MOST ram sales attract a few tyre kickers but there were none among the 20 who registered as potential buyers for the 15th annual Glenlea Dohne sale at Katanning last week.
Everyone went home with at least one ram and one couple travelled thousands of kilometres to get there.
Peter and Heather Holmes, Hill View Dohnes, Streaky Bay, South Australia, have never missed a Glenlea sale and drove across the Nullarbor this year to buy four rams including the $3000 top price sheep and others at $2600, $1700 and $1400, although only one ram was for their own stud.
Normally they have been accompanied by a contingent of other South Australians but this year they were entrusted with their buying orders.
The top price ram initially had been selected on figures by Paul Webb, Eagle Ridge stud, Cowell, SA, who asked Peter to confirm the ram visually then bid by phone advancing the bidding in one giant leap from $2300 to $3000 to put the ram beyond the reach of his competitors.
The ram was by AL130134 and was in the top 10 percentile band for weaning weight, post weaning weight and yearling weight and in the top 1pc for yearling clean fleece weight and it was wool quality that was a key factor not only for the top price ram but also for several other sons that made good money.
Mr Webb also paid $1700 for a second ram.
The Holmes family, who works closely with Mr Webb in sharing genetics, paid the $2600 second top price and reaffirmed their support for Glenlea saying they bought their first Glenlea rams in 2000 and felt fortunate to have established such a good relationship with stud principal Alex Leach.
"He taught us to understand and use estimated breeding values to improve our sheep and we have been able to access some good South African genetics through his contacts," Heather said.
While the South Australians gave valuable support to the top end of the 82-ram yarding they were well supported by locals who could also boast similar long-term relationships.
Among them was Barry Ramm, Wallacup Farms, who paid the $2500 third top price and said he had shopped around several local studs when the breed was first introduced but now bought exclusively from Glenlea.
The number of long established clients was a highlight of the sale for Mr Leach but he was also pleased to see some first time buyers and support from other studs.
He was also particularly pleased with the presentation of the rams saying as completely paddock-reared sheep they had performed well in the good season without extra help.
The $2200 fourth top price ram, bought by Greg and Robert Sounness, Denvale Dohnes, Mt Barker, was also a son of AL130134 and again it was wool quality that was the main attraction.
Stud spokesman Robert said they had recorded more than 750 millimetres of rain so far this year and they needed a stylish bright, white, rich wool that could handle such high rainfall
The buyers' list included many whose association with Glenlea extended back to the inaugural auction.
Among them was Wayne Littleton and his father Tony, Williams, who were acknowledged by Landmark auctioneer Chris Elliott for buying more than 100 rams during that time.
Last week they bought another eight and paid up to $1800 as well as $1700 (twice), $1500 and $1000 (3).
Wayne said they were still pleased they had made the change from Merinos saying Dohnes were a stronger more active animal that gave them the option of selling prime lamb from a self-replacing flock without the need to buy in ewes.
Another long term buyer was Clayton South, Wagin, who paid up to $1700 (twice) for the best of six.
Among other high price buyers were Marlingu Farms, Moora, which paid up to $1800 for seven rams; SM & NL Chitty, Goomalling, paid up to $1900 for three; and LG & JM Marinoni, Kojonup, paid $1500 for the best of nine and, along with C & N Edgecombe, Merredin, who bought 14 rams at lower levels, was one of the most dominant buyers.
Just five rams were passed in with one selling privately after the auction giving Glenlea a $1060 average, down just $59 on the 2015 result.
