Rams fly out the gate to four states at the Macquarie Dohne Production sale
The Land By Elka Devney
Buyers sought drought-tolerant rams with high growth ratesat the 21st annual Macquarie Dohne Production ram sale, held on-property at Carinya, Ballimore.
The Nadin Family achieved a full clearance of 141 rams to a top of $6000 to average $2191.
Thomas and Sophie Holt, Coonong Station, Urana, purchased the top-priced ram, MD230708, for $6000. He was their sole purchase.
By MD191457 and out of MD214432, the May 2023-drop ram had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) in the top 20 per cent of the breed for a yearling weight of +8.23 and hogget weight of +8.27.
He also ranked in the top 30pc for maternal weaning weight at +0.52, yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) at +12.95 and post weaning weight (PWT) at +6.31.
CA and JM Ross, Balmoral, Victoria, bought the second top-priced ram, MD231038, for $5000.
The May 2023 twin drop ram had ASBVs for PWT at +5.15, post weaning eye muscle depth at +0.59 and post weaning fat depth at +0.13.
The Ross family also purchased two other rams to average $4333.
Scott Warby, Ross Common Farming, Mungindi, bought four rams to $5000 to average $3500.
His top ram May 2023-drop, MD230340, was sired by MD214224 and out of MD174383.
Volume buyers Micheal, Annie and Tom O’Brien, Brigalows, Carinda, bought 14 rams to atop of $3000 to average $1964.
Justin O’Brien, Cryon Station, Walgett, secured 12 rams to $4500 to average $2791.
The O’Brien family operate a mixed farming enterprise which includes broad-acre cropping, a 4000 head Dohne ewe flock and on-farm feedlot. They have used Macquaire genetics for more than two decades.
Mr O’Brien sought rams with high growth weights and good wool micron as the family target a happy medium between meat and wool.
“They’re also more drought tolerant and easier to handle than Merinos,” he said.
The draft will be joined to their ewes on November 1.
Macquarie Dohne stud co-principal John Nadin said he was overwhelmed by the full clearance.
AH and NA Evans, Martindale, Walgett, purchased 11 rams to $4000 to average $2681.
JG and SK Currey, Walgett, paid a top of $3500 for 12 rams to average $2458.
John Witts, Mungaro, Collarenebri, secured a draft of nine rams to average $1222.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Clemson Hiscox and Co with Paul Dooley, Tamworth, as auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the online interface.