Cressbrook fine wool Merinos attract loyalty from repeat clients

Cressbrook Merinos at Dangarsleigh via Armidale recorded a confidence boosting average for fine wool rams on Friday with two sires selling to $5500.

Of the 71 sires on offer 50 sold to $2847.

One of the top-priced buyers, long-time repeat buyer Roy Robertson, Robertson Grazing, Kilcoy at Wollomombi, came away with two poll Merino rams to average $4750 with his best pick, Cressbrook 230765 by 200041, recording top five per cent of the breed for Yearling Fleece Diameter at -2.8 and ranked in the same percentile for Yearling Worm Egg Count at -79, on par with his sire who recorded YFD of -2.6 and a YWEC of -81.

"We have been buying here for the last 65 years and now have no other blood in our flock," said the fine wool producer.

"The Cressbrook wool type suits our rainfall, with 400mm recorded since the start of the year."

Equal top-priced buyers were Howard and his son Tom Schaefer, Eastern Fall Grazing east of Guyra, who have been purchasing Cressbrook rams for 20 years.

Their top-priced purchase was Cressbrook 23097 by 21002 with top 5pc for YFD at -3 and top 10pc Fine Wool index of + 191.

The family also purchased Cressbrook 230894 by 21002 with top 20pc YFD and FW with top 10pc YWEC for $5000.

"We produce fine wool and super fine wool and we see these type of sheep on the way up," Howard Schaefer said.

"We breed our own self-replacing ewes and we like the production of the Cressbrook line. They yield well and maintain style right to the tip of the staple."

Wayne and Ben Golland, White Rock at Wallabadah, came away with eight rams to a top of $4000, twice, to average $3312, with one of their top-priced sires being Cressbrook 230930 by 210022 with top 5pc YFD at -3, top 10pc FW at +188 and top 20pc YWEC at -46.

"We have been buying here since 1987 and like their uniformity," Wayne Golland said.

"They have a larger frame for fine wool sheep, which lend the older ewes to being put to a Border Leicester ram later on.

The family have been producing wool since 1890 with Ben Golland the sixth generation on the farm.

"We believe sustainable wool ticks every box but it might need a new approach to marketing like they did with the lamb advertising - to make it trendy and fun," he said.

The Swales family, Woodlands at Kingston, with Jamie Swales and his daughter Georgie doing the bidding, went home with six sires to join to their super-fine flock of Merino ewes, paying to a top of $3000 to average $2166.

Their top-priced ram, Cressbrook 231057 by 200003 came with top 10pc figures for YFD at -2.8 and Yearling Clean Fleece Weight at +30.

"We like the Cressbrook rams because they bring decreased micron in a stylish wool and they suit our country," Jamie Swales said.

Stud principal Lach Fulloon was "stoked" with the sale result and the longevity of repeat buyers.

He said the MerinoSelect Australian Sheep Estimated Breeding Values proved their worth.

"It shows our clients that we are in for the long haul; that we are invested in these Merino rams," he said.

The on-property sale was hosted by Nutrien with studstock auctioneer John Setree calling the bids.