Average jumps at milestone Allendale sale as it moves to next generation
Repeat clients were on hand for a momentous day for the Allendale Merino stud, as it held the final sale under the ownership of studmasters Tony and Penny Inder at Goolma on Thursday, September 24.
After a tough lead-in during the past few months, 28 of 42 rams topped at $3000 and averaged $1723, an increase on last year of $466.
After surviving kidney cancer in 2024, last October studmaster Tony Inder suffered a stroke, so the future of the stud and commercial flock of about 2000 ewes was in doubt.
While Tony survived and is now in reasonable health, his two nephews, Hayden and Seton Croake, came forward and have purchased the stud and flock and leased the Iona property, keen to carry on with the breeding principles of Mr Inder, but plan to establish a poll flock as well.
It wouldn't be an Allendale sale without the Doherty family, who have supported the stud since it transferred into the Inder hands.
Peter, Mark and Colin Doherty, Klondyke, Goolma, this year bought five rams including the $3000 sale-topper for an average of $2150.
The $3000 ram, weighing 98 kilograms and growing 18.7-micron wool of 99.5 per cent comfort factor, is by a Wanganella sire.
The Dohertys bought another Wanganella-bred son of 96kg and 19.5-micron wool for $2750.
Firm believers in Allendale rams breeding "bread and butter wools" for decades, Larry and Helen Yeo, Murragega, Gollan, returned to secure three rams this year, as they said they had cut back slightly on their flock ewe numbers.
Their three purchases for a $1667 average topped at $2000 for a poll ram by a Wanganella sire, weighing 110kg and growing 19-micron wool of 99pc comfort factor.
Needing more rain than rams, The Marra region wool grower Greg Woodlock, Tuscan Pastoral Company, Ilagoola, Girilambone, usually buys 10-plus rams but returned to buy only one ram this year saying his property was in dire need of rain.
"We've only had up to 150 millimetres for the past year, so I've been downsizing slightly to keep things in equilibrium," Mr Woodlock said.
Returning to buy four rams at $1500 each, Ian and Andrew Parkes and families, Station View, Walmer, run a small self-replacing flock joining 600 ewes of 17 to 18-micron wool.
Their hoggets of 16.5-micron returned 1770 cents greasy a bale from their last shearing and this year selected rams with stronger micron wools.
"We want to micron up a bit within the flock," Ian Parkes said.
Peter Darlington, Karingal, Westella, also returned with agent Andrew Mills, MacWool, Dubbo, and secured six rams at $1500 each, while Mark Zell, Wattle Grove, Mendooran, bought two rams to $2500 and a $2000 average through Andrew Mills.
First-time buyer Mathew Wesley, Sunnyside, Coolah, gained two rams at $1500 each.
For the past 15 years, Tony Inder has shorn each sale ram for their new owners, who have donated proceeds of the wool to Redkite supporting families of children with cancer. From those years, Mr Inder estimates Allendale and their clients would have donated at least $140,000 to the charity.
The sale was conducted by Milling Stuart Pty Ltd, Dunedoo, with Angus Stuart the auctioneer.
