'Miles above expectations': demand solid at Towonga and Darriwell Merinos

The Kopp family posted a strong result for their Towonga and Darriwell Merino and Poll Merino sale, held on property at Peak Hill on September 20, with several volume buyers active.

The sale reached a top of $14,250 to average $2741 for 149 of 155 rams. Another ram sold after the auction.

It was the first sale since the operation acquired the Darriwell stud, with former stud principal Russell Jones remaining on as classer.

The top-priced ram, Darriwell 24-1252, was knocked down to return buyer John Lenehan, Arajoel, Galore.

The ram, by Collinsville 21-2148, had a fibre diameter of 20.8 micron with 3.4 micron standard deviation, 16.2 per cent coefficient of variation, and 99.1pc comfort factor.

The April drop weighed 132 kilograms and scanned 45 millimetres eye muscle depth and 8mm fat.

Mr Lenehan was drawn to the ram's carcase and frame.

"He's a heavy-boned ram, with immaculate wool to match - and a lot of it," he said.

"It's good, gutsy wool, well stapled."

Mr Lenehan runs a commercial operation with about 1500 Merino ewes alongside a cropping enterprise.

His flock averages 19 micron and he breeds his own flock rams. He has focused on fertility in recent years, recording 115pc at lamb marking.

Mr Lenehan says he aims to purchase a stud sire occasionally.

"It improves the quality of the ewe base, it's not only the ram progeny out of the top sires, but also the ewes that are bred," he said.

He aims to turn off wethers at 10 to 12 months, five-year-old ewes, and surplus ewes at 1.5 years through store sales.

He noted it had been very dry for the last 12 to 18 months, and although things had picked up recently, dam water remained an issue and he was hoping for some heavy rain.

The Ward family, Ungarie, paid $7250 for Towonga 24-0230, by Towonga 22-0553.

The ram, 110kg, was 19.6 micron with 44mm EMD and 9mm fat.

Long-term Darriwell client, Boomey Park, Larras Lee, selected 16 rams to average $3813.

The operation's top pick at $6750 was Darriwell 24-2112, weighing 92kg with 16.8 micron.

Boomey Park is owned by Peter and Odette Morley and managed by Gus Shannon.

The 5666-hectare operation runs about 7500 Merino ewes as well as White Suffolk crossbreds and cattle.

Mr Morley said they had used Darriwell blood for about 15 years and were seeking sturdy rams with carcase traits that would produce early-maturing lambs.

He praised the Darriwell wool quality and said they were also seeking brightness and crimp.

The flock averages 19 to 20 micron and they aim to turn lambs off at 55kg at 10 months.

Another volume buyer was Ashley Curran, Nyngan, who selected a draft of 15 averaging $2883.

Mr Curran is another long-term repeat buyer. He said he was after heavy-cutting rams for his 10,000 head operation, which averages 20 to 21 micron.

SD Nicholson and Son, Forbes, bought 13 rams averaging $2684.

GB Masonwells, Narromine, bought a draft of eight to average $2125. Buying nine averaging $1861 was N and M West, Barmedman.

Several buyers took home six rams, including the Gowing family, Trundle, with a draft averaging $3000; Allambie Pastoral, Alectown, averaging $3250; the Hando family, Peak Hill, averaged $3292; and Craig Grimmond, Hermidale, averaged $1916.

Brewarrina bidders, Eumarra Pastoral Company and Andrew George, averaged $2750 for four and $2000 for five, respectively.

Other notable sales included the Crouch family of Karu Pastoral, Condobolin, who paid $5250 for Towonga 24-4284 and $4750 for Towonga 24-0006.

R Macquire and K Thompson, Adaminaby, bought three rams averaging $4250. Their top pick was Towonga 24-1201 at $6000.

Garry Kopp, Towonga and Darriwell, was thrilled with the result.

There was plenty of return support but also several new buyers, each who selected two to three rams, he said.

"It was miles and miles above expectations," he said.

"I was hoping to average $2000.

"On the Towongas, people were back wanting wool cutters with great skins. I don't believe there's hardly another stud in the industry that has our skin or our woolcut.

"On the Darriwells they were chasing that quality wools with the supple skin."

He said the confidence in the industry was clear to see.

The sale was conducted by Elders and Schute Bell Badgery Lumby. Geoff Rice, Parkes, was guest auctioneer and shared the rostrum with Paul Jameson, Elders.