Wool quality, stucture and depth sought after at Langdene Merinos sale

Buyers sought well-structured rams with depth and quality wool cut at Langdene Merino's sale, held at Langdene, near Dunedoo, on September 26.

All up, 96 of 108 rams sold to a top price of $10,000 to average $3437.50, up $577.50 on last year.

A further five rams were sold post-auction.

In the breakdown, 65 of 68 Merino rams sold to $10,000 to average $3569, while 31 of 40 Poll Merino rams made $6500 to average $3161.

Hollow Mount Pastoral, Bigga, secured the top-priced Merino ram, LD24-0276.

The 108 kilogram LD22-0104 son recorded a fibre diameter of 16.9 micron, 3.6 micron standard deviation, 21.5 per cent coefficient of variation and 99.5pc comfort factor.

He also ranked in the top 10pc of the breed for yearling fibre diameter at -2.65.

Hollow Mount farm managers Racquel Palmer and Blake Robertson, with the assistance of their agent Brad Wilson, Nutrien, selected the ram based on his shape, depth of body, sirey outlook, wool and carcase traits.

The stud also selected one other Merino ram, LD24-0831 for $6000, and Poll Merino sires LD24-0731 and LD24-0865 for $4500 and $3500, respectively.

Ms Palmer said the draft would complement the stud operation, which aims to breed big-framed, heavy wool cutters with white, bright, crimpy wool.

The rams will be joined to about 150 Poll Merino and 250 Merino stud ewes on November 1.

Volume buyer Phil Redding, Corumbene, Dunedoo, bought eight rams to $6500 to average $4250.

His top-lot, the RP17-1133 son, LD24-0752, had 18 micron, 2.5 micron SD, 13.8pc CV and 99.8pc CF.

The 100kg top-priced Poll Merino ram ranked in the top 20pc at -2.05 YFD, +26.53 yearling clean fleece weight and top 30pc at +181 fine wool index and +174 wool production index.

Frame, body length, depth and wool cut were at the top of Mr Redding's priorities.

He runs 3000 Merino ewes, joining two-thirds back to Merino rams, while culls go to Border Leicester sires.

The resulting first-cross ewes are then joined to Poll Dorsets.

Wether lambs are turned off at 12 months, with Mr Redding aiming to have "as much weight as possible on them."

Andrew and Sally Croft, Coolga, Budden Junction, selected a draft of eight rams to $3000 to average $2437 on behalf of Janice Holcombe.

Wool length and quality topped the selection criteria for Mr and Mrs Croft, who have been using Langdene genetics for the past 12 years.

They said the consistent results in their lambs kept them returning year after year.

"It's the size of the sheep and the quality of the wool," Mr Croft said.

They join 1300 to 1400, 19-micron, Merino ewes in March for a six-week program, targeting 26 to 27kg dress weights for Thomas Foods International, Tamworth.

Garry Cox, Langdene, said he was thrilled by the result.

"There is good positivity in the industry at the moment with the surplus and wool market on the up," he said.

Ford End Pastoral, Delungra, purchased six rams to $6500 average $5083.

MW and FA Pilley, Gundowda Station, Hargraves, bought four rams to $7000 to average $5250.

Sandan Family Trust, Mudgee, secured four rams to $4000 to average $3125.

Elders conducted the sale with Paul Jameson as auctioneer.