CENTRAL Western returning clients secured the bulk of the Jones family's Darriwell Merino stud's 35th annual sale on-property sale, Trundle, on Friday.
In a 98 per cent auction clearance 24 buyers bought 117 of 120 stud rams which topped at $6200 and averaged $2472.
Returning this year to take home 12 rams for a $4092 average including the sale-topper at $6200 was Peter Morley of Boomey Park, Larras Lee, who said he returns each year because Darriwell rams breed bale-filling Merinos.
Boomey Park manager, Gus Shannon said the flock held its numbers through the drought and was at present completing lambing from 4500 ewes growing an average 19 micron fleece weighing an average seven to 7.5 kilograms.
"We held on to our numbers and can breed on now with confidence," Mr Shannon said.
"These rams are breeding big beautiful and fertile ewes which fill-up the bales," Mr Morley said.
The Clifton family, Kia-Ora, Coreen, paid second top-price of $5300 among three rams averaging 4783.
Four rams sold at $5000 each with return buyer Garry Sunderland, Currajong Park, Fifield, one purchaser and the Nicholson family, Envir, Grenfell, another who also paid $3600 for another prospective sire.
The Watt family, Allambie, Alectown, well known for their success in local Merino ewe competitions, returned to pay a $3213 averaged for four rams topping at $4500.
Another client who continues success in the Condobolin ewe competition, the Neal family, Lockerbie, Condobolin, also returned and purchased nine rams to $2600 averaging $1817.
Phil Carter, Gerelgambeth, Illabo, returned to secure 15 rams topping at $3600 and averaging $1999.
Also returning was the Hicks family who bought five rams to $4800 and $3090 average.
The sale was conducted by Hartin Schute Bell, Narromine, and Chudleigh McCarron Cullinane, Forbes, with Jason Hartin and Adam Chudleigh auctioneers.
