Strong wool and sheep markets deliver a solid sale for Mullengudgery
Mullengudgery Ram Selection Field Day
The sale was held at Mullengudgery Station, Nyngan, on Friday, October 2.
Improved wool prices and the strong sheep and lamb markets led to a solid result at the Mullengudgery Ram Selection Field Day, held at Mullengudgery Station, Nyngan, on Friday, October 2.
The stud sold 131 rams - 32 horned and 99 polled - averaging $1161, after they were drafted into different grades and offered by selection.
Rain in the Wilcannia and Tilpa areas kept a few western clients away, but rams went to Nyngan, Weilmoringle, Bourke, Louth, Emmdale, Wilcannia and Hermidale, with many going to repeat clients.
Two rams made the top price of $3000, both bought by Declan and Michael Hoare, Bel-Air Pastoral, Nyngan.
The first ram, 4.1039, was by 678SYN and weighed 102 kilograms, with a fibre diameter of 20.2 microns with a standard deviation (SD) of 3.1, coefficient of variation (CV) of 18.4 per cent, and comfort factor (CF) of 99.5pc.
The second, 4.0799, was sired by PB180137 and weighed 101.5kg. He had 22-micron wool, 3.3SD, 15.1CV and 98.9pc CF.
The Hoare family took home a draft of 17 Poll Merino rams for their self-replacing flock, averaging $1641.
The sale's volume buyer in the Poll Merinos was Uri Point Partnership, Weilmoringle, which selected 22 rams for $800 each for their Mullengudgery-blood Merino flock, classed by Mullengudgery Station manager Manning Doughty.
Long-time clients Bill and Denise Stalley, Rossmore Station, Bourke, were the volume buyers in the horned rams with 13 rams at $1200.
Wally and Margaret, with their son Mitchell, bought five rams for their wool operation at Landsdowne, Louth.
They're long-time buyers, having used Mullengudgery genetics since the 1960s.
The Mitchells are joining about 1200 ewes after destocking through the dry period.
"They've always had a good frame, and their micron has been coming back," Scott Mitchell said.
"We wanted the biggest ones in the $1200 pen, and the ones we got have above average fleece cut, so we got the style and wool cut we needed."
Mr Doughty said it was a good day, with a buoyant mood among producers.
"Improved wool prices, combined with continued strength in sheep and lamb markets, are rewarding those who have remained committed to Merinos across the Western Division," Mr Doughty said.
"We pride ourselves on supplying rams with the constitution and resilience to perform in the back country, while remaining at a price point that represents genuine value for commercial producers."
"We are particularly proud of how our rams have performed this season, with this year's offering being the heaviest line of rams ever presented by Mullengudgery.
"We greatly appreciate the ongoing support of Greg Seiler and Charlie Bible from Nutrien Bourke, and Mick Jones from Richardson and Sinclair Dubbo, who attend and support our sale each year."
Mr Seiler had a smaller order than usual, buying 17 rams on behalf of two separate clients.
"Normally we'd buy on behalf of five clients, but with the dry season last year, people have sold ewes and numbers are down so the ram requirements this year weren't as great as what they'd normally be," he said.
"The rams were presented phenomenally - they presented one of the best line-ups of rams that I've seen there."
Stud principal Tom Moxham said he was pleased with the sale results.
He said this year's rams were, on average, 20kg heavier than last year.
"It's dried off now, but we had a fantastic winter," Mr Moxham said.
"At the start of May we were feeding everything on the place and had more than 10,000 sheep in containment.
"We sent cattle away on agistment and it started to rain, then we got good rain every 10 days to two weeks.
"And it was a mild winter, so we had a terrific body of clover and ryegrass to finish them on."
Rams will continue to be sold during the coming weeks.
