Ewe breeders target length, depth and carcase traits at Bauer Retallack
Traditional first-cross ewe breeders are investing heavily in new genetics, chasing length and depth in their rams to produce progeny to suit the evolving Merino ewe.
The Buerckner family, Bauer Retallack Border Leicesters, Ariah Park, was a recipient of this action on Friday, October 9, lifting their average $569 on the 2025 sale.
The stud sold 68 of the 79 rams offered, topping at $3000 four times for a healthy average of $1966.
Four of the five stud rams sold, going to three different breeders, while the flock rams topped at $2800, showing the consistency of breeding from the stud offerings to the high-quality flock rams.
Geoff and Debbie Selmes, Jerradale Border Leicesters, Crookwell, have bought at Bauer Retallack for the past eight years, with successful results.
The stud took home two of the top rams at $3000, including the reserve junior champion ram from Sydney Royal in 2026, with an eye muscle area of 35.42 square centimetres.
The Selmes family secured Bauer 1229, by Retallack Presence 3rd, going back to 1258.22 on the dam side by the Geraldine Eagles Blood sire and also lot 5, by the Bauer The Showman sire.
"I chased the lot 3 ram, especially for his pedigree going back to the Geraldine Eagles Blood-cross, which is something we want to put into our flock," he said.
Mr Selmes said the Bauer rams were extremely productive rams.
The family breeds about 60 rams a year and run a 2000-head Merino and first-cross ewe commercial operation producing first-cross progeny with length and bone structure, with the aim to turn off ewe lambs that are big, square and long for future breeders.
Shane Romer, Goulburn, paid $3000 for Bauer 1188, by the Bauer Supreme 6th sire, which had a strong showing record this season across the NSW State Sheep Show, Australian Sheep and Wool Show and the Bendigo Elite Show and Sale.
John Bruce, Avondowns, Barooga, has been a repeat buyer at Bauer for the past 10 years and loaded six rams to a top of $2600 and an average of $2100.
Mr Bruce runs 1000 ewes producing first-cross ewe lambs for the Corowa sales in October every year, with good results.
"The Bauer rams just have the length we are chasing and have great longevity in their sires and they just seem to join up really well for us," he said.
"On the wether side they hang up really well and seem to yield exceptionally well on the rail and it's hard to change when you are onto a good thing."
Local breeder Matt O'Dwyer has been buying from the Buerckners since they started and runs a dual operation breeding first-cross ewe lambs to sell at the annual West Wyalong breeders sale, while keeping the other half to breed second-cross lambs.
Mr O'Dwyer said he loved the consistency in type of lamb he got from the Bauer rams, with length and body to produce an exceptional first-cross ewe for the market.
"The Bauer rams have all the right attributes to breed both first-cross ewe lambs and a breeding ewe to produce top quality second-cross lambs and we are really happy with the whole show at Bauer," he said.
Ryan Burden and his father Peter were the volume buyers, securing 29 rams, reaching a high of $2800 for lot 1.
They were active throughout the sale, averaging an impressive $1807 across their draft.
The Burdens run the North South Grazing Partnership at Narrandera, joining 3500 Merino ewes to Bauer rams and targeting the first-cross ewe sale at Narrandera each year.
Bauer Retallack stud principal Jamier Buerckner said it was pleasing to see so many existing clients returning to secure rams that were tailored to their operations.
He was happy to see three stud operators buying to put Bauer genetics into their flocks.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions Wagga Wagga, with Tim Woodham and James Croker as the auctioneers.
