Kamballie averages $1989

But it wasn't the strong winds which prevailed across most of the State that nearly put them flat on their back, rather their out-of-the-box ram sale that averaged a red hot $1989, one of the best single vendor ram sale averages in the State since 2003.

Before the sale even started the writing was on the wall that it was going to be strong given the near perfect season in the area, the solid sheep and wool prices and the large crowd in attendance - but I don't think anybody thought it would be this good.

Right from the opening ram the 43 registered buyers made their presence felt and bid up strongly and sustained their bidding right until the last pen.

At times the combined Landmark and Elders selling team had trouble keeping up with the bids as most of the rams had a handful of buyers operating on them.

When Landmark auctioneer Michael Altus knocked down the final ram, all 140 rams offered had been sold to a top of $6000 twice and for a $1989 average, which was up a massive $462 on last year.

In comparison, in last year's sale the stud offered 134 rams and sold 128 under the hammer for an average of $1527.

In the breakdown this year 97 Poll Merinos sold for an average of $2082, which was up from $1743 in 2015 when 79 sold from 80 offered and 43 Merinos sold at an average of $1777, compared to $1180 last year when 49 out of 54 sold.

Mr Altus said it was a red hot sale and an outstanding result for the Mackin family.

"It was an extremely solid sale with the bidding strong all the way through the catalogue right to the very last ram, it certainly didn't fade away down the last run," Mr Altus said.

"There is no doubt the final result was certainly a reflection of the quality of the line-up, the great season and solid sheep and wool prices.

"The line-up of rams was outstanding and very even from beginning to end. It was a credit to the Mackin family."

Equally as happy with the sale result was Landmark Breeding representative Mitchell Crosby.

"It was an extraordinary sale and well above expectations, with the good season buyers were certainly prepared to bid up and buy the rams they wanted," Mr Crosby said.

"Not only was a long list of return buyers operating there was also a number of new buyers operating in the sale which really pushed it along.

"The final result was real surprise and a great outcome for the Mackin family.

"It was a real reward for the faith they have shown in the industry by investing in new genetics and their breeding program for their clients and it showed in the outstanding line-up of rams right the way through the catalogue."

The tone for the sale was set early with the two $6000 equal top-priced rams selling within the first four pens.

Leading the charge for the stud and the first to hit the $6000 mark was the stud's full wool, four-tooth, in pen one.

After taking an opening bid of $5000 on the upstanding, deep-bodied ram, it only took Mr Altus a handful more bids before he found a buyer and the ram was knocked down to Elders district wool manager Russell Wood, who was bidding on behalf of Des Tilbrook, CA & DA Tilbrook, Tammin.

The sire not only impressed on the eye but it also had the wool figures to match with official June wool tests of 21.7 micron, 3.1 SD, 14.3 CV and 99.1 per cent comfort factor.

The ram was sired by Rhamily Benny and at last month's Rabobank WA Sheep Expo & Sale in Katanning was sashed the reserve grand champion August shorn Poll Merino.

Mr Wood said Mr Tilbrook saw the ram at both Katanning and the Dowerin field days and was impressed by its production ability.

"He liked its size and wool cutting ability," Mr Wood.

"He was also chasing the ram's Benny bloodline."

Matching the $6000 price of the stud's lead ram and second ram to sell at this value was another son of Rhamily Benny in lot four.

This time it was March shorn, two-tooth sire, which created a buzz among buyers before being knocked down to Elders stud stock manager Tim Spicer, who was bidding on behalf of return buyers of two years the Squiers family, CJ Squiers & Sons, Quairading.

The long, deep, square Poll ram with plenty of muscling was +14.5kg above the sale team body weight average of 100kg while its eye muscle depth was +2mm above the team average of 39mm when scanned in August.

On the wool front it carried a long-stapled, heavy cutting white wool which measured 18.3 micron, 3.4 SD, 18.6 CV and 99.8pc CF when sampled in April.

Sascha Squiers said he saw the ram at both the Rabobank WA Sheep Expo & Sale and the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days and was impressed by it.

"It still impressed us when we got to the sale," he said.

"He is a good big sheep, with good depth of body and a stylish wool with plenty of length."

The Squiers will use the ram in a nucleus flock of 300 ewes to breed rams for their operation in which they mate 2500 ewes to Merinos and 1000 Merino ewes to Poll Dorset and Prime SAMM sires.

Also during the sale the Squiers picked up a second sire for $2600.

Return buyers of 10 years, Bryce and Callum Nicholls, BW & CM Nicholls, Corrigin, were also in the thick of the action operating at the front end of the catalogue.

They picked up the $4100 second top-priced ram - a March shorn Poll ram by Banavie 333.

The long-stapled, soft, crimpy woolled ram had April wool figures of 17.6 micron, 3.1 SD, 17.6 CV and 99.9pc CF and on the carcase front it was +4kg above the sale team average for body weight and +4mm for EMD.

By the end of the sale the pair had purchased another two Poll sires to finish with a team of three at an average of $3167.

This year they are intending to mate 2800 ewes to Merinos and said they continued to buy rams from the stud as they liked the size and wool traits the Kamballie sheep offered.

"They are good meat and wool sheep," they said.

Kellerberrin operation Mulberry Nominees wasn't afraid to bid up on its first preferences in the Poll offering and secured team of seven sires to a top of $2800 twice and an average of $2471.

Also bidding up strongly on sizeable ute loads of just polled rams were GB & LB McDonald & Son, Kellerberrin, and they purchased five to a top of $2600 and an average of $2360, while Clows Top Farm, Westonia and RJ & VJ York, Tammin, both purchased six sires at averages of $2283 and $2267.

New buyers RS & TJ Menzies, New Norcia, were active throughout the poll offering and collected a team of five sires at an average of $2080, while Mukinbudin buyers DJ & CA Palm, secured a team of five for a $1940 average and LE & M Farina, Mukinbudin, averaged $1883 over a team of six.

In the Merino offering prices hit a high of $3500 when a deep, long-bodied ram with a big barrel was penciled into the sheets to return buyer Arrin Park stud, Three Springs, with Landmark Breeding representative Mitchell Crosby bidding on its behalf.

Mr Crosby said they picked the ram out for its rich, crimpy, white wool.

"It will be a new bloodline for the stud," Mr Crosby said.

"Whatever we purchased in the past from Kamballie has clicked well in the stud, so we hope this ram does the same."

The ram, which was by Barloo 76, had April wool figures of 17.8 micron, 4.3 SD, 24.2 CV and 99.3pc CF.

It was +17 for bodyweight and +5 to EMD compared to the sale team averages.

Strong buyers in the Merino offering were VG & EB Ryan, Doodlakine, who purchased five Merinos to a top of $2300 and an average of $2140, while W & V Garner, Wyalkatchem, averaged $1667 across a team of six.

The biggest buyer of Merinos was AL Carter & Co, Cunderdin, who purchased 11 sires at an average of $1336 with assistance of Landmark Kellerberrin/Cunderdin agent Rex Leurs.

But in terms of numbers no one got close to return buyers since 2002 Allan and Jo Smith, Mount Joy Grazing, Northam.

The Smiths, who will mate up to 3000 ewes to Merinos this year, showed no preference to either Merino or Poll Merino sires securing a team of six Merinos at an average of $1833 and nine Polls at an average of $1300.

Mr Smith said they continued to return to Kamballie to buy as they produced a big sheep with nice wool.

"They are good commercial sheep," Mr Smith said.

Fellow return buyer Dremdarkin Farms, Tammin, also showed no preference for horns or polls purchasing five polled sires at a $2280 average and three Merinos for an $1800 average.