THEY'VE done it again.
Kohat White Suffolk stud principal Greg Hyde and his wife Sarah cleared all 77 of the rams offered at their Ongerup on-property sale last week to a top price of $2400 and an average of $1458.
Last year's sale marked the family's first on-farm auction following years of private sales to a handful of loyal clients.
But the cat is out of the bag and farming folk flocked from near and far to get in on the bidding action.
Last year's $1700 top price and $1106 average were knocked out of the park this time around and 14 of the 33 registered bidders went home with empty ute trays due to the fierce competition.
Solid prices ranging from $1000-$2400 were paid right up until the last fall of the hammer, with punters scrambling to secure their genetic needs for the upcoming breeding season.
It was clear the sale was going to be a successful one right from Landmark auctioneer Mark Warren's first call.
The shed was abuzz with anticipation as the first 10 lots were knocked down in quick succession for an average of $1375 (and the last 10 for an average of $1475).
By then it was clear the numbers were going to be well and truly up on the stud's 2015 sale.
The exceptional quality line-up was filled to the brim with outstanding young rams which was made even more evident by the fact it was the hefty young sire filling pen 56 which attracted the sale-topping bid of $2400.
The June drop, single born ram had ASBVs 0.5 BWT, 10.22 WWT, 15.96 PWWT, - 0.33 PFAT, 1.64 PEMD, 199.72 CarcasePlus, 113.37 Lamb 2020 and weighed 128 kilograms.
It was picked up by DFD Rhodes farm manager Michael Wright, Boyup Brook, along with two other rams for $1350 and $1750.
Flanked by the farm's stock manager Wayne Girando, Mr Wright said he was on the hunt for superior genetics to introduce to the farm's current flock and the top-priced ram was exactly the type of ram he set out to purchase.
The farm he manages runs a sizable commercial sheep operation which sees 7000 Merino ewes joined to White Suffolk sires for prime lamb production and an additional 8000 back to Merino rams each and every season.
"This particular ram had the overall package," Mr Wright said.
"He had good size and length of body, a low fat score and good eye muscle measurements."
The second top-priced ram was sold to Ian Campbell & Son, Boxwood Hill, for $1800.
It was one of three rams bought by the Campbell family for an average of $1617.
The June drop twin ram recorded ASBVs of 0.39 BWT, 9.01 WWT, 14.19 PWWT, -0.09 PFAT, 2.21 PEMD, 196.19 CarcasePlus index, 112.91 Lamb 2020 and weighed 116kg.
Volume buyer and last to register on the day, Blackboy Hill Farms, Wellstead, secured a team of 10 rams for an average of $1360 while Canowie Pastoral Co, Gairdner and NH Wittwer & Co, Cuballing, bought eight each for an average of $1575 and $1375 respectively.
Also one of the very few bidders to secure more than five rams was Glendavale Farms, Boxwood Hill, with six.
KB & M Ford, Boxwood Hills, Caralinga Farms, Borden, RB & LK Willison, Jerramungup and EM Peacock & Co, Gairdner, all headed home with five rams apiece.
WA Hinkley & Co, Gnowangerup, filled its quota of three early in the sale by securing lots three, seven and eight for a $1550 average, alongside loyal Kohat client Ryan Smith, Baboo Pastoral Co, Green Range, JA La Bianca & Son, Gairdner and Stone Brothers, Borden, who also took home three each.
Following the sale Mr Hyde was hard pressed to wipe the smile off his face - much like at the same time last year.
He said he was overwhelmed by the sale result and the support shown for his relatively new South Coast stud.
"We pulled lot one out of the sale team to keep as a potential stud sire and we're also talking about taking him to this year's IGA Perth Royal Show," Mr Hyde said.
"I'm over the moon with the sale result and can't thank everybody enough.
"The line-up was the result of meticulous breeding and a fabulous season for sheep.
"The rams have come straight out of the paddock and haven't been supplementary fed since December."
Landmark Breeding representative Roy Addis also said the quality of the 2016 sale team spoke for itself.
"It was a magnificent sale with quality genetics on offer," he said.
"The offering increased from 60 to 77 head this year however the quality keeps improving so we'll present 100 rams next year to cater for all clients.
"A number of clients didn't get sheep but that's a testament to Greg and Sarah's commitment to the breed.
"Their investment in quality genetics by selecting the right breeding stock from local and interstate studs is rewarding them as well as their prime lamb producing clients.
"Kohat is aiming to produce even higher post weaning weights while continuing to maintain a good balance of animal which represents the stud's breeding objectives."
