THERE have been some very satisfactory results across the district for the late season ram sales.
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A couple of reports from sales last week are as follow:
- Brenden and Kerry Cole report a clearance of 13 of 20 superfine rams at the Turon Hill Helmsman auction last Saturday. Top-priced ram went to Garry Brown, Duramana at $1100 and Noel Kym, Hill End, was the volume buyer when he loaded up eight quality rams. In the jointly run auction of Border Leicester rams, Neil Hundy, Ilford bought eight rams and again Garry Brown bought the sale topper at $750. Brenden tells me there are still some good quality young rams available from each stud.
- Away to the south at Black Springs, Greg and Christine Healey held their fourth annual auction of Mount Bathurst poll dorsets and sold 68 of 70 offered, with a top price of $1500 and an $805 average. Proceeds of the top-priced ram were donated to Cancer Council of Australia. Phillip Cross, Freeman Pastoral, Oberon, bought 36 sale lots and gave a great deal of support to the Healey family and their progressive stud.
The storms return
A RETURN to very cool conditions and useful storm rains has delayed the ripening of crops and grass seeding across our district.
Lots of newborn calves are noticeable in many paddocks where merino sheep used to graze and woolsheds and sheepyards seem to be looking neglected.
Black Angus cows and calves on pastures that are still green are a great sight, Charolais that are obvious half a kilometre from the road and the staple breeds of Shorthorn and Hereford are real highlights of a spring that is like old times.
Merino stud sale
THE annual Riverina auction of Hazeldean merino stud at Cooma was the usual success and the same stud’s sale at Hay achieved similar results.
Of particular interest was the inclusion (and the top price) of A.I. progeny of a stud ram from the Mortimer family’s Centre Plus stud at Tullamore NSW.
These big, plain poll rams are on centre stage at many studs where the emphasis is on early maturing, high fertility animals with excellent meat producing ASBVs.
If history were to repeat itself, many producers should have just about bred a merino to ideally suit the meat processor’s requirements in time to see the Italian spinners and weavers searching for the traditional superfine Australian wools that are needed to produce premium quality worsted cloth.
Happy anniversary
I WANT to add my congratulations to Margaret and Barry Quigley who recently celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in Bathurst.
Photos in the Western Advocate of both on the wedding day in 1966 and current situation in 2016 showed us how well the bride has handled the years in contrast to the groom’s state.
Great photos from a great half century.
Down to the wire
COUNTING of absentee and postal votes is still going on as I write but it would take a genuine miracle to save the usually blue ribbon seal of Orange for the National Party.
Scott Barrett must have been really unlucky to run into a perfect storm of:
- Andrew Gee’s transfer to Canberra at an estimated $500,000 cost to taxpayers.
- Proposed council amalgamations that are poisonous on polling day.
- A greyhound racing ban that was not thought through and was supported by the racing and gaming minister.
- The forced formation of Local Land Services that caused many ratepayers to tell me that they would never vote National again.
- The sacking of two National Party press secretaries who crossed the Lower House floor in opposition to the greyhound racing ban.
I still think that Scott Barrett would be a valuable Member for Orange, maybe some time in the future.
Wool market report
THE wool market was cheaper again this week with all microns losing between 15 and 20c/kg.
The northern market indicator finished the week on 1331c/kg, down 17c/kg.
Although the market has been cheaper over the last two weeks the merino wools are still fairly good value, all being about 150c/kg dearer than this time last year.
The XBs, on the other hand, are losing ground every week. The 28 microns are now 200c/kg below last year’s levels.
Next week we are hoping to see the market firm with the offering being slightly smaller and the dollar a bit cheaper.
There are 50,000 bales on offer next week in Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle
Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark
Laugh lines
TWO rebel soldiers in a dusty Middle East country lay in wait for a tribal leader that they planned to eliminate.
After four long hours in the 50 degree sun one rebel looked sadly at his mate and remarked: “I hope nothing bad has happened to the bastard.”
***
A COUPLE of typo errors:
- To bring good luck, he always carries a rabbi’s foot.
- The publican said he would allow no woman in the bra without a man.
- Miss O’Hayer has been raising birds for decades and is credited with now owning the largest parateets in this State.
- The army major was physically exhausted because of his many official cuties.
- Picking up his hammer, nails and two stout broads, George hurried back into the shack.
