Loyal local producers take home big teams from the Tallawong ram sale
Strong support from local volume buyers across the Yass and Canberra districts has buoyed prices at Tallawong Merino and Poll Merinos' 22nd annual on-property ram sale on Tuesday, October 13.
Of the 123 sires offered, 103 were sold for an average of $3116 and to a sale high of $9500 for Tallawong 250317.
The average was a significant improvement on last year's $2329, as well as the 2025 top of $7000, which was also achieved thanks to Mr Shanahan.
The top-price ram, by Greendale 232663 out of Tallawong 220188, sold to Michael Shanahan, Tidbinbilla Station, Tharwa, ACT.
His fleece tested 16.4 micron with a standard deviation of 2.6, a coefficient of variation of 15.6 and a comfort factor of 99.4 per cent.
In terms of Australian sheep breeding values (ASBVs), the ram was in the top 1pc for yearling fibre diameter at -3.9, with a wool production index of +215 and a fine wool index of +230.
Mr Shanahan said he had been bringing in genetics from Tallawong for 18 years, with the sale high ram one of several in the mix of 12 lots, which averaged $3479.
"We like the fineness and the whiteness," he said.
"We're wool, we're 100pc wool, so we just like the wool of these, and they cut plenty of wool and they cut us plenty of dollars, and the frame's not too bad, either."
The southern ACT operation has a flock of 5000 ewes across 2800 hectares, with a 16.5 micron average at 4.5 to 5 kilograms greasy weight.
"We're a high rainfall environment, we've got 40 inches (655mm) of rainfall. We don't treat any of our sheep for flies, we don't put any Click or anything on them," he said.
"We just like these sheep because they handle our environment, whether it's rain, hail or shine.
"And they cut us plenty of beautiful wool at the end of the year."
Andrew and Mitchell Leonard, Mulliondale, Yass, were the largest of several significant local volume buyers at the sale, going home with 15 lots for an average of $2167 and the top of the team for $3500.
The elder Mr Leonard said he had been buying from Tallawong Merinos since the stud's inception more than 20 years ago, and was "very proud" of his sheep.
The wool operation hosts 3000 ewes across 1000ha and cuts a flock average of around 6.5 to 7kg greasy weight at 16 to 16.5 micron.
The priority in his bidding was wool type, but Mr Leonard said dual-purpose potential was playing a bigger role, as they were now selling wether lambs at 13 months.
"It's the wool types, but they also finish well for the carcase weight as well, for the wethers," he said.
"And we're hunting for brightness of wool. There was a lot of sheep here that might have had more wool, but we went for the brightness.
"I'm very happy with last year's drop of ewes, so I was thinking about what's going to happen to them, and that's why I wanted as many [sires] as I got."
John and Anna Hyles, Booroomba Station, Tharwa, ACT, bought 10 lots averaging $4250, to a top of $7000, while Brendabilla Pastoral Co, Young, also took 10 lots at an average of $2550 paying to $5500.
Reynolds Pastoral Co purchased eight lots at an average of $3531, including the second top-price of the sale, Tallawong 250565, at $7500.
Nutrien Stud Stock's Rick Power said while the best of the catalogue commanded the most robust competition, the sale was "pretty strong" overall.
The better part of the buying gallery was local, as well as with some customers from across the Crookwell district and South West Slopes.
"I think you'd find that a lot of the Tallawong clientele are probably a lot of the wool companies' supreme wool clips, year in, year out," he said.
"It's just that focus on quality, stylish fine wool, and they've been growing Merinos and fine wool for a long, long time and don't really change."
Stud principal Frank Kaveney said his focus was still on delivering an "economically productive, heavy cutting, fine wool Merino", but carcase was becoming increasingly important for his clients.
The season had been "unusually" and "exceptionally good", he said, with the mild winter propelling a huge growth rate in the sale rams.
"Most of my producers are looking at that [fattening] option these days," he said.
"And we've been doing it very well ourselves, successfully both here and at the country at Cowra, going direct to Gundagai.
"The lamb option is a handy side, or more than a side venture now, to the Merino wool game."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Stud Stock, with Mr Power auctioneering.
