Manager of Egelabra Merino stud for 25 years this year, Cam Munro said the depth in the sale team amplified the stud's breeding policy, to maintain the bloodline as a pure genetic strain to ensure consistent quality.
And the focus of the stud to maintain its genetics of more than 120 years was rewarded, as local and interstate woolgrowers fought to the last fall of the hammer in its 38th annual sale at Warren last Wednesday.
In the breakdown, one special grassfed sire, April-shorn; 180 grassfed flock rams, April-shorn and eight housed rams, March-shorn, sold to a 100 per cent clearance and to a $28,000 top, averaging $4791.
It was the 14-month-old HEK 200014 which fetched the top price of $28,000 when he was sold to HM Lowe and Co, Nyngan.
Sired by Egelabra 171498, the 89.5kg ram was the first ever Egelabra Special Sire to be selected and sold, with fleece measurements of 20.3 in the micron with a standard deviation of 3.0, 14.8 coefficient of variation and 99.3 per cent comfort factor.
Meanwhile he had carcase traits of 33mm for eye muscle depth and 2mm for fat depth and recorded Rampower within flock Estimated Breeding Values of 106.7 for Merino+ (M+) and 108.6 for Dual Purpose+ (DP+).
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Mr Munro described the ram as a 'big, upstanding fellow.'
"He had a wonderful, pure outlook with good structure and carried with him the Egelabra trademark fleece," Mr Munro said.
"He had a naturally bare breech, good, open head and lots of wool."
HM Lowe and Co's Gerar Station manager, Dave Motley, said the high-seller was a stylish ram with excellent figures and bright wool.
"He is a very pure ram with good, thick wool and a very good head," Mr Motley said.
"When we are looking to breed a few rams ourselves, and this one is very productive, we are looking for rams of the correct style."
Mr Motley said they'd joined 5500 Merino ewes at Gerar Station and were currently in the ideal stock season.
"We lambed this year at 103pc to joined," Mr Motley said.
"It was tough enough in early winter but the lambs are looking really well. Conditions prolonged the spring for us, kept clover growth going, and it has stayed remarkably cool."
Among the gallery of buyers was a client of more than 30 years, Nick Deshon, Lightning Ridge, who this time purchased six rams to an average of $6500.
Mr Deshon said it was the brightness and soft character of Egelabra wool that kept him coming back. He said the investment in Egelabra bloodlines was 'paying dividends' at his mixed cattle, sheep, goat and cropping enterprise, Llanillo.
There, they join about 3000 Merino ewes to Egelabra rams.
"We have been staunchly closed circuit, with the only thing coming in being straight Egelabra rams," Mr Deshon said.
"I have a few young boys on the sheep job. We are putting money back in, and it is starting to pay.
"We are selling our wether lambs, old ewes and cull ewes and getting repeat buyers. They are really chasing us now, so it is all coming back."
Mr Deshon said they were in a 'purple patch' in the northwest of the state.
"The season couldn't be better. We have fat goats, cattle and sheep and a good crop. In a run of good seasons stock sell themselves."
Meanwhile volume buyer Pete Schuster, Benelong Pastoral Company, Dubbo, secured 15 rams to an average of $4733. A longtime client and former jackaroo, Mr Schuster has bought rams in the sale for the past 25 years.
"Having seen first-hand the work that goes on behind the scenes, I have great confidence to buy rams in the production sale," he said.
"Rams are repeatable and reliable. You know body strike is not going to be an issue, and as long as you can manage the breech for your environment, they are a terrific, safe and productive sheep.
Mr Munro said he was thrilled with the result of the sale.
"This year we added an extra 30 rams to the draft. All are visually scrutinised for structure, type and then the within flock estimated breeding values are considered, closely following pedigree performance," he said.
"We are very happy with our direction, which we believe drives a profitable Merino with the ability to adapt to extremes in the environment, with minimal inputs."
Volume buyers included Gordon Welch, Molong, who purchased 25 rams to an average of $4420; the McGrath family of Womboin Station, Girilambone, who purchased 18 rams to an average of $4972; Pete and Ange Schuster, Benelong Pastoral Company, Dubbo, who purchased 15 rams to an average of $4733; Turner Family Trust, Wallandbeen, which purchased 11 rams to an average of $4136 and Jeff Nuthall, Dutton Park Pastoral Company, Young, who purchased 10 rams to an average of $5850.
The sale was conducted by Elders Stud Stock, Dubbo and Nutrien Stud Stock, Dubbo, with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, guest auctioneer.
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