Double-header ram sale works a treat for Lach River after Glenfinnan purchase
A top-priced buyer has gone home with a surprise ram at the Lach River Merino Stud's 11th annual sale, while the stud also offered White Suffolk sires for the first time after taking ownership of Glenfinnan Prime Lamb Genetics.
Of the 31 Merino rams offered on Thursday, September 10, 29 were sold at an average of $3017 and to a top of $6500 for Lach River 250002, by Terrick West MAX, sold to Jim Darmody, Wantana Hills Merino Stud, Boorowa.
Last year's sale managed a top of $9500 and averaged $2625, with 30 of 32 rams finding homes.
The sale high sire tested for a 16.5 micron, a standard deviation of 2.5, a coefficient of variation of 16.9 and a comfort factor of 99.9 per cent, all while weighing in at 128 kilograms.
Mr Darmody said the ram first caught his eye at the South West Slopes Stud Merino Breeders field day at Harden earlier this month, where Lach River claimed the reserve champion sash.
"I didn't realise at the time that he was going to be in the sale," he said.
"Today, I only went to have a look at the Chalker sheep, and I changed my mind a bit when I got there."
Mr Darmody said he liked the conformation, pedigree, wool and "overall package" of the ram, which would be incorporated into his stud genetics.
He was also building up the numbers of his commercial flock of 1200 ewes, cutting an 18.3 micron.
It was his first time purchasing an animal from the stud, but Mr Darmody said he had done an artificial insemintation program with Lach River genetics some years ago.
"Always tread lightly the first year, but just see what he does," he said.
"I've got about 400 stud ewes, and I normally try a few different things on a small scale.
"He's a very similar bloodline to my type of sheep."
Andrew and Michelle Southwell, Edenbrae, Rye Park, were the biggest volume buyer in the Merino section, taking home five Merino rams for an average of $1600 and to a top of $2000.
Mr Southwell joined about 4500 ewes across 1200 hectares, cutting an average of 5kg at 16 to 17 micron.
It was the couple's first time buying sires from Lach River, but Mr Southwell appreciated the sheer amount of wool on the rams.
"The main thing we liked about them was their structure, their feet, standing nice and square," he said.
"For us, it's a bit of a trial. We've never been to this stud before, so we'll take these home, and over the next few years keep track of their progeny, see how we go."
In the Glenfinnan sale, all bar one of the 108 rams offered was sold, at an average of $2108 and to a top of $3600 for Glenfinnan 255004, by Felix 211032, going home with Samantha Flanery, Solfarino Pastoral, Young.
Butt Livestock's Phill Butt said the operation was seeking terminal sires with a moderate birth weight, growth and eye muscle to go over their Merino ewes, finishing lambs for heavy export specifications.
The 111kg, May 2025-drop White Suffolk was in the top 1pc for lean meat yield at +5.8 and in the top 20pc for weaning weight at +11.8 and terminal carcase production at +158.
Ms Flanery also purchased the top-priced ram at last year's Glenfinnan sale for $3800, where the stud, then operated by Bogo Genetics, achieved an average of $2080.
Tim and Mitchell Bush, Glengullen and Ten Mile, Yass, bought seven rams in the White Suffolk run, averaging $2257, with three of those topping the team at $2600.
The operation runs more than 800 Merino ewes, cutting an 18.2 micron, and the new sires would be put over many of the flock for first-cross lambs.
Mr Bush said he liked the "size and structure" of the rams, which would help with his aim of finishing lambs at a carcase weight of 26-27kg, through the market at Yass.
While it was Lach River's 11th sale for stud principal Richard Chalker, it was the first with two banners side-by-side after purchasing Glenfinnan.
"We've got a big commercial flock and we join a lot of our second ewes or cull ewes to terminals," he said.
"We were buying a lot every year, 30 or 40 rams every year, so we thought we might as well."
Pictures by Dakota Tait.
The dual sale meant clients could pick up new genetics for their wool operation in the morning and shop for terminal sires that same afternoon.
"I think clients are starting to look for wool cut again, because of the way the wool job's gone, and now the shearing industry's settled down again," he said.
"A lot of people looking for data on the terminal side, meat and eating quality."
CPCJ Agriculture, Condobolin, bought four Lach River Merino rams at an average of $2500 and to a top of $5000.
In the White Suffolk offering, HE Kater and Sons Pastoral, who operate the Egelabra Merino Stud, Warren, bought 12 rams all at $1500.
Free Fight Pty Ltd bought nine White Suffolk rams at an average of $1633 and to a top of $1800.
The Stumpjump Family Trust, Young, went home with six terminal sires at an average of $2066 and to a top of $2600.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Butt Livestock, with auctioneers Matt Campion and Phill Butt, and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.
