STRONG bidding throughout the entire catalogue from new and existing clients saw a total clearance of Merino and Poll Merino rams at the Claypans on-property ram sale last week.
The Bilbarin-based Bolt family offered a slightly larger selection of 163 two-tooth rams and sold them all under the hammer to 29 registered buyers at an average of $1120, down $169 from last year when 130 were sold.
It was a big, upstanding Poll Merino ram in pen one, clearly visible to growers as they entered the shed, which attracted the sale's top price of $2400.
The regulation, March shorn ram, which boasted September wool test results of 22.2 micron, 3.4 SD, 15.4 CV and 98.9 per cent comfort factor, got the bidding off to a flying start for the afternoon before it was knocked down to EP Johnson & Co, Wagin.
Lindsay Johnson said the ram would introduce extra genetics and some diversity into his 1200 head Merino ewe flock.
Mr Johnson said he was looking for nice, deep, well-wooled animals that were easy growing and had a depth of body and believed the Claypans rams fit that brief.
"I run a medium wool flock on a property with a lot of low-lying country and I am looking for something to complement the flock," he said.
It was the third year Mr Johnson had purchased from the stud, and he bought a total of three rams at an average of $2100.
Once again the Claypans catalogue was made up of a majority of Poll Merino rams and the 145 head all sold at an average of $1141, down just over $200 from 2015.
The 18 Merino rams also achieved a total clearance, selling at an average of $950, up $103 from last year.
Prices for the Merino rams went to a top of $1400, which was once again paid by long-time client WT & MC Hurst & Co, Nyabing, for a ram measuring 20.6 micron, 3.8 SD, 18.5 CV and 99.2pc CF.
The ram was one of 10 Merinos bought on behalf of Bill Hurst at an average of $1140 to make him the volume Merino buyer of the day.
The volume buyer across the catalogue was first-time buyer Sunpride Holding, which purchased with the assistance of Landmark Corrigin representative James Culleton.
Mr Culleton purchased 17 rams for the operation all at $600 a head.
The team, which included 14 Poll Merinos and three Merinos, will be run on a Corrigin property with 7000 Merino ewes.
Buying just one ram less was another long-time client Geoff Laycock, trading as Quairading Service Contractors, Ravensthorpe, who secured 16 Poll Merino rams at an average of $1419.
This included paying to a top of $2200 for a ram which measured 20.7 micron, 3.2 SD, 15.7 CV and 99.5pc CF.
Prior to the sale Elders auctioneer Nathan King said the Bolt family had offered an increased catalogue to meet demand and because they believed the rams, all with their bright white wool, had a consistent depth of quality.
Mr King said the stud was continuing to reinvest in its genetics, which was reflected in its purchase of a share in a $45,000 Old Ashrose Poll Merino ram in Adelaide the week before.
After purchasing from Claypans for the first time last year, HB Andersen & Son, Shackleton, returned to the stud for another 11 rams, for which they paid an average of $1245 and to a top of $1700 for a ram with wool testing 19 micron, 3.4 SD, 18 CV and 99.7pc CF.
A further three growers bought nine rams each - JP & SJ Rose, Bodallin, averaged $1255 across its team; DE Sedgwick & Co, Bruce Rock, average was $955; and Poultney Grazing, Corrigin, averaged $900.
Lenfield Farms, Moorine Rock and JS and KA Hunter, Bruce Rock, each took home seven rams at an average of $814 and $957 respectively, while another three growers purchased six rams each - T & L O'Driscoll & Sons, Grass Valley, averaged $1300; AJ & ME Curnow & Co, Ardath, averaged $1367; and P & SR Negri, Bruce Rock, averaged $1183.
Victorian-based LPL Investments Pty Ltd, Shelbourne, bought five rams at an average of $880 to use over a long-time Claypans ewe flock, while also buying three rams for IG, BA, JR & BJ Punton, Shelbourne, at an average of $833.
WD & BL Crombie, Corrigin, also bought five rams at an average of $1600, including paying to a top of $1800 twice; as did TC & KJ Bell, Corrigin, who paid an average of $960 for their five rams; and PL & SM Rendell, Corrigin, purchased five Merino rams at an average of $780 and to a top of $1100.
JA & KJ Bell, Corrigin, bought four rams at an average of $925, including to a top of $1300, while LA Anderson & Partners, Quairading, secured four at an average of $1425 and to a top of $1700 twice.