THE record books were rewritten at the annual Wyalkatchem and Districts Merino Breeders' Association ram sale last week with the Olinda stud selling a poll ram for $17,200.
The record price smashes both the sale and stud top price records in what was a memorable occasion for the Eaton family, Wyalkatchem.
The upstanding ram was the stud's team leader and had drawn plenty of interest from WA stud and nucleus breeders when the Eatons decided to offer the stud reserve for sale.
Around eight hopeful buyers were seen to throw bids at certain stages of the long bidding tussle before the ram was knocked down to Peter and Angela Panizza, Trevino stud, Southern Cross. Losing bidder was a Bruce Edmonds-led syndicate.
The 118kg two-tooth, regulation shorn, shed prepared sire was a grandson of Collinsville Majestic with wool tests of 22 micron, 2.7 SD, 12.3 CV, 71.5 per cent yield and 99.6pc comfort factor.
The Olinda stud retained 200 doses of semen from the ram.
Trevino stud classer Kevin Broad, Elders stud stock, said the ram proved very popular at the Dowerin GWN7 Machinery Field Days and Peter went to Wyalkatchem to inspect the ram and liked what he saw.
"He is a square bodied and good wool poll to be used going forward in the Trevino poll stud," Mr Broad said.
"Peter purchased another Olinda and Cardiff poll rams to further boost the stud's sire battery as he wasn't undertaking an AI program this year."
The Olinda stud, with sale vendors Cardiff Merino and Poll Merino studs, Yorkrakine and the Wanganui Poll Merino stud, Wyalkatchem, all recorded improved sales.
The group combined to offer a top quality, slightly increased catalogue of 183 rams at the Wyalkatchem Sportsground ram selling complex which attracted strong stud and commercial Wheatbelt buying support.
A total of 164 rams (90 percent clearance) were sold under the hammer to gross $248,050 at an average of $1513.
These figures were significantly improved by $87,850 in gross and $400 in average compared to last year's sale where 144 of 176 (82pc) rams sold at auction to gross $160,200 and average $1113.
Improving the clearance further for the vendors was numerous overlooked rams finding new homes during or following the sale.
Cardiff
The Davies family kicked off the sale with a combined team of 101 Merino and Poll Merino rams with 87 rams (86pc) selling at auction to average $1390.
Averages were up across the line-up with strong bidding on selected lots.
Broken down, 55 of 62 Merino rams (89pc) sold under the hammer to average $1422, up by $326 on last year's sale where 47 of 56 Merino rams (84pc) sold to average $1096.
In the Poll line-up, Cardiff sold 32 of 39 rams (82pc) for an average of $1334.
This showed a $40 improvement compared to last year's average of $1294 from 35 of 40 rams (89pc) sold.
The stud's $4600 top price was paid by Kevin Broad representing first-time Cardiff buyers Wongamine Grazing Co, Northam, for the quality Merino ram in lot one.
The 118kg regulation shorn shed-prepared ram was by Woodyarrup 75 and tested 19.3 micron, 3.3 SD, 17.1 CV 77.5pc yield and 99.7pc CF.
Buyer Wayne Smith said he first saw the Cardiff ram on display in August at the Narrogin Long Wool Day and it appealed to him with its size and stylish wool type.
He said the ram would be used over their nucleus ewes to breed their own rams for use in their commercial breeding program.
Other stronger values paid for Cardiff Merinos included TE & AE Harris, Cunderdin, who paid the next highest price of $2400 for a Woodyarrup Bing son testing 20.9 micron and 99pc CF in their team of four Merino and two Poll Merino rams.
Regular Cardiff buyer NA & FJ Cosgrove, Shackleton, finished the sale with a team of 12 rams including a Poll ram and one following the sale, paying to a top of $2300 for a 105kg syndicate mated regulation shorn prepared ram in lot two that displayed tests of 19.3 micron, 3.3 SD, 17.1 CV, 77.5pc yield and 99.7pc CF.
Moorara Farms, Miling, was another regular buyer to rack up big numbers with 10 Merino rams to a $2300 top paid for the next ram offered, a 119kg Eastville 'Tom The Pom' son testing 21.2 micron and 99.2pc CF.
Consistent buyers Sachse Farming, Bencubbin and Gra-Mel Nominees, Badgingarra, both purchased nine Merino rams to tops of $2000 and $2100 respectively while BM & KZ Morgan, Northam, purchased seven rams.
The Trevino stud warmed up their bidding with the $4000 top-priced Cardiff Poll Merino for the first ram offered.
The regulation shorn shed prepared ram was a 115kg son of Rhamily Benny with wool tests of 19.7 micron, 3.8 SD, 19.3 CV, 73.5pc yield and 98.7pc CF.
AG & NL Woodfield, Kununoppin, topped off their two Cardiff Merino ram purchases with a Poll ram for $2600 in the next pen.
The 119kg ram was a Nepowie 298-bred son with tests of 22.8 micron and 98.1pc CF.
SG Coleman & Co, Cunderdin, consistently feature in the top prices for Cardiff Poll Merinos and this year was no exception.
The family paid more than $2000 four times in securing seven rams to a $2500 top price for a 123kg Benny son testing 22 micron and 98.1pc CF, selected from the middle of the catalogue.
Olinda
An extremely solid sale result capped off a memorable day for the Olinda stud.
Strong support from their regular buyers combined with a number of stud and nucleus sales to see 68 of the 72 (95pc) Poll Merino rams sell at auction to an impressive average of $1735.
This equalled a $689 jump in average from last year where 52 of 70 rams (74pc) sold to average $1046.
The Trevino stud followed up their record purchase with another Olinda sire for $3500.
The ram was part of the regulation shorn specially prepared team with figures of 22.2 micron, 3.4 SD, 15.3 CV, 69.7pc yield and 99.4pc CF.
Return buyers BK & PJ Caporn, Quairading, purchased two Olinda rams outlaying the next highest price of $3200 for a 126kg regulation shorn ram testing 19.9 micron, 2.7 SD, 13.6 CV, 68.4pc yield and 99.8pc CF.
The Wanjalonar stud, Narembeen, was one of the prominent bidders on the top-priced ram but didn't go home empty handed, paying $3100 for the 112kg second paddock run ram offered testing 22.6 micron and 98.5pc CF.
The Arra-Dale stud, Perenjori, eyed rams in the middle of the catalogue paying $3000 and $2900 while CJ Squires & Sons, Quairading, paid $2700 for the second Olinda ram offered.
Kevin Broad was kept busy filling a couple of buying orders for AR Mackenzie, Northam, with nine rams from $1000 to $1200 and JS Rogers & Co, Cunderdin, with eight rams from $1000 to $2000.
Consistent volume Olinda buyers Stratford & Sons, Wyalkatchem, returned to source seven new Olinda rams from $1000 to a $2500 top while Dowerin graziers GE & LD Straford paid $2600 twice and a healthy $2400 average for five Olinda rams.
Both buyers also picked up a single Cardiff poll ram each earlier in the sale.
JW Holdsworth, Yelbeni, paid from $800 to $1000 for six Olinda rams.
Wanganui
The Maitland family's Wanganui Poll Merino stud finished the sale with a team of 10 rams.
Young Landmark auctioneer James Culleton made his ram sale debut on the Wanganui team and sold nine rams at auction for an improved average of $1017 with the overlooked ram snapped up straight after the sale to give the Maitlands a complete clearance.
Compared to last year's sale, the average jumped $117 from $900 where all 10 rams sold.
Another first for the stud was first-time buyer Kelli Reilly, T Reilly & Sons, Wyalkatchem, securing three rams at the sale including the stud's $1900 top price.
The 124kg March shorn ram offered in lot two was an AI-bred son of Moorundie Park Kelvinator displaying tests of 20.1 micron, 17.4 CV, 3.5 SD and 99.5pc CF.
The Reilly family run just over 1000 ewes consisting of mainly Merino and F1 Prime SAMM ewes and a recently purchased line of pure Prime SAMM ewes.
Ms Reilly said they were reintroducing Merino sires to their breeding program to maintain a balance between meat and wool traits and avoid the cross swinging too far toward a meat sheep.
She said they will sell their older ewes and look to purchase in some more young ewes for the coming joining where their top ram will join the operation's Prime SAMM ewes.
"We wanted to support a local stud and we both work in well with Landmark's Rex Luers," Ms Reilly said.
"Really liked the Wanganui sheep at the sale and hope to be back next year."
Return buyer Range Farming, Mukinbudin, paid Wanganui's next highest price of $1500 for the first ram offered, a 111kg March shorn ram testing 20.2 micron, 12.9 CV, 2.6 SD and 99.9pc CF. Range Farming also took the overlooked ram soon after the sale.
Other buyers were CN & PJ Poole, Beacon, with three rams for $700 each and Newcourt Farm, Trayning, with two rams for $1000 and $900.