Agriculture commodities are at record levels so it's no surprise that the value of working dogs hasn't wavered either.
Saturday's Jerilderie Working Dog Auction saw 55 of 58 dogs sold to average $10,081 for a gross of $554,500.
Dogs were bound for Queensland, South Australia, NSW, Victoria and Western Australia with even a six-month-old female, Daisy, attracting $9000 to a Rock Flat buyer.
Organiser Warwick Doolan said the overall quality of the dogs on offer and the strength of sheep and cattle commodities had a positive impact on the sale.
"Even cropping farmers suggested they could buy and spend money on a dog that they might never have been able to do," he said.
Top money of $18,750 was paid by Nip Rowney, Lascelles, Victoria, for the three-year-old Stanford Ninja offered by Neville Williams of Broadford.
Mr Williams had purchased the dog and put the work into training him but due to the impacts of COVID-19, he didn't have the work for the black dog.
He had arrived at his new home that night where Mr Rowney runs an Aussie White stud and was looking for a good all-round dog with temperament to match.
Mr Rowney had actually forgotten he had put the winning bid on AuctionsPlus until he was notified of his successful purchase after the sale.
"I didn't think it was a lot of money for him; if you want a good dog you've got to pay it," he said.
"They can be as good as about four men. Being an all round dog I can use him in the paddock, use him in the yards and loading the truck."
Vendor Neville Williams had been selling dogs at the auction since its inception but Ninja had become his highest priced dog.
It was a regretful sale but he was pleased to see the "one in 200 dog" going to a good home.
"From the first time I saw him his presence was just enormous, very impactive, explosive in his working ethic and yet fantastic around the house with children," he said.
"Sheep move away from him, you could move a big mob just with him. Three dogs work hard but he doesn't, they just move off him."
Second top money of $17,500 was paid for Paddy offered by Brad Pellow and selling to a Cobar buyer.
The 22-month-old had a years experience mustering mobs up to 2000 and was good on ewes and lambs.
Lucy Kinbacher
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
Raised on a cattle property at Biggenden, Lucy Kinbacher has spent 10 years working across metropolitan, regional and rural publications in both Queensland and NSW. Lucy has been the editor of the Queensland Country Life and North Queensland Register since 2021.
