Manunda hits $5000 top twice

It was a tremendous result for the Button family and clear indication that their clients are keen to invest in Manunda rams, which continue to get better and better every year as a result of the family investing heavily in new genetics and undertaking a large AI program.

With the season in the area much improved on last year and meat and wool prices showing positive signals, the Manunda clients were again out in force and showed they are keen to invest heavily in their Merino programs.

The sale, one of the biggest Poll Merino ram sales in Australia, had a consistent momentum from start to finish.

After competitive bidding from a long list of return buyers and a handful of first timers, the Landmark selling team cleared 231 of the 240 rams offered at an impressive average of $1435, which was up $155 on last year.

At last year's sale, the stud sold 212 rams from 220 offered at an average of $1280.

To finish with the average of $1435 across the 231 rams was even more impressive considering the top price was only $5000, further highlighting the consistency and depth of quality throughout the catalogue.

The strength of the sale was set early when it started with a run of 20 March shorn rams and with strong bidding from both stud and commercial producers these averaged $2630, which was up $222 on last year.

Despite the strong average it is also important to note that there was still a large number of rams which sold between $500 and $1000 to give producers an opportunity to fill their orders at all budgets.

Landmark auctioneer Michael Altus said it was an extremely strong sale and the prices reflected the demand from Manunda clients, who want to continue to invest in quality genetics.

"It was an outstanding line-up of rams, which was very even and a credit to the Button family and as a result buyers responded accordingly," Mr Altus said.

"There was once again strong support from a long list of return buyers, in conjunction with a handful of new buyers which ensured the sale was very strong throughout.

"In addition to the strong commercial inquiry there was also good stud inquiry yet again which got the sale off to a positive start.

"They offered more rams this year to give buyers a great selection and then to go on and increase their average and clearance on last year is a great result.

"It was certainly a stronger result than I expected pre-sale and shows the faith their clients have in the Manunda bloodlines and the Buttons' investment in new genetics."

Equally as happy with the result was stud principal Wayne Button saying it was stronger than he expected.

He said he was over the moon in terms of clearance and averages, considering they offered more rams.

"I am more than pleased with the result but what is more pleasing is continuing to see our clients come back and invest in our bloodstock," he said.

"It was also pleasing to see a few new buyers purchasing today alongside our long-term clients.

"We are producing a very even line of rams and seeing the rewards for reinvesting our clients' money in new genetics.

"The evenness of the team today was certainly the result of our large investment in genetics and a big AI program."

Buyers were spoilt for choice and it showed as it was hard to pick a standout sire.

In the end it didn't take long for the tone of the sale to be set and the $5000 equal top price to be achieved when Mr Altus stood over two very well-balanced rams in pens two and three.

First-time buyers the Crosby family, St Quentin stud, Nyabing, took a liking to the rich, crimpy-woolled ram in pen two and with one quick bid at $5000 the ram was theirs.

The Crosbys said they were chasing the ram's breeding.

It was a son of Rhamily Benny, which the Manunda stud purchased in partnership with the Kamballie stud in 2012 at the Rabobank Katanning Stud Merino Ram Sale for $15,750.

Buyer Scott Crosby said they were particularly chasing the Benny bloodline as they had seen Benny and liked it as a sire.

"This ram also has very good length of body and would have been one of the longest in the line-up," Mr Crosby said.

"Coupled with this, he has an excellent wool type, he is well-nourished and long-stapled."

The March shorn, well-covered, bright-woolled ram carried August wool figures of 19.7 micron, 2.9 SD, 14.7 CV, 99.6 per cent comfort factor and 124 greasy fleece weight percentage (GFW).

It had a body weight percentage (BWT) of 114 and an eye muscle depth (EMD) of +2 from the group average of 35mm.

The Crosbys intend to use the ram over Hurstdene, which they purchased as part of the stud's dispersal in 2013, and St Quentin ewes to further establish their poll stud which was registered earlier this year.

Another rich, deep crimping woolled ram in pen three also created interest among buyers, and after some quick fire bids it was knocked down for the sale's $5000 equal top price.

Regular Manunda clients Nigel and Damien Morrison, San-Mateo stud, Brookton, secured the ram with the help of their classer and Elders stud stock representative Nathan King.

Like the Crosbys the Morrisons were also chasing this particular ram for its breeding.

The ram was by Manunda Jacko, which the Morrisons purchased in 2011 for $13,000.

Mr King said Jacko had been performing and throwing well in the stud but unfortunately the ram was no longer around so they were keen to get hold of one of its sons to keep the bloodline going.

"This ram is very similar to Jacko so we think he will breed along the same lines," Mr King said.

"He is a big, stretchy type, with a long-stapled, crimpy wool."

The March shorn ram carried August wool figures of 17.5 micron, 3.0 SD, 16.5 CV, 99.9pc CF and 116 GFW.

It also had a BWT of 116 and an EMD of +3.

Nigel Morrison said overall the Manunda bloodline, which was first introduced to the San-Mateo stud seven years ago, had been performing well and was helping them breed big, quick maturing poll rams with meat and muscle.

"Our aim with this line is to be able to offer a different type to the traditional San-Mateo horns while still maintaining our wool quality," Mr Morrison said.

The next best price in the sale was $4300 and again it was paid by a fellow stud breeder with Ray Edmonds, Rhamily stud, Calingiri, securing a son of Jacko at this value.

The upstanding, stylish woolled, March shorn ram had August wool figures of 19.7 micron, 2.6 SD, 13.2 CV, 99.7pc CF, 131 GFW and had a BWT of 121 and an EMD of +8.

Mr Edmonds also purchased a second sire later in the sale for $2900.

Trevor Cooper and his daughter Neetalee, Rose Cottage stud, made the long trip from Nabawa for the sale again this year.

They were quick off the mark with their purchases when they secured the first ram offered at $4000.

The bright, white-woolled ram, which was by Coromandel Sir Thomas (ET2) and out of a Haseley ewe, carried wool figures of 19.4 micron, 3.0 SD, 15.5 CV, 99.7pc CF, 119 GFW and had a BWT of 121 and an EMD of +4.

There was further stud interest in the sale when the Anro stud, Watheroo, secured a son of East Mundalla Jonty which measured 19.4 micron, 99.9pc CF and 127 for BWT, while the Pyramid Poll stud, Cascade, paid $2400 for a son of Winyar Chappy, which measured 19.5 micron, 99.9pc CF and 122 BWT.

And it wasn't only studs buying at the top end of the sale, numerous commercial producers were also in the thick of the action.

RG & AG Della Bosca & Sons, Bodallin, bought strongly early in the sale and purchased eight rams to a top of $2400 (three times) and an average of $2288, which was double the number of rams it took home last year.

The Innes family, Innes & Co, Kellerberrin, clients of more than 20 years, also averaged more than $2000 for a ute-load of eight rams.

The Innes', who this year will mate 2000 ewes to Merinos and 800 Merino ewes to Prime SAMMs, averaged $2275 over their ute-load and paid to a high of $3000 for an East Mundalla Jonty son which measured 18.4 micron, 3.0 SD and 100pc CF in the wool.

Another long term client to secure eight rams to a top of $2900 and an average of $1938 was HM Rolinson & Co, Kalannie, while JW & FG Dixon & Son, Tammin, averaged $1850 over seven sires, which included a top of $2300.

RS & JA Della Bosca, Bodallin and Yeramba Downs, Kellerberrin, each purchased six rams at an average of $1800.

The Siegert family, KJ & RP Siegert, Wongan Hills, were again the volume buyers having purchased at Manunda since the Buttons purchased the Haseley stud.

The Siegerts this year again secured 15 rams to a top of $1800 twice and an average of $1270.

Return buyers KL Clarke & Co, Goomalling, also bought numbers at the top end of the market, and averaged $1540 over a team of 10 rams.

CB & CA Whitfield & Son, Wongan Hills and R & K Day, Burracoppin, both purchased 11 sires at averages of $1245 and $1182 respectively.

Morrison Partners, Three Springs, rounded out the buyers by securing double-figured drafts.

It operated later in the sale when the heat came off and purchased 11 rams at an average of $705.

Other buyers who purchased strongly included GF & S Waters, Kununoppin, who purchased six rams averaging $1550, MM & HE Granich, Moorine Rock and Burra Nominees, Burracoppin, both averaged $1521 over seven sires, and JF & RF Crook & Co, Merredin, finished with a team of nine at an average of $1489.