Buyers back Parkdale SRS Merino genetics seeking balanced sires at Dubbo sale
Rams with structure and a fleece to match it drew plenty of bidding action at the Parkdale SRS Poll Merino ram sale at Dubbo on Tuesday, September 22.
The stud sold 72 of 100 rams under the hammer to a top of $4250 and an average of $1663. Another six lots sold shortly after the sale.
All rams offered were August/September 2025-drop and April-shorn.
The $4250 top-priced ram, tag 251015, was purchased by Elton Downs, Karoonda, SA.
Sired by Parkdale 221355, the ram tested 17.8 micron and recorded an SRS Index of 120.12, with Australian Sheep Breeding Value figures of +12.36 for wool cut and -0.45 for worm resistance (EBWR).
Buyer Chris Rudiker said he was chasing structure above all else, along with fibre to suit a move towards six-month shearing and easy-care Merino genetics.
"I was after structure, I'm big on that," Mr Rudiker said.
"Nice sound sheep, and then good fibre to match."
Mr Rudiker had bought rams from Parkdale in 2023 and 2024, and this year added seven rams to the Elton Downs operation, which runs a White Suffolk stud and breeds commercial sucker lambs from Merino ewes.
All up, he selected seven rams for an average of $1893.
Joe and Joanna Miller, Tara, Tooraweenah, bought three rams, saying they were after a balance of eye muscle, fat, productive traits and wool.
"Doesn't happen easy, but it's about balancing everything out," Mr Miller said.
The rams will go in with a select mob for targeted joining in November, with progeny destined for slaughter.
Steven Beddie, Bryngola, Mandagery, bought seven rams for his operation, describing what he wanted as simply "a nice even line".
A second-year buyer at Parkdale, Mr Beddie said the rams would join a mixed Merino base in November, with the flock run for fat lamb and wool production as the operation continued its transition towards non-mulesed breeding.
Volume buyers included Waverley Station, Gundy, with 12 rams averaging $2150; Rhys Erickson, Tailem Bend, SA, selected nine averaging $1444; Stuart Skinner, Kybeyan, Merrygoen, bought eight rams for an average of $1344; and Steven Beddie, Bryngola, Mandagery, bought seven averaging $1250.
Co-principal Don Mudford was absent from the auction, attending the Parkdale UK SRS open day.
The stud's United Kingdom arm was established in 2024, when the first lambs carrying Parkdale genetics were born in England, following purchases of Parkdale genetics by UK buyers through ram sales and artificial insemination.
Parkdale UK SRS now offers ram and ewe sales, semen and embryo sales, and sheep classing to British producers.
Before the ram sale, a selection of Parkdale's commercial NSM ewes went up for auction, with the older runs particularly sought after.
A run of 140 four-year-old ewes averaging 60.8kg made $275 a head, while 93 five- to six-year-old ewes,62.8kg, made $255 a head.
The sale was conducted by selling agents Hartin Schute Bell, Narromine, with Jason Hartin as auctioneer and the online interface provided by AuctionsPlus.
