Repeat buyers bid strongly on genomically-tested Langdene sires at auction
Good wool, on structurally ram sheep, had repeat buyers placing bids thick and fast at the 30th Langdene Merino Stud ram sale at Dunedoo, on Friday, September 25.
Bids topped at $11,000 as 89 of 108 rams sold at auction for an average $4163.
This included 54 Merino rams averaging $4481 and 35 Poll Merino rams averaging $3671.
The top price was paid for lot 73, Langdene 25-0357, by Langdene 23-1001, a 103-kilogram Merino with 18.2 micron, 3.5 standard deviation, 19.4 coefficient of variation and 98.7 per cent comfort factor.
His Australian sheep breeding values included a yearling fibre diameter and adult clean fleece weight in the top 10 per cent for the breed at -1.97 and +26.36 respectively.
After being the underbidder on another lot he liked, buyers Richard Maguire, with Karen Thompson, Greenvale, Adaminaby, went hard on the top-priced ram to ensure they secured it.
Mr Maguire has been buying at Langdene during the past 10 years, targeting an 18 to 19-micron flock.
"We're trying to improve our wool cut on a big frame," he said.
"We're getting paid for both now."
All up, Mr Maguire bought three Merino rams and one Poll Merino ram for an average $5000.
Starting the sale off strong, lot one, Langdene 25-0675, by Langdene 23-1001, sold for $10,000 to MD Croker, Homesville.
The 118kg Merino had 17.6 micron wool with 2.3SD, 13.0CV and 100pc CF, as well as a yearling weight ASBV of +8.39, a yearling fibre diameter of -1.87 - in the top 20pc - and an adult clean fleece weight of +22.15.
Topping the Poll Merino offering was lot 3, Langdene 25-0890, by Lachlan Merinos 22-0118, with 19.1 micron, 3.1SD, 16.4CV and 99.5pc CF.
Bought by AJ and CJ White, Welshville, Mudgee, the 112kg ram's ASBVs included a yearling clean fleece weight and adult clean fleece weight both in the top 10pc at +33.17 and +32.59, as well as a yearling weight of +10.88, Fine Wool index of +191 and Wool Production index of +186 - all in the top 20pc.
The sale's volume buyer was AS Croft and E Holcombe, Coolga, Burren Junction, who bought eight rams for a top of $6000 and an average $3313.
Buying throughout the catalogue, from $2000 to $9000, was John Taylor, Fordend Pastoral, Delungra, who selected seven rams for an average $4714.
He has been buying at Langdene for about eight years, chasing "bulk cutting" rams.
His lots included 118kg Merino Langdene 25-0542, by Langdene 23-1001, with 18.2 micron, 3.2SD, 17.5CV and 99.7pc CF, as well as 106kg Langdene 25-1038, by Langdene 21-0053, with 17.4 micron, 3.7SD, 21.1CV, 99.6pc CF and yearling clean fleece weight and adult clean fleece weight ASBVs in the top 10pc at +34.18 and +29.97. Both rams sold at $9000.
"They've got a very good wool type," he said of the Langdene sheep.
"They perform well for us on the farm."
Mr Taylor runs about 5500 sheep, including wethers for wool production, aiming for an 18 micron average, alongside cropping and cattle.
Also selecting seven rams was Waugh Piccadilly, Colac, which bid to $4000, averaging $2643; MW and FA Pilley, Gulgong, selected six rams to $9000, averaging $5667; Alto Rural, Dunedoo, picked up six rams to $7500, averaging $4333; MR and D Leader, Binnaway, took home five rams to $6000, averaging $3800.
Daniel Fitzell, Flowerburn, Peelwood, has been buying at Langdene since 2012, usually selecting a mix of Poll Merino sand Merinos to join his 5000-head flock, which averages 17.5 to 18 microns.
He has a primary focus on wool, keeping most wethers to four to five years old.
This year he bought five Merino rams to $8000, averaging $6000.
He said he was selecting for "nice, soft-handling wool" on "structurally sound" rams.
Langdene principal Garry Cox said they had genomically tested all the rams this year, and he was happy with the results, particularly the adult fleece weights.
"We need to look at the longevity of the Merino," he said.
"If we combine a heavy wool cut, a low micron, with good growth, we've got a pretty attractive article."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien and Elders with Elders Paul Jameson taking the bids.
