Ex-Merino breeders pay a pretty penny to secure sought-after CrackerJack son
Buyers who sought fertile and high-performing rams with good survivability set a competitive pace at the Burrawang Dorper and White Dorper on-property sale, held near Ootha, on Sunday.
At auction, 116 of 117 rams sold to average $3769 with White Dorper Jack In The Box hitting $32,000.
The sought-after three-year-old Burrawang CrackerJack son was secured by Harry and Charlie Pye, Gingie Pastoral Company, Walgett.
Tipping the scales at 140 kilograms, the sale topper was classified as a stud type 5 with an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 48 millimetres and 9.5mm rib fat.
He also had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) in the top 10 per cent of the breed for +8.16 weaning weight and +13.14 post-weaning weight.
The Pye family run a mixed cropping and sheep operation with about 12,000 head of White Dorpers.
Traditionally a Merino-based flock, the Pyes made the switch to White Dorpers about three years ago, to target the fat lamb market.
In 2024 they purchased Burrawang Thorn 210905, a twin son by Burrawang Trump, and sought a similar ram with high fertility, performance and survivability.
"We want natural growth rates, high post-weaning weight and good structure," Mr Pye said.
"[Jack In The Box] and Burrawang Thorn will go in with a stud mob that we use to breed our own rams as well as to sell privately.
"We join on an eight-month cycle, they were only joined on January 8, so [Jack In The Box] will join in the next cycle."
Mr Pye said the ewes were scanned at 10 months and were sold through Fletchers International or Thomas Foods International if they were empty.
Alongside Jack In The Box, the Pyes also purchased Burrawang 240616 and Burrawang 240520 to average $13,000.
Vicki and Daniel Nutt, Coondambo, Pandorra Pastoral, Port Augusta, SA, secured the top-priced Dorper ram, Burrawang 240236, for $6000.
Son of Burrawang Guns'n'Roses, the 11-month-old ram weighed 108kg with a 32mm EMD and 10mm rib fat.
Elders Port Augusta, SA, agent Jack Coleman said the Nutt family sought well-structured rams with good confirmation and type.
The return buyers run a 25,000 head Dorper ewe base with a similar number of Merinos and about 2500 Santa Gertudius/Angus cows on pastoral country.
With a track record of high performance and resilience, Burrawang genetics continues to draw the Nutt family back each year.
They also purchased four other rams to average $5333.
Volume buyers included Garry Hill, Pomona Hill, Pomona, who secured a draft of 17 Dorpers to a top price of $4000 to average $3205.
He operates a self-replacing Dorper flock with 15,000 ewes that targets fast-growing, structurally sound and maturing type sheep.
As part of the low-cost opportunity fat lamb program, Mr Hill aims to turn lambs off quickly in the 18kg to 24kg weight range.
When selecting his draft, he sought well-valued rams with good structure, skin type and feet.
Will Hobbs, Tambo, Qld, purchased a draft of 15 rams to a top price of $3750, to average $3183.
Nathan Morris, Burrawang, said the sale had great consistency from start to finish, which was reflected in the even prices throughout.
"Given the dry conditions in South Western NSW and Victoria as well as flooding in northern NSW and Queensland, this is a very pleasing outcome and something we were not expecting," he said.
The sale marked Burrawang's first inclusion of ASBV data.
"The industry as a whole wants more data, so we are investing in this to provide that to our customers," Mr Morris said.
"It allows our clients to focus on specific traits they may want to improve in their individual flocks.
"It is part of our commitment to continual improvement and genetic development."
Simon Renfrey, Ramps Ridge, Balranald, secured 13 Dorpers to a top price of $5000 to average $3811.
Alan Crozier, Marfield Station, Ivanhoe, bought eight White Dorpers to a top of $7250 to average $4218, while Rick Crozier bought two Dorpers for $4000 and $3000.
Lancoona Lamb, Lancoona, Hillston, purchased 12 Dorper rams to $4250, to average $2679.
BR&C agents conducted the sale with Nick Farley, Nutrien Bendigo, as guest auctioneer. StockLive Elite provided the interface.
