AN exceptional Old Ashrose Poll Merino ram with terrific purity has been sold to two high profile WA studs, in a $45,000 private sale at last week's Royal Adelaide Show.
The 15-month-old sire was earmarked to be retained by the stud but after considerable interest at the show, stud principals Nick and Kate Wadlow, Hallett, South Australia, were happy to sell it to the Button family's, Manunda stud, Tammin (two-third share) and the Bolt family's, Claypans stud, Corrigin (one third share).
PH445 - named Will, by Wayne Button and Steven Bolt, after the Wadlow's son, was sired by a Greenfields ram bought at the 2013 Adelaide ram sale for $10,000.
He was a half brother to Old Ashrose's grand champion Poll Merino ram and had great growth for age weighing 122 kilogram.
The 21.1 micron ram had superb fleece tests with a 3.1 SD, 14.7 CV and 99.8 per cent comfort factor.
Mr Wadlow said it was a thrill to see the March shorn ram go to the highly regarded WA studs and he is looking forward to following its progeny.
"We have worked in with Wayne in the past with genetics and the Old Ashrose association with the Button family is long standing," he said.
"We really like his structure and his early maturity.
"He has a very pure muzzle and a terrific wool cutting ability with a real presence."
Mr Wadlow said it was "an offer hard to refuse" and they would retain semen for their November AI program.
Manunda stud principal Wayne Button said they weren't at Adelaide particularly looking to buy a ram but they were always on the look out for sires to complement their breeding program.
"We saw him in the show pens after the sale and knew straight away he was a sire that would really complement our breeding program and we had to try and secure him," Mr Button said.
"He has good bone, a really masculine muzzle, good structure and a free-growing white wool.
"We have used Old Ashrose bloodlines in the past for 20 years so we know they have good bone and constitution and work in our environment."
The Buttons believe the ram will really complement and work well over daughters of Banavie 333, which they purchased for $60,000 last year after successfully using the sire in an AI program in 2014.
Claypans co-principal Steven Bolt said the ram's balance, strength of head and well nourished wool made it a stand out for the two studs.
"For both our markets, particularly the WA Wheatbelt, we are looking for good early maturity, frames and wool quality which he suits," he said.
"He will be a new family for our stud and we will use him in both an ET program and in a natural mating program this season.
"I am really looking forward to getting him over here and seeing what he can do as I think he has the potential to suit a lot of the WA market."
The deal was brokered by Elders WA stud stock representative Nathan King.
Old Ashrose was also among the high prices in the Adelaide sale selling their six autumn shorn rams for a credible $7333 average.