FOR the past 10 years Peter Freeth has returned to secure what he terms stylish solid woolcutters, and this year paid the equal $6500 top price for his 18.2 micron selection.
He was among a large contingent of Merino breeders intent on buying more stylish merino and Poll Merino rams from Garry Cox and family's Langdene Merino stud sale at Dunedoo last Thursday.
The sale cleared 127 from 130 rams for an average of $3228, up $197 on the average for 104 rams last year.
Merino rams were in demand with 86 selling for a $3523 average with two making top money at $6500 while 41 Poll Merinos averaged $26510 and topped at $5500.
The Merino average rose by $348 and broke the 2016 stud record by $266 while the poll average increased by $414.
Buyer of the other equal sale-topping ram, Dan Fitzel, runs Flowerburn Pastoral Company with his father, Bruce at Flowerburn, Peelwood near Crookwell. They'll join 1300 ewes of 18 micron average next March and have been on Langdene blood since 2012.
This year was quite successful for the Fitzel family as their flock was runner-up in the Crookwell Merino ewe competition and went on the win the Southern Tablelands competition which combines Crookwell, Boorowa, Gunning and Taralga events.
Their top ram among three purchases on the day averaging $5333, was an 18.9 micron son of Langdene 140700, while their first buy at $6000 was a 19.5 micron ram by the same sire.
Peter Freeth, buyer of the other equal-priced sale-topper, is currently running 2000 ewes growing wool in the high 18 to low 19 micron and will join his purchase to selected ewes from within a small nucleus of 150 to 200 ewes to breed rams for his flock.
" I like Langdene's style and good solid wool cutters," Mr Freeth said.
"The ram I bought this year has good structure, stands well and is one of te heaviest cutters in the sale."
The Kolhagen family, Wongaburra, Walla Walla, paid the top Poll Merino price of $5500 plus bought two Merino rams for $5500 and $5250 making an average $5417 for the trio.
Ian and Dion Giles and family, Donnasville, Ilford, have been on Langdene blood for at least 10 years and returned to buy several rams and left with 11 while paying to $4000 for three and a $3318 average.
They are now running up to 1500 ewes of 18 micron cutting some six kilograms of wool and lambing this month.
Caringal Partnership, Mudgee, bought 10 rams paying to $2000 eight times and a $1900 average.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, Dubbo with Paul Jameson, Elders, the auctioneer.
- Full report in The Land October 1 edition.
