REGULAR buyers were not disappointed when they attended the Merredin Breeders Ram Sale at the Merredin Recreation Centre last Thursday.
Seven Oaks South stud, Burracoppin and Carribber stud, Southern Cross, offered 160 Poll Merinos in the joint sale.
Seven Oaks South was first and offered 110 rams this year, up from the 100 from 2015, with 98 sold at an average of $1228 and to a top of $3000, which was paid for the first pen on offer.
Andrew and Rob Gillam, Gabyon Pastoral Company, Dongara purchased the 113 kilogram ram that had a fleece measuring 21.2 micron and 2.8 SD.
This was on the back of the Gillams purchasing the top-priced ram at the two previous sales.
Joining the top ram for the journey back to Dongara was a 114kg ram with 21.8 micron and 3.7 SD that sold for $2000 and a 109kg ram with 20.1 micron and 3.4 SD that sold for $1700.
Rob Gilliam said they had been long-term buyers of Seven Oaks South rams and were always on the lookout for rams that suited their environment.
"We are basically sandplain country so we breed a ram that has a long staple and is fairly plain bodied, and the ewes are then very suitable for breeding crossbred lambs," Mr Gillam said.
"We mate about 6500 ewes.
"We purchase rams here every year and we breed a few Merino rams of our own from the rams we buy here."
The second highest price paid at the sale was for a 124kg ram that sold for $2900 to KW & DH Graham, Hyden.
This ram had a wool test of 19.8 micron and 3.1 SD and was one of three purchases for the Grahams, who knocked down the others at $1400 and $800.
Mark Crees, Dulebanyundy Farm, Merredin, purchased the equal third highest price ram of the day, a 110kg ram with 21.2 micron and 3.5 SD that was knocked down to $2600.
It was one of 10 rams he purchased on the day at an average of $1630.
Another volume buyer was J & K Johnson, Merredin, purchasing eight rams on the day for an average of $1900, including the equal third top price of $2600.
Growden Brothers, Merredin, went home with eight rams to a top of $1800 for an average of $1193.
Sharman Farms, Cadoux, loaded up with seven rams to a top of $1800 and an average of $1228.
DJ & EA Brown, Merredin, purchased six rams to a top of $2100 for a $1400 average.
SR & N Crees, Merredin, purchased five rams to a top of $2300 and an average of $1800.
WE & D Maddock, Moorine Rock, was a strong bidder in the second half of the Seven Oaks South offering, purchasing eight rams, all for the same price of $700.
Seven Oaks South stud principal Matt Barnett was pleased with the overall sale result and said they felt justified in offering more rams this time.
"I just felt we had more quality rams on offer," Mr Barnett said.
"Even though we passed about 10 in, I was very glad that a lot of our volume buyers were able to fill their orders.
"I think we may have had only one or two first-time buyers, everyone else was a repeat buyer."
Mr Barnett said the general feedback was that buyers found the rams hard to distinguish from each other, all being very similar.
"The two main profit drivers at the moment are body weight and wool cut and we happen to be in the prime seat at the moment - that is what our sheep are known for - body weight and wool cut.
"At the moment it is good for us."
He was flattered that buyers returned each year and said the result was testament to the Seven Oaks South breeding program.
"It gives us confidence going forward with our own breeding program that we are doing the right thing," he said.
Initially Mr Barnett was worried that moving the sale from the traditional Monday timeslot to a Thursday would have an impact on sales, but said in reflection it was not an issue.
He did say, however, that the sale would return to a Monday next year.
Carribber stud offered 50 rams with 43 sold to a $930 average.
The top price was for a 103kg ram with a wool test of 21.3 micron, 3.3 SD and 98.6 per cent comfort factor that was purchased by Justin Eiffler, JE &EM Eiffler, Southern Cross.
Mr Eiffler purchased seven Carribber rams on the day, for an average of $1007, including the second highest price - that sold for $1400.
He has been purchasing Carribber rams for 10 years and was happy with his purchases that would be put over his flock of 1500 ewes.
"I mainly look for good staple length and nice, soft, bright wool," Mr Eiffler said.
"I am happy with the quality today.
"I look at the whiteness of the wool and the softness and make sure each ram has a good staple length and a good, long plain body."
The first two lots in the Carribber sale were knocked down to another regular stud buyer - Bruce Harvey, BA Harvey & Sons, Moorine Rock, both going for $1200.
He purchased another two for $1200 and one at $1000.
SJ & TS Higgins, Merredin, was one of the volume buyers on the day, purchasing eight rams to a top of $1000 and an average of $822.
Dennis Jackson, Dennis Jackson & Co, Narembeen, left with seven rams for a top of $1300 and an average of $957. Stud principal Richard Steel said the rams that sold, sold well and he was hopeful of clearing the other rams in coming weeks.
"I was pleased with the way they have come up, it's been a wonderful season," Mr Steel said.
"I think last year was a bit tough but I bought 67 in and this year I bought in 50.
"I lost one of my good buyers who has sold his property and that made a little difference."
There were 32 registered buyers on the day.
Elders Merredin auctioneer Wayne Manoni said the first thing that struck him on the day was the high level of passion in the shed.
"They (Seven Oaks South and Carribber) are very passionate Poll Merino breeders and they have done it for a long time," Mr Manoni said.
"So it is good to see reward for effort.
"All the usual buyers were here and when people are passionate about what they do, they produce a good product."
