A QUALITY line-up of Dohne sires and solid support from return buyers helped push prices to a top of $2100 at last week's Chirniminup Dohne ram sale at Northam.
The Browne family offered 70 rams from their Nyabing stud in the sale and the offering was supported strongly by return buyers, however a lack of a few volume orders resulted in a slightly lower than expected clearance.
When Elders auctioneer Roger Fris knocked over the final ram, 46 sires out of the 70 offered had been cleared under the hammer at an average of $1051, which was back $71 on last year.
In comparison in last year's sale the stud cleared 56 rams from 68 offered at an average of $1122.
Mr Fris said while the final result was disappointing in terms of clearance the sale was still strongly supported by return buyers.
"It was really just the case of the sale lacking a few extra buyers and some volume buyers, which would have added extra competition to the catalogue," Mr Fris said.
"Overall it was good presentation of rams and the rams with good figures sold very well."
Chirniminup stud principal Rachel Browne said although the clearance rate was a little less than she had hoped for, the sale was not much different in quantity to previous years.
"Perhaps I was over adventurous putting up 70 rams, having successfully offered 120 rams at our on-property ram sale in Nyabing a few days before.
"One big positive was that bidding clients were able to pick up quality rams at very reasonable prices," she said.
"We will definitely be at Northam again in 2017, and with an exceptionally good lambing in 2016, we will have a very solid selection of rams for the 2017 selling season.
"Thank you once again to our loyal and repeat buyers, we really appreciate your support."
The $2100 top price wasn't long in the making, when Mr Fris offered up lot three.
Bidding started at $1000 on the square, well-muscled ram and quickly rose as the Elders auctioneering team field bids from all around the shed.
In the end it was last year's top price buyers Jeff Seaby and his son-in-law Cameron White, HT & RE Seaby & Son, Mukinbudin, who prevailed.
The well-balanced ram, which was carrying a soft-handing 19.7 micron, 99.9 per cent comfort factor wool, had ASBVs of 5.2 WWT, 6.6 PWWT, 0.2 PFAT, 0.9 PEMD, 20.2 YCFW, 0.5 YFD and a Dohne index of 173, the second highest in the catalogue.
Mr Seaby said they were impressed by the ram's high early growth and very good clean fleece weight.
"He also has a good spring of rib and a bright white wool, to go with his good ASBVs," Mr Seaby said.
The pair were at the sale looking for rams to mate to 600 Dohne ewes carrying Chirniminup bloodlines they purchased last year to restock their property after they off loaded their previous sheep flock in 2013, following some bad seasons.
Their aim is to get up to running a flock of 1500 breeding ewes.
Along with securing the top-priced ram the combination purchased another three rams during the sale at $1300 (twice) and $850.
The second top price in the sale was $2000 paid by R & J AG Repairs, York, for a long, square, twin born ram which had ASBVs of 5.0 WWT, 5.7 PWWT, 0.2 PFAT, -0.1 PEMD, 8.9 YCFW, -1.2 YFD and a Dohne index of 171.4.
The York operation also secured two more rams in the sale at $950 and $900.
Yallalie Valley operated at the top end of the sale and purchased three rams at an average of $1683.
The operation paid a top of $1900 for a stretchy ram with an index of 140.3.
Buying through Dohne assessor Murray Drag, J & E Scotney, Badgingarra, secured four sires to a top of $1200 and an average of $1063.
Others to average more than $1000 for their teams were return buyers P & E George, Cuballing, who secured three rams for a $1017 average, while fellow return buyer RV Travers & Co, Bolgart, averaged $1050 over a team of three.
The volume buyer in the sale was return buyer Caelyn, Bolgart, which purchased eight rams at an average of $913. They paid to a top of $1100 and secured another three rams at $1000.
Landmark Goomalling agent Andrew O'Connor was a stronger supporter of the sale buying for PB & SC Glatz, Goomalling.
Mr O'Connor purchased five rams for the operation at an average of $810.
Return buyer Gavin Hagboom, WA Hagboom, Dowerin, was again active in the sale purchasing four rams under the hammer at a $925 average plus two passed in rams after the sale both at $800.
Mr Hagboom, said they originally purchased from Custom Dohnes and when the Brownes purchased the custom stud they continued to purchase the bloodline.
"They do well in our environment and this year we are looking at mating 2000 Dohne ewes to Dohne rams," he said.