Western buyers dominated at Annalara securing more than a third of sale

Western NSW buyers were the ones to beat at the Annalara White and Ultra White Dorper sale, held near Dubbo on February 18, with two bidders securing more than a third of the offering.

Annalara sold 77 of 84 White Dorper rams to a top price of $3250, averaging $1896.

Of the 23 UltraWhites offered, nine sold to a top price of $2500, averaging $1877.

All up, 86 of 110 rams sold to average $1877.

Tom McCumstie, TJ Pastoral, Goodooga, NSW secured the top White Dorper ram, Annalara 240212, for $3250.

Son of 220191, the twin September 2024-drop ram weighed 89 kilograms and scanned an eye muscle depth of 42.5 millimetres and 6mm of fat.

He also had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) in the top 10 per cent of the breed with +2.82 post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD) and +3.15 carcase eye muscle depth (CEMD).

Mr McCumstie has used Annalara-blood rams for more than a decade in his 2500-head White Dorper flock.

"I want a true-to-type ram with plenty of fat, muscle and growth," he said.

"I don't choose the rams on anything specific, I want them to be better in the flesh than the figures."

Top-priced UltraWhite ram, Annalara UW240537, sold to Frank Deshon, Abarue Pty Ltd, Dirranbandi, Queensland, for $2500.

Son of UW197081, the single September 2024-drop ram weighed 68kg and scanned EMD 38mm and 6mm fat.

In total, Mr Deshon also secured seven rams to average $1964.

Volume buyer Dale McGrath, Cuttaburra Pastoral, Bourke, bought 25 rams to a top of $2000 to average $1760.

Another notable buyer, Emma and Ben Laird, Mount View, Hillston, secured 17 rams to $2750 average $1867.

"This is the first time in 20 years that we haven't attended the sale in person and instead bid online through AuctionsPlus," Mr Laird said.

"I select my rams by matching both the figures with appearance. I focus on breeding values, structure and moderate-frame rams."

Annalara principal Steve Cresswell said it was "one of the most even lines" of rams the stud has had.

He thanked return buyers for their ongoing support.

Elders conducted the sale with Martin Simmons, Dubbo, as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.