THE highest average at a WA on-property ram sale this year was posted at yesterday's Moojepin Multi Purpose Merino sale.
With ram selling season slowly coming to an end this sale ensured it finished with a bang, registering a $1725 average across 99 rams sold.
Buyers from throughout WA converged on the sale keen to get hold of the multi-purpose, easy care genetics. With a top price of $3800 the sale didn't reach huge heights price wise, but was just very steady and consistent throughout.
With 35 buyers registered, including two from the Eastern States, too bid on 100 rams, there was a feeling prior to the sale that it could be a good one.
It wasn't until lot 38 was put up for the takings that the bidding really started to flare up with the August 2009-drop ram attracting plenty of interest, with it eventually being knocked down to Jamie Glasfurd, Coolart Pastoral Co, Moora, for the $3800 top price.
With the rams having been shorn on April 9 and wool samples taken on September 1, the sire, bred by Moojepin 050080, had test figures of 18 micron, 18.2 CV and a 99.8 per cent CF and had ASBV's measurements of 0.6 YFAT, 7.4 YWT and 1.8 YEMD.
What also impressed Mr Glasfurd was the fact that the ram was Poll Merino with a great length of stable and had great meat figures.
This August drop youngster will be going out into the paddock with a number of his fellow Moojepin relatives to be used over a selection of 3000 Merino breeders.
Not too far behind Mr Glasfurd on prices stakes was Ken Duxson, Glendemar Multi Purpose Merino stud, South Australia, when he purchased the $3700 second top price ram on behalf of Ross Dunston, Enclunda, South Australia.
Mr Duxson was given strict instructions from Mr Dunston on the type of rams he was chasing to put with a selection of his 1500 Merino ewes.
On the day it came down to the high performing $3700 sire and another youngster in lot 47 for $1400.
The well grown, second top price specimen displayed figures of 19.6 micron, 19.9 CV and had ASBV's measurements of 0.8 YFAT, 8.5 YWT and 2.3 YEMD.
Mr Duxson said this was the first sire Mr Dunston had bought from the Moojepin stud, but he had been on their sister stud, Glendemar, for 12 years.
"He was after a Merino that had good wool and a great spread of ASBVs figures," he said.
"I believe the two I have selected will suit Mr Dunston's operation well."
Full report in next week's Farm Weekly.