BUYERS from Young and Yarrawonga, Hunter Valley and as far north as Tamworth secured the yarding of 7000-plus Merino and first-cross ewes with prices recorded as the best ever at the 73rd annual Dunedoo breeder sale last Friday.
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Merino ewes sold to a top of $378, while the $366 top price for first-cross ewes was shared by two producers.
In the dispersal of Rodney and Fiona Single's Brooklyn Merino flock of Langdene blood from the Tallawang district near Dunedoo, all their ewes from one-and-a-half to five-and-a-half years totalling 2259 head topped the sale at $378 and averaged $330.
The Brooklyn flock has been running for 55 years and Rodney Single took over management in 1984.
Buyer of the top pen of 305 ewes, two and a half years, was Michael Kelly of Rugby Station, Rugby, between Crookwell and Boroowa who bought 1637 ewes for a $338 average.
Mr Kelly said his daughter Georgie, had joined the business and as the station was running cattle, he had begun investing in sheep to spread the livestock investment and property management..
Two vendors sold first-cross ewes for an equal top price of $366 a head. Alison Kensit, Redbank Park, Dunedoo, in partnership with Portelli Pastoral, Dunedoo, sold 136 ewes to Col Austin, Tarana, bought by James Hagney, Clements McCarthy, Bathurst.
The other breeder, Mick Inder, Wattle Grove, Dunedoo, sold 120 ewes to George and Ben Simmons, Talbragar, Leadville. Mr Inder also sold the top-priced pen of first-cross ewes here last year while the Inder family have been supporting the sale for decades.
Eugene Bennetts, Ukebung, Merrygoen, another sale supporter, sold 240 Merino ewes on and a half years of Pemcaw Poll and Bella Lana blood, January shorn and mulesed for $310 each to Matthew and Fleur Guan, Bonniedoon, Dunedoo.
The Guans later sold 219 first-cross ewes of Bindaree blood, March/April 2020 drop and December shorn at $364 each to a Tamworth restocker through Nutrien Ag.
Bruce and Geanie Rogers, Laldoone, Curbin, with Christie and Hood agent, Tim Wiggins, Narromine, paid an average $342 for 154 first-cross ewes topping at $357 for 74 ewes, December/January '20 drop, October shorn from Chris Bourke, Burrawilla, Neilrex.
Mark Jolliffe and Ryan Browne of Kevin Miller Whitty Lennon and Company, Young, were busy on the day buying 861 Merino ewes to $326 and average $297 for WJ and RJ Parker, Avoca, Young, who was securing replacement breeders.
The Parker's top-priced pen was of 290 ewes, four and a half years old from the Single family dispersal run. Also at $296 was a pen of 557 ewe lambs August/September '20 drop of Pemcaw and Cassilis Park blood, June shorn and crutched offered by Estate of Peter and Mrs Elaine Gallaher, Tomimbil, Turill.
Young Merino wethers topped at $174 a head when the Monk Partnership, Wattle Grove, Mendooran, sold 239 July/August '20 drop of Allendale blood, mulesed and unshorn to AWN Mudgee for a local restocker.
Swan Hill Pastoral, Dunedoo, gained $356 a head for 50 Dorper-cross ewes, two to six years old with 50 lambs at foot purchased by Greg Colless, Gulgong.
