Strong result for Darriwell, Towonga sale as Merino breeders chase heavy wool cuts
Commercial wool growers spread their buying across the Towonga and Darriwell drafts at their on-property ram sale at Peak Hill, where interstate competition pushed the returns.
Of the 163 rams offered at the sale, held at Rachelvale, Peak Hill, on Thursday, September 24, 158 sold for a 97 per cent clearance, averaging $3487 and topping at $16,000.
The result was up on 2025, when 149 of 155 rams sold to average $2741 and top at $14,250.
Garry and Donna Kopp purchased Darriwell Poll Merino stud from Russell and Jenny Jones in 2024, with Darriwell continuing as a separate breeding program alongside the Towonga Merino and Poll Merino studs. Russell Jones remains involved as Darriwell classer.
The $16,000 top-priced ram, Towonga 25-0732, by Towonga Tops Syn, measured 18 micron with a 3.1 standard deviation, 17.4 coefficient of variation and 99.8 per cent comfort factor. He weighed 117kg with a 42mm eye muscle depth.
He was bought by Willie Chandler, Barcaldine, Qld, through Bruce McLeish, Elders Qld.
Mr Chandler also paid $6500 for Towonga 25-2112, by Towonga 23-0013, a 17.6 micron ram with a 99.5pc comfort factor, weighing 122kg. His two rams averaged $11,250.
Two rams sold for $12,000.
The first, lot 1a, Towonga 25-4482, a ram the Kopps had planned to retain but offered as an additional lot, was by Towonga 22-0463, a son of Glenlea Park 1120. He measured 18.5 micron with a 99.8pc comfort factor and weighed 128kg.
He was bought by Peter Horne, Woodanilling, WA.
The second was Darriwell 25-2036, a 17.7 micron ram with a 99.5pc comfort factor, weighing 119kg with a 43mm eye muscle depth. He sold to Boomey Park, Larras Lee.
Boomey Park, operated by Peter and Odette Morley, was the volume buyer with 21 rams averaging $5833.
Their purchases included two rams at $11,000 - Darriwell 25-0429, by Darriwell 1524, and Towonga 25-4400, by Collinsville 121. They also paid $10,000 for Towonga 25-0265, by Towonga 22-0463.
"Beautiful rams," Mr Morley said.
He attended with Merino manager Josh Filla, who works under Boomey Park general manager Gus Shannon.
"Our rams are going to breed ewes that will fill wool bales," Mr Morley said.
"We look for about a 19-20 micron ram."
Mr Morley said they targeted that micron because, with the right management, they could reasonably expect the rams to breed ewes that would cut 7kg to 8kg of wool.
"We've traditionally bought Darriwell blood, but we're swinging between the two now," he said.
Their 21 rams were split about evenly between the Towonga and Darriwell drafts.
Ashley Currans and his son Xavier, Illabunda, The Marra, bought 14 rams averaging $3393 and topping at $7500 for Towonga 25-3605.
The ram, by Towonga 23-0867, measured 19.1 micron and weighed 94kg.
A return Towonga client of about 30 years, Mr Currans said he was chasing "big woolly rams" and also bred a few rams for the flock at home.
His Towonga-blood flock had further success at the National Merino Show in Dubbo in August, where a pen of five ewes from Illabunda was named grand champion and champion medium/strong pen, with one ewe also taking the champion flock ewe ribbon.
Mr Kopp told buyers before the sale the rams had endured a tough start last year but had responded to the strong season.
"I'm very proud of what I've put up today," he said.
He said the draft was consistent from top to bottom and the studs guaranteed their rams through to their first joining.
"We stand behind these rams," Mr Kopp said.
Other volume buyers included Andrew George, Tarrion, Brewarrina, with 10 rams averaging $2950 to a top of $5500; PR and KA Hando, Garryowen, Peak Hill, with six averaging $4250 to a top of $6000; and CE and GM Gowing, Lowan, Trundle, with five averaging $4300.
The Gowing family's purchases included Darriwell 25-1608, by Roseville Park 24, at $8500.
The sale was conducted by Schute Bell, Hunter Schute Bell Rice & Co, and Elders, with Paul Jameson, Elders, and Geoff Rice, Hunter Schute Bell Rice & Co, sharing auctioneering duties.
