IT was a buyer's market at the annual Landmark Northam British Breeds ram sale on Monday.
There were bargains to be had throughout the catalogue as the offering of Poll Dorset, Suffolk and White Suffolk rams from Longdale, Centreforest and Lynburn studs drew bids from return clients.
Numbers were slightly down on last year with 37 out of the 61 rams offered sold, with the sale reaching an overall gross of $28,950.
Landmark auctioneer Grant Lupton, Wongan Hills, said it was a very good line-up with full ASBV figures available for buyers to take into consideration.
"Buyers were very selective," Mr Lupton said.
"Today's sale was a great opportunity for buyers to purchase rams at reasonable costs.
"While it would have been good to have a few more registrations, the overall result was pleasing."
And despite the slightly lower offering, buyers were willing to bump up the top price which topped out at $1000 for five Centreforest Poll Dorset sires.
Centreforest Poll Dorset stud principal Warren O'Neill, Northam, said he was happy with the result despite a sticky start to the sale.
The first ram to be sold at top price went home with return buyer Corey Leeson, DP Leeson, Meckering.
During last year's sale Mr Leeson purchased eight Centreforest sires averaging $736, but this year upped his average to $756 for the four Poll Dorset rams that caught his attention.
Mr Leeson said he liked the nice, even and long characteristics of the stud's rams.
"We've been buying from Centreforest for a number of years and I know the sires will suit our operation," Mr Leeson said.
The team of Centreforest Poll Dorsets will go into the paddock with Mr Leeson's 1000 composite ewes.
p Poll Dorset
A total of 46 Poll Dorset rams were offered by Longdale and Centreforest studs, with eight Longdale sires and 22 Centreforest sires headed to new homes.
Longdale stud principal Ray Hathaway, Brookton, said while there were a few expected buyers who could not make it to the sale, he was happy with the overall result.
The top-priced 108kg Longdale sire in pen four sold for $800 to regular Longdale buyer Whitford Investments, Gingin, which secured a further two Longdale sires to average $747.
The Guthrie family, CG & BC Guthrie, travelled from Bolgart to secure three Longdale sires at $750 apiece.
Colin Guthrie and his sons Liam and Curtis like the rams bred by the Hathaway family for their good frame size and ability to handle tough environmental conditions.
"We've been buying from Longdale for a number of years now and we've been happy with the results," Mr Guthrie said.
KR & PD Haeusler, Wannamal, bought two Longdale rams at $750 apiece.
When the bidding started for the Centreforest Poll Dorsets it became clear that buyers had attended with specific genetics in mind.
No buyers purchased rams from multiple studs, so with the three Longdale bidders out of contention, there was new competition in the shed for the Centreforest line-up.
Lots 29, 30, 31 and 36 joined Mr Leeson's purchase to reach the sale top price of $1000.
Two were purchased by Andrew O'Connor, Landmark Northam and Goomalling, on behalf of CB & CA Whitfield, Wongan Hills and the other two purchased by return Centreforest top price buyer Mount Joy Grazing Company, Northam.
The volume buyer of the day was Darren Sewell, D & J Sewell & Co, Goomalling, who was also representing his brother Jason.
Mr Sewell purchased a total of eight Centreforest sires under the hammer to average $756 with a top price of $850 and went on to deal privately with the vendor for a further two rams that were passed in during the sale.
"The Centreforest rams are always consistent," Mr Sewell said.
"The rams have a good size frame and I like the figures on them.
"I look for low birthweight and high weaning weight, traits that are easy to find in the Centreforest rams."
Other Centreforest buyers were GA & W Ashman, Bakers Hill, who secured three rams for an average of $617 and M & M O' Driscoll, Grass Valley, who secured two at a top of $900.
o Suffolk and White Suffolk
The Lane family's Lynburn Suffolk and White Suffolk stud, Wongan Hills, offered 10 Suffolk sires and five White Suffolk sires to clear seven during the sale.
Merredin-based producers Growden Bros, represented by Andrew O'Connor, Landmark Northam and Goomalling, secured four Suffolk sires for an average of $775.
Mr O'Connor also purchased the three White Suffolk rams sold to be sent to Aylesbury Farm, Merredin, averaging $650.
Mr Lupton said the two eastern Wheatbelt producers were looking to secure some good Suffolk genetics and knew that the Northam British Breeds ram sale would be a good opportunity to do so.