A 58-YEAR history came to a close last Wednesday as Graham and Mary Wells, One Oak Merino stud, Jerilderie, NSW, drew the curtain on their illustrious career in the Merino industry.
A sale that had been marked on many a stud breeders calendar for more than 12 months, came to fruition with more than 400 people flocking to the sale for the opportunity to obtain some genetics from one of Australia's leading Merino studs at the top of their game.
Many people remarked on the stud's history and what the Wells family had achieved.
Elders auctioneer Ron Rutledge let loose on the first lots - 40 single penned specially-selected stud ewes, which topped the ewe sale at $12,000 and attracted large attention from the stud operators. They averaged $2569 across the 40 penned.
The 849 No 2 ewes sold to a top of $900 per pen and averaged $326 across the entire draft, with the top end regularly selling between $600 and $900. Then 190 ewes lambs averaged $257 and 64 ram lambs averaged $434 after topping at $600.
The 866 One Oak ewes sold between $175-$450, av $237; 187 One Oak ewe lambs made to $475, av $319; then 71 One Oak ram lambs topped at $850 for a pen of eight, av $423.
The start of the stud sires then saw the sale explode again after close to three hours as 19 stud sires made to $30,000 and averaged $5097.
Steve, Don and Thea Phillips, Yarrawonga Merinos, Harden, NSW, paid $30,000 for M26343 - a 17.7-micron son of OO Br 11-304, who went back to Roseville Park 14, with a 2.8 standard deviation, 15.8 co-efficient of variation and 99.6 per cent comfort factor.
Mr Phillips said they were after the 304 son for size and structure, coupled with great nourishment and bone.
Following suit Rick Power Landmark, Grenfell, NSW, paid $16,000 for Magnussen - the ram he believed should have been the 2013 Sydney Royal supreme exhibit - for Stirling Partnership, Beverly, Boorowa, NSW.
Hugh and Heather Cameron, The Yanko Merinos, Jerilderie, NSW, then paid $15,000 for OO BI 11-76 - a son of Kaldoonera - the 2010 Hay Hogget Ram of the Year, by the 002 BI 6237e ewe who was supreme exhibit at Dubbo, NSW, in 2008.
Graham's brother Ross Wells, Willandra Merinos, Jerilderie, paid $12,000 for the top ewe, in honour of his father and what he had started in 1955.
Mr Wells was also the losing bidder on the top-priced stud sire and bought 10 ram lambs at $450 and another 11 at $250 from the No 2 stud, to not only support his brother but get some of the studs heavily-credentialed genetics for his own stud.
Kim and Ken Knoakes, Karowara Plains Poll Merino stud, Bedgerabong, NSW, paid $9000 for the supreme ewe at Hay Sheep Show this year and also champion March-shorn strong wool ewe at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show; Dubbo and Royal Adelaide Show.
Mrs Knoakes said they were looking for a ewe that could bring more size to their program and a medium-wool that could help the operations current fine wool flock.
She was tag OOBR 13-001 at 17.5M, with a 2.7 SD, 15.4 CV and a 99.8pc CF.
The Lindsay family, Cora Lynn Merinos, Peak Hill, NSW, paid $8500 for OO Green 001 - grand champion strong wool ewe at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show, Dubbo and Adelaide shows at 18.3M, with a 3.2 SD, 17.5 CV and 100pc CF.
Spokesman for the stud Steve Lindsay said she had exceptional well-nourished wool that was compatible with their breeding program.
"We have been on Pooginook-blood for 50 years, but we also bought the $26,000 Wanganella ram at the FS Falkiner & Sons 150th anniversary sale and she is compatible with him to breed a new line, while still retaining our strong Pooginook blood families," he said.
Alistair and Natasha Wells, One Oak Poll Merinos, Jerilderie, NSW, who bought six ewes at $733; 92 one-year-old One Oak ewes for $250 a head and a stud sire for $2000.
Victorian buyers included the Beverley stud, Redesdale, who paid to $850 for 123 No 2 ewes, av $379; WJ&EZ Dizz & Sons, Prairie, bought 92 av $365; Bob Rollinson, Concordia Merinos, Mysia, paid $250 for 89 one-year-old No 2 ewes, $200 for 56 same age One oak ewes and 11 One Oak ram lambs at $500; while Dan and Peter Rogers, Mount Yulong stud, Telangatuk East, bought 23 ewes av $337, two stud ewes at $700 and $500 along with a sire at $1000.
