THE consistency and reliability of Gullendah Dohne and Poll Merino genetics drew repeat buyers from across the east coast to the stud's 39th annual on-property ram sale at Baldry on Tuesday.
Rams sold to four states, with the increased offering creating buoyant bidding that resulted in a new stud best and what is believed to be a Dohne record average.
Overall, the Hughes family sold their entire draft of 160 rams, with 120 Dohne rams reaching a top of $5000, twice, and averaging a strong $3233, surpassing last year's average of $3115 which was thought to have been previously etched in the history books as the breed's highest to date.
Forty Poll Merino rams reached the $5250 sale high and averaged $2768, a substantial increase of $672 on the 2020 average.
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Gullendah stud co-principals Peter and Andrew Hughes said they appreciated the support from all repeat clients as well as new buyers that operated through the draft.
"It is great to see that our rams and genetics are performing for all our clients in a wide range of areas," they said.
Victorian buyers Neil and Briony Robertson, Rossbridge, paid $5250 for the top-priced Poll Merino ram, lot 124, GP201704.
The May 2020-drop ram was sired by the MP syndicate and measured an 18.2-micron fleece with a standard deviation (SD) of 3, a coefficient of variation (CV) of 16.8 per cent and a comfort factor (CF) of 99.2pc.
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Repeat buyers of many years, the Robertsons picked up nine Poll Merino rams at a $3250 average.
"They were looking for white, waxy wools. A free-growing type with frame, structure and good quality safe wools," Elders stud stock agent Scott Thrift, Dubbo, said.
Consistent high prices resulted in three Poll Merino rams also being knocked down for $5000.
Two Dohne rams were knocked down for the top price of $5000, with both purchased by Peter McSwan of Brenda Station, Goodooga as part of his draft of 11 rams averaging $3864.
Lot 3, GD208607, was the first to hit $5000. He was an 18-micron, twin-born May 2020-drop son of GD174746 which measured 2.8 SD, 15.4pc CV, 99.5pc CF and an index of 139.8.
Also making the $5000 top Dohne money was lot 87, GD208688, a May 2020-drop son of HR180157 which was a 17.8-micron single-born ram with a 139.9 index.
Running around 8000 Dohne and Merino ewes as part of his mixed sheep, cattle and goat enterprise, Mr McSwan said he is a repeat buyer of many years that continues to come back because of the consistent type of the Gullendah sheep.
Queensland based purchasers were the largest volume buyers with Perola Park Pastoral, Augathella, selecting 18 Dohnes rams at a $2833 average.
Loongana Pastoral Co, Longreach, Qld, bought 12 rams for a $1708 average, including three Dohne rams at $2000 each and nine Poll Merino rams at a $1611 average.
Tasmanian buyers were Bayles Bros, Cressy, who bought eight Dohne rams for a $3063 average through Nutrien stud stock agent Brad Wilson, Dubbo.
Ten Dohne rams sold to Myee Prime, Geurie, for a $3375 average.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Wilson Russ, Warren, with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth, taking bids.
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