Burrawang clears all rams to hit $25k high for proven White Dorper sire

A proven White Dorper sire already at work in the Burrawang stud's embryo and natural joining programs drew the day's top bid at the stud's spring on-farm ram sale near Ootha on Thursday, October 8.

Burrawang Double 241148 sold for $25,000 to Harry Pye, Gingie Pastoral Company, Walgett, who bought the ram through Elders Coonamble.

The 28th on-farm sale, held at Burrawang West Station, cleared all 151 rams offered to the $25,000 top, averaging $4526.

All 70 White Dorpers sold to $25,000, averaging $4807, while all 81 Dorpers sold to $10,000, averaging $4284.

The average was up almost $700 on the October 2025 sale, when 147 of 148 rams sold to $12,000 and averaged $3833.

Double, a two-year-old Type 5 ram by Burrawang Crinkle out of Burrawang WD 210817, was bred through embryo transfer and weighed 127kg.

His Australian sheep breeding values rank him in the top 10 per cent of the breed for weaning weight and post weaning weight, at +10.17 and +14.91 respectively. He was also in the top 10pc of his drop for post weaning eye muscle depth.

The stud's catalogue noted his thickness through the forequarter and loin and his large frame.

Burrawang stud manager Grace Hadley said the stud had already used Double and been impressed with his young lambs on the ground.

The Pye family moved Gingie from Merinos to White Dorpers several years ago and are regular Burrawang buyers, paying $32,000 for the sale-topping White Dorper, Jack in the Box, in March 2025.

The sale of lot 12 had initially remained pending before the $25,000 sale was announced a few lots later.

The second proven sire, Dorper ram Burrawang Impact 230122, sold for $10,000 to Gary Cullinan, Dust n Rain, Pooncarie.

By Burrawang Shotgun, Impact is three years and nine months old and weighed 126kg. The stud has retained a number of his daughters, and his sons sold at both the October 2025 and March 2026 sales.

Dust n Rain bought the top two Dorper rams at last spring's sale and the top-priced White Dorper in March.

Jack in the Box's influence was on show again, with his son, Burrawang 250166, making the third-highest price of $8500 for Rob and Sal Loveridge, Apsley, Gunbar.

Out of a Superbreeder ewe, the 19-month-old Type 4 ram weighed 119kg with 50mm eye muscle depth and 10mm rib fat. His ASBVs of +9.46 for weaning weight, +14.52 for post weaning weight and +1.47 for post weaning EMD ranked him in the top 10pc of his drop for all three.

Volume buyer Allan Crozier, Ivanhoe, took home 22 rams averaging $5409, made up of 11 Dorpers averaging $5364 and 11 White Dorpers averaging $5455.

His draft included two $7500 rams. Dorper Burrawang 252039, by Blast, was 13 months old, 102kg and had an EMD of 43mm. His post weaning EMD was +3.48 and maternal carcase production index of +157.9 were both ranked in the top 10pc.

White Dorper Burrawang 252323, by Granite, was 12 months old, 90kg and had a 44mm EMD.

2026 Burrawang spring Dorper and White Dorper sale, Ootha.

Gary and Alex Hill, Pomona Hill, Wentworth, bought 14 Dorpers averaging $3679.

The Hills have bought their rams at Burrawang for "as long as it's been here", and switched from Merinos to Dorpers in 2004.

Mr Hill said constitution and growth rate were the traits he wanted.

"I go off figures, but mainly the shape and the weight, length, feet and their overall structure," he said.

Peter Crettenden, Crettenden Partnership, Wentworth, bought 12 White Dorpers averaging $4542, and Simon Renfrey, Ramps Ridge, Balranald, took 10 Dorpers averaging $5250.

Lincoln Old, LF and DJ Old, Jerilderie, bought 10 rams averaging $4300.

Return buyer James Boag, Belah Creek, Nyngan, bought seven White Dorpers averaging $3929 to join about 2500 ewes in his straight Dorper flock.

He said he looked for a clean belly, long body and good feet, as their sheep had to be able to walk long distances in their country east of Nyngan.

Ms Hadley said they were happy with the sale results, which had returning and new clients.

"We were very happy with our sale team, they demonstrate the soun structure and high quality rams we focus on," she said.

"We're looking forward to getting out and about and making the deliveries and seeing how our genetics are performing."

Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon and Co, Forbes, conducted the sale, with Brendon White, Condobolin, Luke Whitty, Forbes, and Ryan Brown, Carcoar, as auctioneers. The sale was interfaced on StockLive.