Heralded as a massive success for the Dubbo fixture and Merino breed 34 rams of 47 rams sold to a top of $31,000 and averaged $6110 at the 2020 Dubbo National Merino Sheep Exhibition and Sale last Wednesday.
The average is $347 above last year when only 19 rams sold and this year's auction clearance was 72 per cent from the offering catalogued from 18 NSW studs and two from Queensland and one from South Australia.
The sale-topper at $31,000 a poll ram from the Coddington family's Roseville Park stud, Dubbo, was bought by Hay-based stud consultant Chris Bowman for a syndicate of five studs - Blairich conducted by the Small family, Blenheim, New Zealand, who takes full possession; Jim Darmody, Wantana Hills stud, Boorowa, and three Victorian studs including Wurrook at Rokewood, Melrose, Horsham and Salt Creek, Woorndoo.
Roseville Park's Merino draft-topper at $10,000 was a 16.9 micron son of RP13.338 by RP10.38, bought by John Lawrence, Parrawurlie, Barmedman.
The stud gained an average of $9188 for its draft of eight rams with $8000 being paid by the Seaman family, Tanwarra, Wattle Flat, for a 17.9 micron son of RP14.19.
Another four rams sold at $10,000 each for Langdene stud, Dunedoo, West Plains Poll stud, Delegate, Darriwell stud, Trundle, and Orrie Cowrie stud, Woorooka, South Australia.
Langdene's draft-topper an 18.7 micron son of 0013-051 found a new home with the Privett family, Glenleigh stud, Yass, the Cox family gained a $6125 average for their draft of four Langdene rams.
Robert Harding, Glendonald stud, Nhill, Vic, paid $10,000 for a poll ram growing 18.9 micron wool bred and offered by Drew Chapman and family, West Plains Poll stud, Delegate. Mr Harding said he was keen on purchasing a son of Collinsville Imp 771 to spread the poll gene pool within the Glendonald flock.
Russell and Jennifer Jones, Darriwell stud, Trundle, averaged $6750 for two rams with thier top selling at $10,000 to an undisclosed buyer through AuctionsPlus.
While not presenting rams at the sale due to COVID regulations barring border crossings, The Dalla family, Orrie Cowie Poll stud, Warooka, SA, sold one of two at $10,000. This was the 17.2 micron son of Casper and from a stud ewe by OC Duke, purchased through Nutrien Livestock, Dubbo.
The Matthews family, Borambil stud, Corowa, gained $8000 for their 20.8 micron ram sired by Moorundie 190 and from a Borambil special stud ewe, also purchased through Nutrien.
The Brumpton family of Mount Ascot and Jolly Jumbuck studs, Mitchell, Qld, enjoyed success with two rams selling at $6500 and another at $6000.
Nigel and Rosemary's Mount Ascot stud gained $6500 for a 20.3 micron son of East Mundulla Jonty selling to Little Merinos, Waverley, Cunnamulla, Qld, while two poll rams from Felicity, Charlie and Lachie Brumpton's Jolly Jumbuck stud, also topped at $6500 for a 19.8 micron son of their Mawunda sire selling to the Hardie family, Currawong, Tallimba.
Jolly Jumbuck's $6000 ram sired by the Seymour Park sire and growing 20.7 micron wool sold to the Sisson family, Glenene, Guyra.
A 19.1 micron son of the 2017 Australian Supreme Merino sold at $6000 for the McLaren family's Nerstane stud, Woolbrook, to Wool Solutions, Tasmania.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, Dubbo, with Rick Power auctioning for Nutrien and Lincoln McKinlay for Elders.
