'Hardly a hole' in Hazeldean ram sale as southern clients invest in new sires

Strong support from wool producers across southern Australia has helped Hazeldean to a near-perfect clearance at the Cooma stud's annual ram sale on Friday, October 16.

All bar one of the 217 lots offered were sold, achieving an average price of $3287 and a top of $13,500, paid for Hazeldean 25000421, by Hazeldean 23001072 out of Hazeldean 20000806.

The Poll Merino sire, sold to Andrew, John and Chops Guthrie, Nelenia Pastoral, Delegate, tested at a 16.6 micron, a greasy fleece eight of 5.6 kilograms and a comfort factor of 99.7 per cent.

He also measured for Australian sheep breeding values (ASBVs) in the top 5pc for yearling fibre diameter at -2.9 and in the top 30pc for adult clean fleece weight at +21.4.

Andrew Guthrie said the family had been breeding their own rams for six or seven years, but decided it was time for an injection of fresh genetics.

Beginning with Mr Guthrie's grandfather, the operation had been using Hazeldean genetics for 60 or 70 years.

"We've done a bit of artificial insemination (AI) and had some success, but we this year thought, no, let's just go back, go and buy a standout ram and breed our own," he said.

"We do a bit of data collection and pick out our top performers, and then buy a ram that's suited and put them over and keep the offspring."

The operation runs about 9500 head in Merino and crossbred flocks across 1905 hectares, with the woolcutters measuring 16 to 18 micron at 6.5 to 7kg.

Mr Guthrie said they were looking for a sire that performed well when it came to micron and fleece weight, and a "pretty handy" post-weaning weight was a bonus for the wether job.

"We ticked a lot of boxes, and then obviously you've still got to come and have a look at the sheep," he said.

"And he really suited our style of wool that we go for."

A team of 20 rams would be split across a pair of properties owned by TA Field Estates, Wyvern Station, Carathool, and Benangaroo Station, Jugiong, averaging $2925 and paying to $4000.

The business' genetic consultant Craig Wilson said the significant volume of rams was a "top up" in addition to the 160 or 170 sires Hazeldean contract bred for the stations.

"We're really focused on production and performance, and we work on the wool production index," he said.

"The Benangaroo sheep have got to be non-mulesed, so we're really conscious of skin and freeness in the skin with them.

"And probably more production, straight production-based, basically at Wyvern."

Mr Wilson said the two properties joined about 26,000 ewes between them, with the micron and weight cut varying across the flocks.

"We really use that as our way to decide where the genetics are going," he said.

"We're very strong on it, very focused on the breeding values and what they can offer."

The business had been following Hazeldean blood for 30 years and placed an emphasis on benchmarking, with Mr Wilson organising the Australian Merino Production Trial.

DH Hill and Co, Springvale, Cootamundra, also went home with 20 lots, averaging $4325 and paying $9000 for the top of the team.

Hill Pastoral, Stockinbingal, bought 16 lots at an average of $4438 and a high of $7500, while Bruce and Rachael Griffin, CC Agriculture, Rocky Plains, Berridale, took 14 rams home at a $2250 average and a $3000 top.

Coolringdon Pastoral Co bought 12 sires for a $3958 average and a $5500 top, as did the Maple-Brown Investment Trust, Bethungra, averaging $2750 and the most expensive for $3500.

Pictures by Dakota Tait.

Nutrien Stud Stock's Rick Power said the sale "hardly had a hole in it from all the way through" for a very even offering of rams.

"There was an array, a mixture of horns and polls, and then a lot of the clients bought both, simply because of the structure and the wool cut," he said.

"I think it was nice to see a few old clients back, due to a few tight seasons in Victoria and South Australia ... and were very strong on the better sheep, which was very pleasing."

Hazeldean general manager Bea Litchfield said the stud took a "balanced approach" and wanted to deliver sires with high fleece weight, growth, structure, wool quality and "commercial relevance".

Ms Litchfield said she was really happy with how the rams had come through the Monaro's difficult winter.

"We have got them through without supplementary feeding, so it's testament to their good constitution," she said.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Stud Stock, with auctioneers Rick Power and Matt Campion, and interfaced with AuctionsPlus.