Working Dog Record Leaps to New Level

Offering both Poll Merino rams and working dogs in the same auction has delivered massive benefits for the second successive year at Capree stud – with a new record for working dogs established during the sale, hitting $49,000.Following a successful sale last year, Chris Stapleton from Capree stud offered 60 Poll Merino rams and 11 working dog - giving buyers the flexibility to purchase both their stud genetics and working dogs in the one sale, capitalizing on the strong demand for both sheep and working dogs.

This year’s sale highlighted the continued demand across the livestock industry for quality working dogs, underpinned by an ongoing labour shortage and producers continuing to increase livestock numbers on farm. With the average full time salary in Australia sitting around $67,595 per year (2022), the $49,000 price paid for Lot 62 - “Capree Eve” in today’s sale could provide producers with much more bang for their buck. “Capree Eve” surpassed the previous working dog record set in 2021 by $13,800, with the female black and tan kelpie described as a “top all round bitch that is fully broken in and has done paddock, yard, shed and work on cattle and goats.” Eve was purchased online by Craig Pellow, QPL Rural, on behalf of the Tattykeel Meat Sheep stud.

Strong online competition for the working dogs saw 231 users log into the sale with 60 bids placed across 90% of the working dog offering. Three lots were sold to AuctionsPlus online buyers. The working dog average increased by $2,275 compared to the 2021 sale, with an average price of $12,525 as the sale registered a 100% clearance

Another highlight from the working dog offering was Lot 63 – “Milburn Jen (Lexi)” selling for $17,000. While Lot 71 – “Capree Queen” sold to an online buyer from Queensland for $3,750.

Beating last year’s top price didn’t stop at just the working dog offering for the Capree stud. The top priced Poll Merino ram Lot 1 – “Tag 22T” sold for $7,250 – up $2,750 on last years’ top price. Selling to a 70% clearance the ram offering averaged $1,994.