MOLLERIN Rock Dohne stud is producing the goods and buyers are noticing.
At the stud's on-property sale in Koorda last week it was smiles all round for the Longmuir family as Elders auctioneer Adrian Gamble knocked down the bids to achieve 100 per cent clearance of the 114 rams on offer.
With only four more rams on offer compared to last year's total clearance sale of 110, this year's sale reached a gross of $183,000, which was up significantly from the 2015 gross of $164,200.
The bidding was strong through the entire sale averaging a whopping $1605, demonstrating an upwards trend for the stud with the 2015 sale averaging $1493 and $1103 in 2014.
Mr Gamble said it was the easiest sale to sell because the bidding was buoyant from start to finish.
"The prices buyers were willing to pay reflected the quality of the Longmuir's offering," Mr Gamble said.
"There were a lot of return buyers here today buying big which demonstrates their long term confidence in Mollerin Rock genetics."
It was clear some bidders were hoping for the prices to drop towards the end of the line-up but that didn't prove the case as the top price of the day didn't appear until lot 103 with bidding remaining strong until the final fall of the hammer.
Equalling last year's top price at $2600 was repeat buyer Clint Stanley, Mooredale Farms, Kalannie, who went home with the top-priced ram weighing in at 110kg.
The ram had ASBVs of 4, 7.2 and 2.1 for WWT, YWT and MD with an overall index of 165.
Mr Stanley said it was his third year in the Dohne game after leaving Merinos.
Looking to increase his flock that currently constitutes 25pc of his Kalannie operation with 75pc cropping making up the rest, Mr Stanley said Dohnes are great all-rounders.
"We're trying to improve the frames in our own operation and Mollerin Rock produces the kind of rams we're looking for with great ASBVs," Mr Stanley said.
"Wool isn't really the main focus of our operation, but the impressive wool figures are an added bonus."
At the end of the sale Mr Stanley went home with a total of eight rams at an average price of $1912.
The return buyers were out in force with the second top price ram going to J & J Arrow, Koorda, for $2500 along with six other rams reaching an average of $1543.
The second top-priced ram weighed in at 109kg and had a YWT of 6.5 and YCFW of 13, along with wool figures of 21.2, 17 and 99.7 for FD, CV and comfort factor respectively.
Bodallin producers KK & LD Kent upped their numbers from the five they bought last year to secure seven rams at a high average of $1871.
Local buyers TA & D Boyne & Sons, Koorda, paid an average of $1629 for the seven rams they bought and Wallambin Park, Koorda, also took home seven rams at an average of $1271.
Equalling their efforts last year were GF & S Waters, Kununoppin, who bought six rams averaging $1550.
Mollerin Rock stud principal Ian Longmuir said he was pleased with the excellent result.
"It's fantastic to achieve such a great average and we're grateful for the support from returning and new buyers," Mr Longmuir said.
"We're proud of the line-up we were able to provide.
"The average body weight of the offered rams was 106kg and it's also great that buyers are noticing the increase in wool quality which has been a focus for us."
There was also an offering of 345 ewe hoggets sold to Victoria for $150 after beating out a Wongan Hills-based producer in the bidding.
Mr Longmuir was happy with the overall result.
"It's about time people realised what ewes and sheep in general are worth," Mr Longmuir said.
"Today's result really reflects the true quality available on the back of such a great season Statewide."
