A LARGE contingent of stud buyers and a quality line-up of stud rams were the perfect combination at last week's IGA Perth Royal Show All Breeds stud ram and ewe sale where prices hit a high of $13,500 for a Poll Dorset sire.
The Poll Dorset, White Suffolk and Suffolk breeds attracted the most attention from buyers throughout and sold to solid values from a long list of stud buyers.
By the end of the sale, selling agents Elders and Landmark had cleared 42 of 59 rams offered under the hammer for an average of $4046 and the pair of White Suffolk ewes offered both sold, selling to a top of $1700 and an average of $1600.
In comparison in last year's sale, agents offered 60 rams and sold 36 to a top of $18,500 and an average of $4356.
This meant for the ram section of the catalogue the clearance was up 11 per cent and the gross was up $13,150, while the average fell $310.
Landmark auctioneer John Wirth and Elders auctioneer Don Morgan agreed it was a solid sale and the top rams sold to strong competition.
Mr Wirth said the presentation was excellent throughout and a credit to the vendors.
"Being a stud sale, buyers come to the sale looking for a stud sire and they know before they get there what rams they are chasing and as a result are very selective," Mr Wirth said.
"As a result the really top rams that showed true stud sire potential were selected by a number of buyers and sold very well.
"It was also pleasing to see buyers from the Eastern States not only operating but also buying.
"Overall it was a good solid result."
Mr Morgan said the good rams with good figures, structure and outlook sold extremely well under solid competition.
"It was good to see Eastern States stud activity in the sale illustrating the quality of prime lamb sires being bred in WA," Mr Morgan said.
"This Eastern States interested coupled with support from local stud breeders and commercial breeders ensured there was strong competition throughout.
"The Poll Dorsets, White Suffolks and Suffolks attracted strong support while the smaller breeds had challenging sales.
"In terms of the quality on offer the presentation was excellent and a credit to the vendors."
With a top line of Poll Dorsets on offer and plenty of interest both from local and Eastern States buyers, the breed took back the number one mantle from the White Suffolks securing both top price and top average honours.
When the British, Australasian and other breeds champion ram and champion Poll Dorset ram from the Squier family's Shirlee Downs stud, Quairading, entered the ring midway through the sale in lot 32, buyers kicked into action.
After taking an opening bid of $7000 on the upstanding, well-muscled sire, Mr Wirth had his work cut out, as the price quickly rose.
In the end it was a race in two between Landmark Kojonup agent Troy Hornby and Landmark Pingelly agent Chris Turton.
Finally at $13,500 it was Mr Hornby who prevailed and revealed he was bidding on behalf of the Pearce family, Orrvale stud, Kojonup.
Orrvale stud principal George Pearce said they had used Shirlee Downs' genetics successfully before and they were after a new stud sire and this ram fitted the bill.
"I saw him at the stud's on-property ram sale and he stood out, so we decided to come down to this sale and try and buy him," Mr Pearce said.
"I really like his make and shape.
"He has a good shape, good length, really good hindquarters and is smooth through the shoulders.
"His bloodline was also an attraction as it will be a new one for us."
The classy sire by Shirlee Downs 301-12, had LambPlan figures of 0.6 BWT, 9.8 WWT, 15.3 PWWT, -1.0 PFAT, 0.8 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 189.3.
Losing bidder on the ram was the Longdale stud, Brookton.
p Suffolk
The Suffolk breed led the sale and got it off to a solid start when two breeders offered and sold three rams to a top of $6250 and an average of $4333.
Leading the way for the breed and selling its $6250 top price were regular sale vendors Pam Hinkley and Suellyn Boucher, Pamellen stud, Clackline.
Taking top price honours for the stud was its reserve champion ram when it was knocked down to Landmark Breeding representative Roy Addis who was bidding on behalf of Jon Sutherland, Sayla Park Suffolk, Kilmore, Victoria.
Mr Sutherland said it was the ram's balance and figures particularly its fat and muscle ASBVs which impressed.
"He is a well-balanced, safe ram with positive fat and muscle figures," he said.
"The positive fat was particularly important as I believe it is important we keep the fat on our sheep going forward.
"He will be a new bloodline for us and will provide a good outcross for our genetics."
The upstanding, square ram, by Westcombe 86-09, had LambPlan figures of 0.45 BWT, 8.8 WWT, 13.9 PWWT, 0.6 PFAT, 1.3 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 181.2.
Pamellen sold a second ram in the sale, which created just as much interest before it was finally knocked down at $5250 to JE Moulton, Yalering Dale, Beverley.
The ram, which was also a son of Westcombe 86-09, was sashed the champion Suffolk ram in the judging.
It had LambPlan figures of 0.64 BWT, 9.4 WWT, 15.0 PWWT, -0.1 PFAT, 0.2 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 177.4.
The sale of the two rams meant the Pamellen stud had cleared both rams it offered at an average of $5750.
The Sasimwa stud, York, put forward one ram in the Suffolk offering and it found a new home at $1500 when it sold to Bohemia Springs Patoral Co, Esperance.
The Sasmiwa sire was by Glenroy 35-12 and had a CarcasePlus index of 150.4.
p White Suffolk
After last year's record breaking sale for the breed, this year's sale was a little bit more subdued for the seven studs which offered White Suffolk rams.
Between them the seven studs offered 19 rams and sold 13 under the hammer to a top of $4250 and at an average of $2804, which was back $2646 on last year.
In comparison in the 2015 sale breeders offered 14 sires and sold 10 to a top of $18,500 and an average of $5450.
Again this year there were also two White Suffolk ewes offered and sold at an average of $1600.
Leading the charge for the breed and taking top price honours was Max Whyte and Gail Cremasco's Brimfield stud, Kendenup.
Spearheading the line-up for the stud was a long-bodied, well-muscled sire when it was knocked down at $4250 to return buyers the Watterson family, AT & JI Watterson & Son, Tenterden.
Buyer Nerida Watterson said they liked the ram because it had good length and depth and really good fleshing.
"It has all the traits required to produce heavy prime lambs," she said.
The Watterson family will use the ram in a nucleus flock to breed rams to use in their prime lamb operation in which they mate 3000 Merino-Prime SAMM cross ewes.
The ram was by Brimfield 402-13 and had a CarcasePlus index of 166.57.
The next best price in the Brimfield team was $3500 paid by MR & KM Edwards, Wagin, for a sire with a CarcasePlus index of 187.71 that was by Glengarry 12-11.
The third Brimfield sire to sell was another son of Glengarry 12-11 and it was purchased by KJ & YM Morgan & Son, Northampton, at $2500.
By the end of the Brimfield run the stud had cleared three from six rams offered at an average of $3083.
The Hyde family's Kohat stud, Ongerup, offered and sold two rams to a top of $4000 and an average of $3500.
Achieving the $4000 price tag was the stud's supreme White Suffolk exhibit and reserve champion British, Australasian and other breeds ram.
After a spirited bidding melee the ram was purchased in partnership by the Ridgetop stud, Mt Barker and the Cheetara stud, Narembeen.
The ram was by Wheetlande 127064 and had LambPlan figures of 0.54 BWT, 10.6 WWT, 17.6 PWWT, -0.6 PFAT, 0.6 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 196.
The same buying partnership then went onto secure the stud's second sire, which was also by Wheetlande 127064 and sashed the supreme exhibit at this year's Make Smoking History Wagin Woolorama at $3000.
After taking top price honours in last year's sale the Kiara stud was back again this year with a team of three rams and two ewes, which all sold, with the rams averaging $3000 and the ewes $1600.
The Kiara ram team topped at $3750 when the Walker family, Jusak stud, Newdegate, paid this value for ram sired by Farrer 155-11.
The well-muscled ram had LambPlan figures of 0.4 BWT, 11.2 WWT, 16.5 PWWT, -0.4 PFAT, 3.2 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 221.6.
The Stevenson family, Kaula Dale stud, Kojonup, was another to buy from the Kiara offering when it secured a Farrer 155-11 son with a CarcasePlus index of 216.2 for $3250.
The Glenbrook stud, Darkan, purchased the third Kiara ram to sell at $2000.
The stud's two ewes sold at $1700 and $1500.
The top-priced ewe, which had a CarcasePlus index of 191.4, was purchased by the Stockdale stud, York, while the Jusak stud, secured the other ewe which had a CarcasePlus index of 212.3.
Both ewes were by Kiara 29-14.
Selling White Suffolks for the first time in the sale was the Acadia stud, Yealering.
It sold one from its team two for $3000 to the Thompson family, Boyup Brook.
The ram purchased by the Thompsons was by Bundara Downs 133562 and had LambPlan figures of 0.41 BWT, 11 WWT, 17.8 PWWT, -0.3 PFAT, 1.6 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 207.2.
Sasimwa stud principals Glenn and Kay Cole, York, offered and sold two White Suffolk sires to a top of $2500 and an average of $2100.
Their $2500 top price sire was purchased by Daniel Griffiths, Danhaven stud, Donnybrook.
The ram was by Matilda Downs 566-13 and had a CarcasePlus index of 173.3.
Their second ram, which was also by Matilda Downs 566-13, sold at $1700 to Bohemia Springs Pastoral Co.
The Bingham family's Iveston stud, Williams, offered three White Suffolks sires and sold two under the hammer both at $2000.
Both rams were by Wheetlande 137860 and had CarcasePlus indexes of 187.9 and 178.
They were purchased by the Glenbrook stud and Bohemia Springs Pastoral Co respectively.
p South Suffolk
The Bingham family, Iveston stud, Williams offered and sold one South Suffolk for $3000.
Securing the ram at the $3000 price tag was return Iveston client and fellow South Suffolk stud breeder Gordon Curtis, Binnaburra stud, Kellerberrin.
The upstanding ram which showed excellent muscling and growth was by Springdale 3-13 and was judged the supreme champion British breed exhibit.
p Poll Dorset
It was a great sale for the Poll Dorset breed, which rounded out the catalogue.
Not only did it have the largest numbers in the sale and achieved the highest breed average, it was also where the four top-priced rams were found.
All up seven Poll Dorset studs from across the State offered 31 rams and cleared 25 under the hammer at an average of $4700, which was up $874 on last year.
In comparison in last year's sale there were 23 rams sold from 33 offered at an average of $3826.
The Squiers family's Shirlee Downs stud led the way for the breed offering eight rams and selling six under the hammer, including the sale topping $13,500 ram for an average of $7125, up a massive $2208 on 2015.
It wasn't only the British, Australasian and other breeds champion ram in the Shirlee Downs team that sold for $13,500, which made an impression on buyers, so too did a well-muscled, long ram by Gloroy 541-11.
After some quick fire bidding the upstanding ram was heading east when it was purchased at $9500 (third top price in the sale) by Alistair and Jess Sutherland, Konongwootong stud, Konongwootong, Victoria, who have previously used Shirlee Downs genetics.
Ms Sutherland said they had been very pleased with how the Shirlee Downs genetics they had used in the past had performed and were looking for another sire to add to their flock.
"This ram is a standout, he has length of carcase, length of loin, is well filled in and has clean points," she said.
"He also has a great sire's outlook and is a good, strong, honest sheep."
The ram had LambPlan figures of 0.4 BWT, 8.5 WWT, 12.6 PWWT, 0.0 PFAT, 2.5 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 192.3.
The Samwell family, Ironstone Ridge stud, Boyup Brook, were also keen on the Shirlee Downs sires and after missing out on the $9500 ram they went onto secure the next sire offered at $6500.
The ram by Gloroy 588-13 had LambPlan figures of 0.6 BWT, 11.5 WWT, 18.4 PWWT, -0.5 PFAT, 2.0 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 215.7.
Two other rams in the Shirlee Downs team made $5000 when they sold to Rockbridge Holdings Pty Ltd, Annaleaka stud, Manjimup and Ian and Hazel Sutherland, Deloraine Downs stud, Coleraine, Victoria.
The rams had CarcasePlus indexes of 189.4 and 198.4 respectively.
The team from the Squiers family's Dongadilling stud also created interest among buyers, with all seven rams offered selling under the hammer for an average of $4893.
It was also the team where the sale's $13,250 second top-priced ram was found.
Bidding started at $5000 on the impressive sire and quickly rose as Elders auctioneer Don Morgan fielded a flurry of bids.
In the end it was Ian and Hazel Sutherland, Deloraine Downs stud, which had the final $13,250 bid.
Mr Sutherland said the ram was a good all-round sire.
"He is good on his feet, shows good muscling and good shoulders, which is important," he said.
"Overall he is a good-shaped ram with the good figures to match.
"We were over for a family event and decided to come and have a look at the sale and picked this ram out.
"We have had genetics from the Squiers family before and they do well so we are looking forward to getting this ram and the Shirlee Downs' ram home and seeing how they breed."
The ram was by Gloroy 628-13 and had LambPlan figures of 0.4 BWT, 9.9 WWT, 16.1 PWWT, -0.9 PFAT, 2.0 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 206.1.
Losing bidders again on this ram was the Longdale stud.
The Kanangra Hills stud, Manjimup, was a keen supporter of the Dongadilling team securing two rams at $5500 and $2500.
They paid $5500 for a ram by Gloroy 628-13 which had LambPlan figures of 0.3 BWT, 7.0 WWT, 10.6 PWWT, -0.7 PFAT, 1.3 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 170.8.
The Bundara Downs stud, Bordertown, South Australia and the Ridgetop stud, Mt Barker, combined to pay $5000 for a Dongadilling sire by Dongadilling 68-13 with a CarcasePlus index of 201.1, while the Riverbend stud, Eneabba, purchased two Dongadilling sires at $3000 and $2500.
The Curlew Creek stud, Gnowanerup, offered four sires and sold three at an average of $3167.
The Curlew Creek team topped at $3250 twice.
Securing the first sire at this value was Wes Graham, Monjingup stud, Esperance.
This ram was a son of Curlew Creek 46-14 with a CarcasePlus index of 208.6.
Also paying $3250 this time for a son of Curlew Creek 21-14 which had a CarcasePlus index of 208 was Don McKinley, Moore Park stud, Moora.
Jeff Pyle & Co, Manypeaks, picked up the third Curlew Creek ram to sell at $3000.
The Kendenup-based Brimfield stud cleared three of its four rams to a top of $4000 and an average of $3333.
Paying the $4000 price tag for a son of Brimfield 366-11 was JS & EN Bagshaw, Boyup Brook.
The ram had LambPlan figures of 0.6 BWT, 9.9 WWT, 14.2 PWWT, -0.8 PFAT, 1.3 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 191.11.
The Bagshaws then went on to purchase a second Brimfield ram at $3000.
The final Brimfield ram to sell also made $3000 when it was knocked down to DJ Corker, Waka Doo stud, Boyup Brook.
The Sandown stud, Perenjori, cleared its offering of two sires to a top of $5500 and an average of $4500.
Securing the $5500 ram was Randal Levett, Tipperary stud, Walkaway.
The ram was by Curlew Creek 46-14 and had LambPlan figures of 0.5 BWT, 9.8 WWT, 15.1 PWWT, -0.5 PFAT, 1.9 PEMD and a CarcasePlus index of 198.9.
Sandown's second sire which was by Tipperary 29-13 sold at $3500 to Alistair and Jess Sutherland, Konongwootong stud.
The Tipperary stud also made an impression as vendor offering and selling two sires both at $3750.
These were purchased by the Sandown stud and the Ridgetop stud.
Both rams were sired by Ulandi Park 100082.
The one purchased by Sandown had a CarcasePlus index of 201.4 while the one secured by Ridgetop had a 203.3 CarcasePlus index.
The Willow Park stud, Mardella, offered four sires and sold two rams for an average of $2250 and to a top of $2500.
Paying the $2500 price tag was JG Duschka, Janan stud, Dandaragan.
This ram was by Leenala 379-13 and weighed 131kg with scans of 57mm EMD, 42.59 EMA and 6mm fat.
The second Willow Park ram made $2000 when purchased by the Riverbend stud.
Jodie Rintoul
Farm Weekly's livestock manager.
Farm Weekly's livestock manager.
