A QUALITY line-up of ram is what buyers will be treated to when the Wagin and District Stud Stock Breeders’ Association hosts its 54th Pre-mating ram sale on Wednesday, September 13.
The sale will be held at the Wagin Showgrounds and will feature 80 Merino and 82 Poll Merino rams, 55 Poll Dorsets and 65 White Suffolks from six local studs.
The Wise family’s Wililoo stud, Woodanilling, which has been moving forward in leaps and bounds, will kick the sale off with 15 Merino and 17 Poll Merino rams.
Based on a background of excellent genetics the rams are showing good frames and great make and shape.
They are carrying a fine/medium, stylish, soft and long-stapled wool, giving them good wool cutting ability while maintaining very high fertility for good lambing percentages.
The team averages 18.5 micron, 3.1 SD, 15.9 CV and 99.6 per cent comfort factor with body weights of more than 100kg.
The Wililoo rams are an opportunity not to be missed.
They are the type of sheep that suit the producer of today and would do any flock justice, putting more money into the commercial breeder’s pocket.
Up next in the Merino offering will be the Smith family’s Kingussie stud, Dumbleyung, with an offering of 65 Merino and 35 Poll Merino rams.
With a commercial focus at the stud, Kingussie genetics are continually proving themselves throughout the WA sheep and grain belt regions.
Typically Kingussie clients are achieving high value fleeces with fleece weighing between 7-7.5kg and measuring 20-21 micron.
The Smiths pride themselves on producing long-bodied, fast maturing, uncomplicated Merinos and Poll Merinos, which are perfect for both wool and meat production.
The Kirk family’s Sunny View stud, Wagin, will round out the Merino side of the sale with a team of 30 Poll Merino sires.
Stud principal Gavin Kirk said the sale team was progressing well and this year’s line-up would be made up of a wide spread of rams with large frames, plain bodies, showing true heavy cutting, stylish, medium wool fleeces.
All rams will be displayed and sold with current wool tests and body weights.
The stud will also have a wide selection of rams available for private selection after the sale.
The Kantara White Suffolk and Dumbledee Poll Dorset studs, Dumbleyung, will lead the charge in the British and Australasian breeds section with an offering of a fit, well-grown team of 15 Poll Dorset and 65 White Suffolk and Appendix White Suffolk rams.
The young sires will have LambPlan ASBVs with Poll Dorsets up to 214 CarcasePlus and White Suffolks up to 207 CarcasePlus.
Prime lamb producers will have no trouble finding rams suitable to breed both early trade and export lambs.
The team will again be Ovine Johnes vaccinated.
The Rockalong Poll Dorset stud, Wagin, will be the next to offer in the sale with a team of 10 Poll Dorsets.
Stud principals George Bolt and Sharon Hornsby have been breeding Poll Dorset terminal sires since 1996 and have been breeding what clients like: fast growing, well-muscled sheep.
Rounding out the sale will be the Yow Yow Poll Dorset stud, Wagin, with an offering of 30 specially selected 2016-drop rams.
The stud has focused its breeding program on the fundamental commercial traits of heavy muscling, early maturity, clean points and a well shaped carcase to make for ease of lambing.
The Gillespie family urges all prime lamb producers to take the opportunity to inspect the impressive line-up on offer.