Grogansworth
Total clearance of 90 Merino rams sold to $5250, $1717 av
WITH a one hundred per cent clearance for 90 Merino rams offered at their 9th annual on-property sale on account Grogansworth Merinos, Bowning, the Henderson family were very excited to realise a sale top of $5250 with overall average price of $1717.
Speaking after the sale, co-studmaster George Henderson said it “was a great sale with many repeat buyers as well as new purchasers.”
“I am very happy with the presentation of our sheep and proves our focus on wool and sheep for this environment,” Mr Henderson said.
“The prices reflect confidence in the Merino industry, and shows the Grogansworth genetics focusing on heavy cutting fine/medium wool sheep with good carcase is meeting the demand.”
First-time buyer George Haylock, Old Springfield Partnership, Cooma, NSW, paid top price of $5250 for his selection bred in the Graham family, descended from a $4000 purchase from One Oak No 2, in 2003.
With a mean micron 17.8, and comfort factor 99.3 percent, the ram also appealed to Mr Haylock for being upstanding and growing a long stapled fleece on a big body.
“I want to maintain our frame and carcase and increase the wool cut,” he said.
“He is an attractive ram and his figures match his great outlook.”
Mr Haylock purchased a further two rams and paid $3083 average price for his draft of three. Kicking the sale off, Peter Keary, Crookwell, NSW, paid $4500 for the first lot offered: a son of H566 bred in the Henry 1 family, with mean micron 15.9 and comfort factor 99.6 percent.
A Grogansworth client for more than 30 years, Caroline Spittle with her daughter Rosie Mitchell, Kingslea Partnership, Bookham, NSW, continued their association with the purchase of seven rams to top $3750 and average price $2357.
The Kingslea-bred sheep regularly lead the Bookham Merino Ewe competition, and in the current ANFD Schute Bell wether trial conducted at Borenore, their team of 2015 drop wethers are placed second in the 12 month shearing section with gross fleece value $70.73.
Respected Sydney-based sheep classer Ian Marwedel, assisted with their selections, and he also put a significant draft of 29 rams at average price $1000 for Gunnong Pastoral Co Pty Ltd, Coolac, NSW. Another repeat client, Victorian woolgrower Andrew Bodman, from Skipton paid to $3500 in his draft of six sires, which averaged $2583, while Bill Daly, Ylad and Co, Young, NSW, returned to Grogansworth and added to his sire battery with four rams for average $2983.
Returning to Grogansworth, the Schliebs family, Temora, NSW, purchased three rams for average price $1750, while William Swan, Murrumbateman, paid $4000 for the first choice in his draft of four rams which averaged $2938.
Mr Swan’s $4000 ram was bred in the Tom family, descended from the $15,000 purchase from One Oak No 2 in 2012, and a Merino Select trait leader for clean fleece weight 22.9.
Other noted sales included four at average $1563 by East Guyong Partnership, Millthorpe, four at $1500 average price by Richard Julian, Bookham and four for $1375 average by Merindah Pastoral Co, Goodhope.
The auction was conducted by Schute Bell Badgery Lumby, Goulburn, and auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth controlled the sale with his gavel.
