Gullendah rams heading to three states after strong competition at auction

A ram that "looks like a ram" and another that was "hard to fault" have set the standard at the Gullendah Dohne and Poll Merino on-property sale.

Held at Baldry on Tuesday, September 23, there was full clearance of 150 rams, with the Dohne offering increasing its average by just shy of $550 on the 2024 result.

While the Poll Merino average was back from last year, when it was among the 10 highest Merino or Poll Merino average in the country, the stud lifted its top price and clearance.

All up, 100 Dohnes sold to $5000, averaging $2940, while 50 Poll Merinos reached $7000, averaging $2430.

The top-priced Dohne ram was bought by the Mattiske family, trading as DJ Partnership, Forbes, with the winning bid placed by sheep classer Allan Clarke, Dubbo.

Mr Clarke said his brief had been to select a ram that "looks like a ram", with him deciding Gullendah 240302 fit the brief.

The 111kg, twin-born, April 2024-drop, son of GD209087 had a fibre diameter of 18.1 micron, 3.1 micron standard deviation, 17.1 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.8pc comfort factor.

He also had breeding figures of +5.5 post-weaning weight, +1.18 eye muscle depth and +6.8 yearling greasy fleece weight and a +142.5 Dohne plus index.

Mr Clarke said the ram was structurally sound with stylish wool.

"He's a good, big-framed sheep and he's got a lovely quality wool," he said.

"(The buyers) are prime lamb producers so that works out even better still."

All up, DJ Partnership bought three rams - one Poll Merino and two Dohnes - for an average $4166.

Also highly sought among the Dohne offering was GD240967, a twin-born son of GD220728, bought for $4750.

The 118kg ram's measurements included a 16.8M fleece, 3.0SD, 17.9CV, 99.5CF, as well as a +157.8 Dohne-Plus index, a +5.3PWWT, +1.35 EMD, and +0.43 fat.

He was bought by Yarraford Trust, Glen Innes, among its five lots, averaging $3950.

In the Poll Merinos, "stylish" $7000 ram Gullendah 242081, attracted plenty of bidding competition before being knocked down to returning buyers Robert and Paivi Cox, Manildra.

The couple had bought at Gullendah for the first time last year, chasing "power", with their lambs on the ground giving them the incentive to return again to select the top price ram, in their single purchase.

The 108-kilogram, April 2024-drop son of K212338 had fleece measurements of 19.1M, 2.8SD, 14.5CV and 99.8CF, with a greasy fleece weight of 122pc.

"He's a good style of sheep with a really good wool," Mr Cox said.

"He's pretty hard to fault."

The Coxs have been running a split joining with their 1000 ewes, in spring and autumn, for the past six or seven years.

"If you pay $7000 for a good ram, and use them twice, it's better than paying for two average rams," Mr Cox said.

Mrs Cox said the split joining had allowed them to speed up the impacts of their ram selection.

"We haven't reduced our investment but we have improved the genetics," she said.

The Cox's ram flock includes Poll Merinos, Merinos and Dohnes, with them preferring to buy based on the quality of the ram itself and the wool.

Another top price Poll Merino ram was lot GP 242474, by GP 212018, bought for $6750.

The 117kg, 19.7M, 2.8SD, 13.9CV, 99.8CF and 119GFW ram is heading to Victoria with new owners Gledfield Ag, Rossbridge, among its five rams, averaging $3900.

There were plenty of bidders selecting in bulk, especially among the Dohne selection, with 15 rams heading to Loongana Pastoral Co, Longreach, Qld.

Loongana has been buying at Gullendah for about two decades, with Mr Clarke also bidding for this client.

He said the Dohnes worked well in the central Queensland environment.

"That's the sort of country they thrive in," he said.

"They've increased their lambing percentage, have still got the wool and have rams with doability."

All up, Loongana Pastoral bid to $3500, averaging $2567.

Brenda Station, Goodooga, picked up 13 rams from throughout the Dohne catalogue, paying to $4500 and averaging $3442.

Perola Park Pastoral, Augathella, Qld, bought 10 Dohne rams to $4250, averaging $2975, while RA and CM Barden, Cunnamulla, Qld, selected nine to $3250, at an average $2694.

Suttor Family Trust, Bathurst, bought seven Dohnes to $3000, averaging $2583.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien stud stock with Paul Dooley the auctioneer.