Annalara Rams to 1400 Ewes to 170
Annalara Rams To $1400, Ewes To $170
– BRAD WILSON | The Land | March 1, 2012
A WELL-PRESENTED line-up of 1,156 White Dorper full and pure blood ewes were offered at the inaugural Annalara White Dorper breeder’s sale, Dubbo, last week.
The draft of predominantly young ewes, split into varying numbers to suit commercial operations, topped at $170 per head.
Of the 1,156 ewes offered, 1,030 sold to average $155, while 26 of the 29, 2011-drop rams sold to $1,400, averaging $732.
Annalara stud principal Steve Cresswell said it was a pleasing result, with the breeder’s sale to be an annual event.
With performances up to 180 percent lambs marked in the older ewes over the past two years, local buyers along with lamb producers from Dalby, Queensland, to Bourke in the west shared in the draft.
Dubbo White Dorper producer Michael Smith purchased 324 ewes, which included the $170 top-priced pen of pure bred, 2011-drop joined ewes.
Mr. Smith, who has joined 130 stud White Dorper ewes via embryo transfer, will register his stud in the coming months and said he purchased the ewes to replace his commercial crossbred flock.
“I like the White Dorper breed as they are an easy care sheep, with excellent yield, weaning ages, hardiness and meat quality,” he said.
Bob Omrod, Orange, paid $155 a head for a line of third- to fifth cross ewes, ranging from three to six years of age to run on agistment at Gallan near Bathurst.
Mr. Omrod said it was his first go at Dorpers but thought they would do well on the lighter, shaley country where they would be run.
“I saw Annalara sheep on their website, I liked the look of them and their full clearance health status,” he said.
After purchasing their first Annalara ram in 2002, the Roach family, Wongarbon, outlaid $165/hd for 42 full-blood, May to June 2011-drop maiden ewes, non station mated.
The Webb family, Narromine, purchased four rams which included the $1,400 top-priced sire weighing 80 kilograms, while the Deshon family, Wellington, averaged $633 for their six sires.
Bulk ram buyer was Terry Ervin, Bourke, who averaged $720 for his draft of 10, while AuctionsPlus took five lots, two rams and three pens of ewes.
The sale was conducted by Elders with Paul Jameson as the auctioneer.
Above: Steve Cresswell, Annalara White Dorpers, Dubbo, with Doug, Gretha and Mark Roach, Wongarbon, and the 2011-drop ewes they purchased.
(Photo courtesy of The Land)