Annalara commercial White Dorper ewes break record at $460 each

The previous record price for purebred commercial ewes was $425.

On Wednesday all 65 White Dorper stud rams sold to a top of $5200 to average $3086 while all 14 Ultra White Composite rams topped at $3600 to average $2057.

In the commercial ewe section 45 Ultra White/White Dorper ewes July/August 2020 drop unjoined sold at $350 a head to an undisclosed buyer while Frank Bell of Farleigh near Armidale purchased 176 ewes paying $400 each for 60 unjoined July/August 2020 purebred White Dorpers, $370/hd for another 43 and $360.hd for 73 joined 2017-drop ewes.

The record price of $460 a head was paid twice, first for a pen of 22 October/November 2019 drop joined ewes then the same money for a pen of 16 March/April 2019 drop, also joined.

Repeat buyer for each of the past 15 years, Ben Laird of Mount View Pastoral Company, Hillston, this year paid the $5200 top money while purchasing 27 rams for the Laird family's 8500 White Dorper commercial flock 60 kilometres northwest of town.

Mr Laird said the family held on to their whole flock during the drought by had-feeding grain with oaten and vetch hay grown on the station.

A represent they have cotton growing which will be followed by wheat including a couple og grazing varieties.

"We always aimed to maintain full production during the drought which enabled us to take advantage when it broke," Mr Laird said.

The Cresswells said they were delighted to see so many return buyers securing rams again this year.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Russell, Cobar, and Elders, Dubbo, with John Settree, Nutrien Stud Stock, Dubbo, auctioneer with David Russell assisting.

In the past three Dorper breed sales John Settree has officiated as auctioneer, there has been three world or Australian records broken.

The first was in September 2020 at the Dubbo National Dorper and White Dorper sale where the world record was broken for a Dorper ram at $50,000; the second was at the recent Amarula Dorper and White Dorper on-property sale with a record $45,000 and on Wednesday at the Annalara White Dorper sale, when purebred White Dorper ewes sold at $460 a head.