Five states compete as Gullendah clears increased offering of Merino, Dohnes

A flurry of bids resulted in Dohne and Merino rams heading to five states from the Gullendah 44th on-property sale at Baldry, on Tuesday, September 22.

Adding a further 16 Merino rams only lifted momentum, and there was full clearance of the 56 offered, selling to a top of $9500 to average $3723.

The stud also sold all 100 Dohne rams to a high of $6000 and average $2755, with rams heading to Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and across NSW.

The top-priced Dohne came at lot 2, Gullendah Dohnes 250151, an April 2025-drop.

Sired by GD 210734, out of GD 197678, the ram had a fleece with 18.1 micron, 3.7 standard deviation, 20.6 coefficient of variation and 99.3 per cent comfort factor.

He also had figures of +1.63 for post-weaning eye muscle depth, +0.85 for fat and +9.1 for clean fleece weight.

The ram was bought by Brenda Station, Goodooga, among its 11 rams bought for an average $3545.

Carrying out the bidding was Peter McSwan, who said they had been buying rams from Gullendah for about a quarter of a century.

Mr McSwan said all 11 rams were a similar type, leaving him to chase the "big ones".

Brenda Station runs about 6000 ewes, and Mr McSwan said he expected the rams lift the quality of the whole flock, with the top-priced offering a "standout" that caught his eye early in the inspection.

"There's plenty of wool and plenty of muscle - it's not complicated," he said.

The top-priced Poll Merino ram came fourth in the Merino offer, Gullendah 252342.

Sired by Roseville Park 210448, the April 2025-drop ram had a 19.3-micron fleece with 3.5 SD, 18 CV and 99.1pc CF.

Buyer Garry Carney, Yarrawonga, Yeoval, has been buying at the top end of the catalogue at Gullendah for the past four years, looking for sires to join with his 3000 Merino ewes, aiming for a 19-micron average.

"He's big and long with a big spring of rib and great hindquarters and standout wool," he said of his ram.

Mr Carney said his goal was "bale-fillers", which he kept in mind when selecting his four rams for an average $7875.

His run also included Gullendah 252819, a son of Gullendah 232601 with 19.5 micron fleece, 3.2SD, 16.2CV and 99.6pcCF, at $8000.

"I like a big, bold crimp, with heavy cutters," he said.

"You won't go broke buying woolpacks."

Mr Carney said he was looking to breed big sheep with plainer bodies and all four rams fit that type.

While his ewes are shorn once a year, the younger sheep are shorn three times in two years, which was becoming more common with his longer staple.

"I'm extremely happy with our sheep, they're what you dream about," he said.

"I always try to buy the best - that's the way I look at it."

Gullendah co-principal Andrew Hughes said the top-priced ram had been on their shortlist to keep within the stud but they had wanted to offer some top-end rams to their clients.

There were plenty of bidders selecting in bulk, particularly on the Dohne lot, with Perola Park Pastoral Co, Augathella, Qld, selecting 15 rams to $3500 for an average $2867.

Also heading to Queensland were 10 Dohne rams for Loongana Pastoral Co, Longreach, Qld, with bidding going to $3000 for an average $2550.

Allan Clarke, Dubbo, carried out the bidding for both clients, saying they were looking for a "medium style sheep" to suit those climates.

RG and LJ Turner, Old Junee, selected nine Dohne rams to a top of $2750 and an average of $2278; RA and CM Barden, Valetta, Cunnamulla, Qld, bought eight rams to $4000, averaging $2875; Tarraganda Pastoral Co, Harden, bought eight at $1500; and Merngina Pastoral, Peterborough, SA, paid to a top of $5000 for six rams, averaging $3500.

In the Merino run, AC Bretag, Jamestown, SA, bought seven rams to $4000, averaging $2929 while Bayles Bros, Cressy, Tas, bought six rams to $2500, averaging $1833.

Mr Hughes said it was pleasing to see the strong support, even with the addition of extra Merino rams.

They had originally catalogued 40 but added another 16 to ensure more selection and value.

He said they had the capacity and genetic depth to increase the Merino numbers even more again next year.

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