UP, up, up went the bidding at the Sutherland family's annual ram sale in Carnamah last week.
The result was a big leap from last year's $170,350 gross reaching an overall gross of $245,600, evidence that the Perenjori-based Arra-dale Merino and Poll Merino and Sandown Poll Dorset studs are doing something right and continuing their upward trend.
An increased offering of 178 rams from Arra-dale and Sandown drew the attention of new and returning clients ready to spend big.
There was strong competition throughout, keeping Landmark auctioneer Michael Altus and the Elders team calling the bids on their toes.
Mr Altus said the excellent results of the sale were well deserved.
"Both the Arra-dale and Sandown offerings were extremely even, which gave buyers the opportunity to shop around," he said.
"Congratulations to the Sutherland family for their efforts."
In the end, almost all of the 42 registered buyers walked away with Arra-dale or Sandown genetics at an overall sale average of $1388.
With only one passed in Poll Merino out of the total offering, stud principal Les Sutherland said he was thrilled with the result.
"We only had one ram passed in and he's already been sold," Mr Sutherland said.
"It's a fantastic result.
"I'd really like to thank all of the bidders, under bidders as well as the staff here today from Landmark and Elders.
"Everyone has done an amazing job."
Arra-dale Merino and Poll Merino
The Arra-dale offering of 102 Merino and Poll Merino rams almost reached the overall total of last year's sale, grossing $165,750.
Local Landmark agent Tom Page said the quality and consistency throughout the catalogue gave buyers confidence.
"The offering was well presented and understandably drew the attention of bidders willing to go the distance," Mr Page said.
But it was the line-up of Arra-dale Poll Merinos that really caught the attention of buyers, reaching an average of $1844 at the conclusion of the sale, an impressive $727 increase on last year's average.
This year the Polls also took out the sale's overall top price with the winning $3000 bid made for a big upstanding Poll by the Warr family, GF & SM Warr, South Yuna.
Weighing in at 124kg, measuring 22.2 micron, 98.3 per cent for comfort factor and an overall index of 113, the ram in pen 48 was an obvious choice for Graeme and Susanne Warr.
"He's a nice long ram that stands up well with good wool," Mr Warr said.
"These rams come from hard country which is what we need."
The Warrs are return buyers after buying from Arra-dale for the first time last year.
Mr Warr said he saw the Arra-dale rams on show at the Mingenew Expo three years ago and noticed the quality in the Sutherland family's operation.
Their top-priced Poll Merino ram was joined on the back of the ute by three more, one Poll Merino and two composite rams from the Sandown Poll Dorset-White Suffolk line-up.
For the four rams they went home with, the Warrs paid top dollar to secure their selections with their second Poll Merino knocked down at $2500 and the two composite rams knocked down at an equal top price of $1600 in the Poll Dorset-White Suffolk offering.
The Poll Merinos held interest throughout the sale with the second top price coming in at $2700 on two occasions for lots 16 and 50, and the bidding just kept on going as a further six Polls reached $2600.
Volume Poll buyers included Broad Holdings (WA) Pty Ltd, Mingenew, which secured five Poll Merinos for a high average of $1960 and a top of $2600 and Trevose Farm, Carnamah, which went home with nine Polls at a top price of $2300 and a $1589 average.
The Merino line-up grossed slightly higher than the Polls reaching a total of $84,600, marking a big jump from last year's gross of $53,900.
Averaging $1484, the Merinos attracted a number of volume buyers willing to spend big averages.
One such buyer was the Spencer family, Gymbowen, Perenjori, who secured the top price Merino that Brad Spencer described as "the biggest ram in the shed".
The Spencer family secured the 120kg Merino and a winning bid of $2700. The ram measured 21.2 micron and 99.3pc CF with an overall index of 123.
Mr Spencer said the family has been buying from their neighbouring stud for a number of years and keep coming back because of the consistent quality presented by the Sutherlands.
"The Arra-dale sheep are born and bred in our environment, so we know what we're getting and we know they can handle our conditions," Mr Spencer said.
The Spencers bought a total of seven Merino rams on the day for an average of $1643.
"We bought rams that cut a bit more wool than we usually do because our current focus is improving our overall wool cut," Mr Spencer said.
"The ram we paid $2700 for has really nice wool as well as a good long frame which we hope he'll pass onto his progeny."
Father and son duo Glenn and Aden Tapscott, GJ & TA Tapscott, Morawa, were the overall volume buyers securing eight Merinos and two Polls to take home at the conclusion of the sale for an average of $1770.
The Tapscott family is looking to increase its livestock mix which currently sits at about 60pc of their farming enterprise.
Joining the bidding early, the Tapscotts secured lot two, a 125kg Merino measuring 21.6 micron, 99.1pc CF for $2600, a price they were willing to pay for a further two Poll Merinos later in the sale.
Glenn Tapscott said they liked the well-bred genetics the Sutherland family had to offer.
"Both meat and wool quality are focuses for us and the Arra-dale Merinos we've bought should hopefully fit in really well back at home," Mr Tapscott said.
Other volume buyers included Cosgrove Farming Company, Mingenew, represented by Elders secured eight Merinos for an average of $1500, Finiterre Farm Pty Ltd, Perenjori, bought six Merinos and three Polls at an average of $917 and Northampton producers T & L Sudlow, went home with five Merinos and two Polls, averaging $1300.
Sandown Poll Dorset and Poll Dorset-White Suffolk
The top price of $1600 for both the Poll Dorsets and Poll Dorset-White Suffolk composites was achieved seven times during the Sandown portion of the sale.
While averages were slightly down on the 2015 sale, the Sandown offering achieved total clearance demonstrating confidence in the stud from buyers.
The overall gross was $79,850, up from last year's $70,650 with a number of return buyers contributing to the positive results.
Last year's overall top price buyer Keith Camac & Co, Carnamah, Dongara-based Norrish Family Trust and TD & TL Davies, Geraldton, each paid the $1600 top price for purebred Poll Dorset rams, with TD & Davies forking out the sum for twice.
The crossbred Poll Dorset-White Suffolks reached $1600 on three occasions with return buyers Vernlea Grazing, Coomberdale, buying lot 131 and the day's overall top price buyers Graeme and Susanne Warr opening their wallet again to purchase the long and lean rams in lots 137 and 138.
Gary Comeagain and his son Des, representing Norrish Family Trust, bought seven rams for an average of $1293, including one of the equal top price Poll Dorsets.
Mr Comeagain said they had been buying from Sandown for decades and are familiar with the genetics produced by the Sutherland family.
"They're just well-bred, good all-rounder sheep," Mr Comeagain said.
The team of rams bought by Gary and Des will go into the paddock with 2200 mating ewes to continue to produce the good results they have seen come from Sandown rams in the past.
Other volume buyers included DW & RM de Bruyn, Carnamah, who bought eight Poll Dorsets for an average of $781 and Stickney & Sons, Dongara, who loaded six onto their ute, averaging $1067.
Purchasing five Poll Dorsets alongside four Merinos was Keith Camac & Co, Carnamah, who paid an average of $1611 with a top price of $2200 for a Merino.
Jurien Bay producers RN & KL Morecombe went home with six Poll Dorset rams and three composites to average $978.
Dallow Enterprises, Carnamah, purchased three apiece Poll Dorset and composite to average $917.
