SUCCESS was certainly the order of the day at the annual Challara Merino and Poll Merino stud sale at Badgingarra last week.
A larger offering of rams from the Wilkinson family was scooped up for higher clearances, top prices and averages across the board, compared to the already positive 2013 result.
The sizeable crowd consisted of 39 registered buyers keen to secure their ram requirements and created strong competition throughout the catalogue.
Some clients had travelled from Boyup Brook and Bridgetown, with northern regions covered up to Northampton.
Local Landmark representative Greg Wootton said the number of northern buyers attending the sale had increased.
"There was more buyer interest again this year," he said.
"More buyers travelled down from the north, chasing the genetics for more free-bodied sheep.
"There was a definite preference for the Poll Merinos and people were happy to pay for the quality on offer."
Challara principal Peter Wilkinson said they had worked hard to attract new interest to their sale which resulted in 10 new clients on the day.
"There is an increasing importance and awareness among the buyers on having strong ASBV figures," he said.
"For example the rams that have strong values for clean fleece weight and other key measurements were in high demand.
"We have spent a lot of time ensuring the science behind our breeding is right."
This persistence and maintenance of a high standard of rams presented led to the increased offering of 149 rams clearing 143 under the hammer and a further three selling privately post auction.
The top price of $3000 was achieved twice by two Poll Merinos and was an increase of $700 on last year's top with the overall average rising by $423.
The first ram to reach the top price was the second lot to go under the hammer, a big full bodied 18.1 micron ram with six months wool length of 71mm and yield at 74.1 per cent, a measured eye muscle depth (EMD) of 36mm, 3mm fat depth (FD), yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW) 18.1 and 146.9 DP+.
This ram was the sole purchase of repeat buyer Paul Reynolds, Fern Valley, Northam, who said he had purchased Challara rams for three years.
"They have nice bright, white wool and good size," he said.
"We are putting the rams over a selection of special ewes to bring the SRS into our flock.
"We are also working on breeding for size and like the Challara genetics for this."
Equal top price of $3000 was achieved by a 19.5 micron Poll Merino ram exhibiting positive measurements of 33mm EMD, 3mm FD, DP+ 151.5, six month wool growth of 80mm and 69.3pc yield.
HG Coaker & Co, Morawa, won the bidding on the ram along with three more for a total of four to finish with an average of $2025.
Mark Coaker said he had been buying at the sale for the past two years and was impressed by his equal top-priced ram.
"It was a good ram overall," he said.
"I am chasing good fleece weights and the ram's figures showed a yearling clean fleece weight of 29kg."
As testament to the quality, volume buyers were in abundance by the close of the sale.
A & G Kenny, Badgingarra, finished the day with a total of 10 rams to a top of $2600 and an average of $1450.
Andrew Kenny said it was great to be able to purchase quality, locally.
"Clean fleece weight and nice free-growing wool are a priority," he said.
"We have been buying from Challara for about six years and will continue to."
MJ & JA Ackland, Badgingarra, also won the bidding on 10 sires, with a $1600 top and an average of $1375.
Wayne Girando travelled from Boyup Brook to secure his team of nine rams, to the top price of $2400, and an average of $1722.
Mr Girando said he had been sourcing his rams from Challara for three years and had only recently relocated to Boyup Brook from Regans Ford.
"We are very happy with the progeny, they are very fertile and early maturing," he said.
"We also usually buy a line of their ewes each year."
GM & JA Teakle, Northampton, was a further successful bidder of nine rams for their breeding program at an average of $1622 and to a top of $2100.
GJ & TA Tapscott, Morawa, and GE & HL Lethlean, Badgingarra, each loaded eight rams to take home.
With such an extensive list of buyers the notable volumes were too many to mention.
A common denominator for clients was the wool quality and satisfaction with the level of testing for wool and carcase traits.
As part of their commitment to their local community, Challara pledged to donate the proceeds of lot number 50 to support the YouthCARE school chaplaincy in Moora.
The ram sold for $2200 to BF White & Co, Miling, who also purchased a further three rams on the day.
Central Midlands senior high school and Moora primary school chaplain Jodie Smith thanked the Wilkinsons for their generosity and said the donation would go a long way to assisting the role.
Mr Wilkinson said he was very pleased with the results of the sale overall and it gave the family confidence it was heading in the right direction with its breeding program.
"The repeat clients are proof that our genetics are working for them," he said.
"There was a much stronger demand for the Poll Merinos over the Merinos as well."