averaged $1150.
Also on his client list were Perola Park Pastoral, Augathella, Queensland, who took home a draft of six Dohnes to an average of $2042 and a top price of $2750.
Another client chasing the Dohnes were the Wald family, Condobolin whose draft of six averaged $1667 for a top of $2500.
"The rams are very typey, their wool is good, they are some of the better Dohnes around," Mr Clarke said.
"I have been classifying for many years and give guidance where needed, and find the overall the standard of Dohne sheep here are very good, the Merinos are pretty tidy too."
Seven further Dohne rams will be on their way on the boat to Tasmania.
Bayles Bros, Cressy, Tasmania selected seven Dohnes for a draft average of $1929 and a top price of $2500 twice.
Stud co-principal Peter Hughes was very pleased with the sale result and the return of many loyal clients, some of who were experiencing a very long dry season.
Landmark Stud Stock's Brad Wilson felt it was a really good result with a lot of interest from the southern areas.
"It shows the climatic regions that the Dohnes and Merinos can go into," he said.
"There are a lot of people chasing carcase and the added value of the wool on top."
The sale was conducted by Landmark Wilson Russ with Paul Dooley acting as guest auctioneer for another year.
