IT was another very pleasing result for Nepowie studmaster Cameron White and his family at the stud's fifth annual on-property ram sale at Nomans Lake last week.
Mr White and his sons Blake and Dylan again increased their sale presentation by a further 25 head on last year's sale and considering the statistics on each ram offered and looking over the rows of halter tied rams, it was a very even catalogue throughout as the final result indicated.
Agents Elders and Landmark acted in conjunction with Elders auctioneer Don Morgan in charge of proceedings.
Come the end of the sale of the 223 rams catalogued, all but two rams had been sold for an average price of $1463 and only 15 of those sold went at under $1000.
The top price of the day didn't come until lot 26 when regular Nepowie stud client, Ray Edmonds, Rhamily Poll Merino stud, Calingiri, bid to $3800 for one of three rams he took home from the sale with the other two rams purchased for $2500 each.
Mr Edmonds said he picked the top-priced ram out on sale day and it was its size, good back end and quality wool which made it a standout in his eyes.
"I was looking for a couple of sires to keep the Nepowie bloodline going in our stud and all three I purchased will fit in well," Mr Edmonds said.
"The top-priced one carried Gunallo bloodlines and this was another one of its attractions as I wanted more of that bloodline after using it in the stud for the first time last year.
"We will probably use the top ram over some of the thicker ewes in the stud."
The ram was one of the heaviest in the catalogue at 110.5 kilograms and displayed wool tests of 22.9 micron, 4.0 SD, 17.5 CV and 97.1 per cent comfort factor.
Losing bidder on the top-priced ram was Elders stud stock representative Kevin Broad, who was bidding on behalf of his client, Gavin Elsgood, WR & BJ Elsgood & Son, Mingenew.
Mr Broad went on to buy 18 rams to a top of $2400 from the offering on behalf of the Elsgood family who join about 3000 ewes to Merinos and have been Nepowie clients for more than 15 years.
The sale's second top price of $3600 was paid by another long-term client, Phil Bear, Moonijin stud, Dowerin, who was bidding through Landmark Breeding representative Mitchell Crosby.
The first ram in the offering sold at $3100 to another regular buyer John Koric, Koranga Farming Co, Dongara.
Mr Koric also paid $2400 and $2200 for two other selections.
Bruce Edmonds, BG & CA Edmonds, Glen-Byrne Poll Merino stud and Mannalea Merino stud, Calingiri, travelled to the sale with his brother Ray and their Landmark agent Grant Lupton and together had nine rams on board for the trip home.
Bruce purchased four rams for his Glen-Byrne stud up to $2500 and Grant Lupton purchased two rams on behalf of another client.
Another regular buyer who puchased four rams up to $2300 was Bruce Bishop, NS & EM Bishop & Sons, Lake Grace.
Also of Lake Grace was Ron Lay with his son Brad, JC & N Lay & Sons, who paid up to $1800 for one of the 11 rams.
Volume buyers of the sale were consistent Nepowie buyers McDougall Bros, Tincurrin, with John McDougall starting off many of the rams offered and eventually finishing with 16 rams to his account.
Wagin clients SR & T Angwin through Steven Angwin went home with 10 rams up to $1800 and also buying 10 rams was Jamie Blight, RE Blight & Co, Beverley.
Another 16 clients, some from as far afield as Beacon, Hyden and Newdegate, bought from five to nine head each and another 12 buyers went home with between two to four rams.
From the 40 potential buyers registered, 37 were successful bidders in the sale.
Cameron White said it was very pleasing to see the confidence in the sheep industry as illustrated by the values return clients and some first time buyers to the sale were prepared to pay for rams which obviously reflects the returns coming through strong wool prices and slaughter and breeding sheep values.
Local Elders agent Paul Keppel said the sale saw good solid support from a long list of regular buyers of Nepowie blood and the values across the catalogue reflected the very uniform offering throughout.
He said it was pleasing to see more rams catalogued again this year with only two passed in at auction.