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NORTH COWIE HEAVY WOOL CUTTER TOPS 2021 SALE

Lot 5, top-price ram purchased by HR Allen & Co for $6,400.

With South Australia’s COVID-19 July lockdown ending just hours before North Cowie’s 2021 sale, it didn’t put a dampener on proceedings. 

North Cowie’s top Poll Merino Ram sold, at auction on site, for $6400 to last year’s top bidder HR Allen & Co. 

Lot 5, tag 200090 with a micron reading of 17.8 and weighing in at 105kg, sired by Willandra 447, will join the breeding stock at HR Allen & Co. 

Micky Allen, HR Allen & Co, Yorketown said the fleece weight on Lot 5 was the highest in the shed at GFW 8.20kg, making him a good heavy wool cutter. 

“Lot 5 has the lower micron figures that we are chasing with good conformation, wool with nourishment, broad rump with excellent eye muscle,” Mr Allen said.

North Cowie’s 2020 sale saw HR Allen & Co pay top price for $7400. 

At a price of $5400, Lot 2 was the second highest selling ram purchased by Michael Altus, Lameroo.

Lot 2 with tag 200020, Micron 21.4, SD 3,2, CV 14.9, CF 99.4, EMD 40.4, FAT 5.4, FLEECE WEIGHT 6.60, 99KG is sired by Kamora Netley 610. 

Nutrien Ag auctioneer Leo Redden described Lot 2 as the star of the day, being bold and positive.

He said it was the modern-day sheep, perfect for today’s market. 

Mr Redden said whilst it wasn’t the sale’s top, it has the body and was showing where the North Cowie breeding was headed. 

With 64 lots up for main sale, the average price of $1693 was obtained with 63 of the 64 offered, sold. 

Overall, 138 of 146 rams offered were sold on the day. 

Bidding via AuctionsPlus and regular purchasers of North Cowie stock, the Hilder family of Wirryilka Pastoral, Broken Hill, NSW were the volume buyer of the day purchasing 74 of the total lots offered. 

Mr Redden said it was a pretty exciting day at North Cowie. 

“…there’s some really good things happening at North Cowie. The progression of sheep is heading very much in the direction of the four stud reserves. You look at those and you see where the stud is heading. Some very key decisions made in the last two or three years with the breeding direction around the style of wool and the shape of the carcass…we are seeing it pay off with the top end sheep today.”

Speaking about the breeding rams at North Cowie, principal Joe Murdoch said Kamora Netley 610 had performed well for them this year. The stud purchased semen a couple of years ago and had an “unbelievable” result in terms of progeny for last sale and this sale.

“KNP610 has put about 10 to 15 progeny through our sale, but they are just really consistent pure wools and purity in the face.”

Performing well for the stud, in the lead up to the sale, was also from Nyowie Line 87, the ram NC160160.

Mr Murdoch said this particular stud ram had put a lot through the sale this year and other years for the stud.  

“He is the ram that is doing good things for us at the moment.”

Described as a really good sale and clearance of stock, even with a state lockdown ending the morning of the sale, Mr Murdoch was pleased with the day. 

“(it was) A really successful day, it’s fantastic that we had a good turnout. Everyone has done the right thing and played by the rules,” Mr Murdoch said. 

“It was a really good clearance.”

With buyers from throughout the Yorke Peninsula, Mr Murdoch was pleased to see a number of bush buyers make their way down to continue restocking their flocks. 

“It’s good to see them back operating here.”

Elders Stud Stock Auctioneer Tony Wetherall said it was a really good sale for North Cowie. 

“They put a lot of time and effort and genetics into their program. The presentation of their rams today was really, really good. To put up as many rams as they did, 150 rams, and the evenness, depth and quality both in the horn merinos and poll merinos was exceptional.”

Report written by Chelsea Ashmeade, Ashmedia. Photos by Tegan Buckley, Mallee Marketing.

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