Commercial buyer outbids studs to claim sought after star lot at Roseville Park
Commercial and stud bidders battled it out for in-demand RP22-1194 progeny at Roseville Park's Merino and Poll Merino sale near Dubbo, on September 18.
All 210 rams sold to average $3869, with 177 Poll Merinos to $26,000 to average $3864, and 33 Merinos to $16,000 to average $3893.
Fierce bidding surrounded the star lot, with $26,000 RP24-0076 selected as the pick of the sale by Stuart, Andrew and Cliff Kelly, Kilbournie Pastoral, Caloola.
Sired by RP22-1194, who had 75 sons in this year's sale, the single-born ram recorded a fibre diameter of 17.6 micron, 35 millimetre eye muscle depth (EMD) and 138.7 per cent greasy fleece weight (GFW).
He ranked in the top 5pc with +7 fat depth and +199 wool production index (WP), top 10pc at +31.4 yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) and +10.1 post-weaning weight (PWT).
The Kelly family placed particular value on staple length, YCFW and yearling fat depth. They also sought the RP22-1194 bloodline.
"We want good staple, nourishment and the growth to match," Stuart Kelly said.
"Moreso, the yearling fat depth for doability in our tablelands environment."
The family runs a self-replacing merino flock with 8000 March shorn ewes, 18 micron, April joining and 95pc September lambing.
Semen will be collected for commercial sale and on-farm use.
Underbidder Nigel Robert, Dunbogan Merinos, Elong Elong, secured RP24-0244 for $16,000.
Another son of RP22-1194, the twin-drop, 17.8 micron ram was in the top 10pc for +4.5 fat depth (FAT) and top 20pc for -1.9 yearling fat depth. +8.7 PWT and +11 yearling weight (YWT).
Steve Tozer,Main Range Partnership, Cooma, bought RP24-0096 for $18,000.
Also sired by RP22-1194, the single, 16.7 micron ram was in the top 5pc for +196 WP, top 10pc at +6 FAT, +32.9 YCFW and +158 sustainable merino index.
Kevsville Trading, via Elders Hamilton, purchased RP24-0266 for $12,000.
Sired by RP22-1194, the single, 17 micron ram had a GFW of 134.4pc.
Overlea Holdings, Colindina, Corowa, paid $16,000 for the top-priced horn ram RP24-1114.
Son of RP19-0072, the single, 16.9 micron ram was in the top 5pc for +34.8 YCFW, top 10pc at +5 FAT, and top 20pc at +9.5 PWT, +11.8 YWT, and +185 WP.
South Australian Bruce McCarthy, Flinders, purchased RP22-1194 son, RP24-0387 for $10,000.
With a 16.8 micron and 153.5pc GFW, he ranked in the top 10pc at +5.5 FAT, and top 20pc at +9.2 PW, +11.1 YWT and -2.1 yearling fibre diameter.
Volume buyer Charlie Maslin, Maslin Pastoral Company, Caragabal, secured 17 rams, topping at $2500 to average $2235.
Wool cut and confirmation were key priorities for Mr Maslin and classer Stuart Murdoch.
Mr Maslin runs 3200 Merino ewes averaging 17.5 micron, achieving a 100pc lambing rate, with joining in November and shearing in September.
Having used Roseville genetics since 2019, he noted their quality has shown consistent improvement each year.
Matthew Coddington, Roseville Park, said it was one of the best ram teams the stud has put together.
"We've been driven by our clients to bring in new traits, but we're not looking to change the sheep," he said.
"It's about maintaining the balance between data, structure and our Roseville Park wool.
"We're value adding all of our products by getting rams out there with intramuscular fat, fast growth, reproduction, disease resistance, good cutting and quality fine micron wool."
SM and AR Cassidy, Merilba, bought nine rams to $6500 to average $4277.
Bolong River Pastoral, Golspie, purchased 12 rams to $4500 to average $3250.
FJ Kelly Trust, Bowning, secured 10 rams to $6000 to average $3200.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, as auctioneer. StockLive provided the online interface.
