The Land, September 22nd 2011
Roseville Park nabs $16000 high, $2766 Av
By Brad Wilson
BIDS were flowing freely the Roseville Park Merino ram sale at Dubbo last week, where the aver- age increased to $2766, up $879 on last year's result, for stud principals, Matt- hew and Cherie Coddington. Buyers were not afraid to pay for quality in the draft of rams that weighed up to 115.5 kilograms, clearing all '150 rams to top at $16,000. In the breakdown, 135 Merino rams sold to $16,000, to average $2849, while all 15 Poll Merino rams sold to $5000, averaging $1956. In a regular occurrence at Roseville Park, rams found new homes in multiple States with a strong southern influence, with 11 of the 67 registered buyers coming from Victoria to play a major role in the sale. Underbidders on the top-priced ram at last year's sale, the Grant family, "Dundabarina", Collarenabri, landed this year's $16,000 top-priced ram, which was purchased on their behalf by sheep classer, Richard Wuth, Toow- oomba, Queensland. The well-nourished, June 2010-drop son of RP05-1864 tested 19-micron, 2.7-micron standard deviation (SD), 14.2 per cent coefficient of variation (CV) and 99.3pc comfort factor (CF). The Grant family, who run a 5000 Merino ewe base, have been breeding their own rams for 15 years. Mr Wuth described the ram as a big, "shafty" woolled sheep, with a good constitution. Stud producers were active including Borambil Merinos, Yarrawonga; Avonside Merinos, Cooma; Lemani Merinos, Inverell, and Trynow Merinos, Mudgee, who each outlaid $8000, $6500, $6000 and $6000 respectively. One of the sale highlights was long term clients from all three Eastern Seaboard States taking home multiple purchases. Manager Laurie Bullen, Avenel, Vie, who has been purchasing Roseville Park rams for 20 years, returned to purchase 14 rams, which included the $5000 top- priced poll ram, to average $3304. 
Other volume buyers included return clients, Cox and Galley, Dubbo, averaging $4550 for their eight, while Dunkeld Pastoral Company, Dunkeld, Vie, took 10 to average $2880. Coonamble producer, Compton Partnership, averaged $2125 for eight rams, Yarunga Trading, Bendigo, Vie, paid to $3600 for their seven, while Boowilla Pty Ltd, Tamworth, averaged $2633 for six rams. There were plenty of opportunities throughout the day as 24 rams were, snapped up for $1400 or less. Other buyers included the Wardlaw family, Ballarat, Vie, and the Townsend family, Alectown, who both took six rams each to average $1616 and $1067 respectively. After the sale, the buying frenzy continued with over 100 grade rams selling post auction. The sale was conducted by Landmark and Elders, with guest auctioneer, Tony Dowe, Sydney, standing over the Roseville Park sheep for the last time. Mr Dowe commenced selling for the Coddington family in 1982