Merino celebration tops at $6500

Sorry, did I say ram sale? It was more like a celebration of the Merino industry.

There was live music, a flamboyant master of ceremonies, an appearance by Liberal MP Rick Wilson, delicious food, a charity auction, a big crowd of new and returning loyal Derella clients and 210 Merino and Poll Merino rams on offer.

With the stud celebrating 21 years of Merino registration, not to mention the birthdays of Landmark's Neil Brindley and Peter Gale, the mood in the Pickering family's ram shed was a boisterous one and the punch line of Scott Pickering's welcome summed up the day:

"Sheep are sexy at the moment!" he said.

During the sale, the bidding was enthusiastic and reflected the positive mood in the sheep industry, reaching a gross of $224,400 at the fall of the hammer, at a $1282 average.

The final result was slightly down on last year, but with a number of privately negotiated sales, buyers were able to fill their requirements.

Roger and Joanne Nankivell, Condingup, once again headed home with the top price ram of the day, forking out $6500 for an impressive Poll Merino that caught their attention.

Following up from their $10,000 winning bid at last year's sale, the Nankivells said they know they can consistently find the quality they are looking for from the Pyramid Poll Merino stud.

"We breed our own rams so we try to go to the extra effort to buy the best," Mr Nankivell said.

Sired by Gunallo 55, the ram had ASBVs of 4.2, -0.2, -0.3, 14.3 and -1.3 for YWT, YFAT, YEMD, YCFW and YFD, and is a trait leader due to its multi-purpose index of 145.

The wool traits of the Nankivell's new ram are 20.1 micron, 3.1 SD, 15.4 CV and 99.7 per cent for comfort factor.

The loyal Pyramid Poll clients only bought one ram on the day and said they were happy with their purchase.

"He's got a well-structured body as well as great wool with a nice crimp, which was what we were looking for," Mr Nankivell said.

There were two equal top-priced Merinos which went for $6000 to last year's top price Merino buyer Rod Taylor, Epasco Farms, Condingup.

Sired by Ejanding 105, both rams have genetics Mr Taylor was familiar with and was eager to get his hands on again.

"We've established a genetic type of ewe that features the Ejanding and Derella Downs bloodlines and we want to keep that going," Mr Taylor said.

"I really liked the structural correctness, big frames and pure wool on both rams."

Mr Taylor said Epasco Farms buys principally from Derella Downs.

"We've been buying from Derella for about six years and the quality on offer each year is what brings us back."

Landmark Esperance agent and sale auctioneer Neil Brindley said the results of the sale were excellent.

"Buyers were willing to make bids in keeping with the quality offering that people have come to expect from Derella," Mr Brindley said.

"It was great to see a lot of new buyers supporting the sale as well as repeat volume buyers whose enthusiasm really added to the positive outcome of the sale."

Return clients Brad and Vanessa Whiting, Munglinup, were once again the volume buyers, taking home a total of 28 rams at the conclusion of the sale, an increase on their effort last year of 20 rams.

Their selection was majority Merinos, averaging $918.

The Whiting's top of $5000 was paid for lot 5, a Merino with wool figures of 19.9 micron, 2.9 SD, 14.6 CV and 99.7 CF.

"We like the soft handling and easy care traits in the Derella Downs Merinos," Mr Whiting said.

Ms Whiting said they had been buying from Derella for about seven years and while they had hoped to purchase 30 rams this year, they were happy with 28 and would not be looking elsewhere.

"We're looking to increase our flock, and this is where we want our genetics to come from because we know there is always quality on offer at Scotty's sale," Mr Whiting said.

The Ayres Family Trust, Cascade, was also another strong bidder, walking away with 18 rams at the fall of the final hammer, averaging $972.

Murray Ayres said he was returning to sheep after eight years away from the game.

"We've recently bought a property in Salmon Gums and are looking to fill it with sheep from quality lines," Mr Ayres said.

"I've had sheep from Derella Downs before and I knew this was where I would find the genetics I was looking for."

Bott Livestock Pty Ltd, Esperance, was willing to pay good money for Pyramid Poll genetics with a high average of $1842 for a total of 12 rams, majority Polls.

Other volume buyers came from a range of areas and included Barney Downs, Cascade, which went home with 11 Merino rams at an average of $718, Hargate Park, Esperance, Milarup Grazing, Lake King, Tandara Traders, Boyup Brook and PG, SA & DM Ford, Williams.

Hargate Park bought 14 rams under the hammer at an average of $1014 along with some privately negotiated deals and Milarup Grazing secured nine rams with several more in addition after the fall of the hammer.

Tandara Traders, represented by Peter Gale, Landmark Esperance, purchased eight rams under the hammer at an average of $837, while the Fords took home a total of 10 rams at the fall of the final hammer at an average of $840.

Derella Downs and Pyramid Poll stud principal Scott Pickering said it was a great day with some good prices and a lot of enthusiasm.

"It was fantastic to see such great buying support throughout the sale," Mr Pickering said.

The day was rounded out with a charity auction of three lamb carcases donated by the Pickering family to the Cascades Recreational Centre and the Liberal Party.

Birthday boy Neil Brindley certainly hadn't lost his voice while calling the bids during the ram sale and managed to tally up a total of $3900 for the Pickering family's chosen charities with the help of master of ceremonies Verity James.