THERE was an air of optimism among buyers at the 37th annual Parakeelya Merino ram sale last week at Beacon which recorded an 87 per cent clearance under the hammer and a top price of $2200.
This year's gross of $60,050 and average of $858 were also well clear of last year's $40,500 and $779 with several of this year's passed-in rams selling immediately after the auction.
Regular client Mark Ward, Wyalkatchem, paid the top price of $2200 for the large-framed ram in lot one. The ram carried 16.8 micron wool with a comfort factor of 100 per cent and body weight of 102 kilograms.
Mr Ward said he liked the ram 's soft wool characteristics and frame.
Mr Ward, who mainly runs sheep for wool, also bought another two of the free-range paddock-run rams at $1200 and $1000.
He runs 1200 breeding ewes in a 60-40 cropping and farming operation.
"I don't grow canola so we grow sheep," Mr Ward said.
Most of his wether and cull lambs are sent to the Tammin abattoir.
Landmark auctioneer Grant Lupton said a combination of continued improvement in wool quality and conformation of the rams and a good season was reflected in buyers prepared to "dig deep with their buying".
"There was an air of optimism among the buyers," he said.
"We had buyers all the way through the catalogue."
Regular buyers Brad and Hayley West, Ronver Hills, Buntine, bought seven of the big paddock-run rams ranging in price from $700 to a top of $1300 for the second top price ram with a CF of 99.99pc and micron of 16.6.
Stephen Sprigg, P Sprigg & Co, Wialki, was the major buyer of the day, taking home 10 rams ranging from $600 to $1100 to average $795 while Bill Fraser, Fraser Farming, Quairading, bought four at $800, $900 (2) and $1000.
Colin Cail, CR & R Cail & Sons, Wubin, returned this year and averaged $928 across seven rams and account GL Mullins, Trayning, bought five, all at $600 each.
Hamilton Bros, Moora, bought nine rams ranging in price from $600 to $950 while account West and Haggerty, bought six rams with prices ranging from $600 to $800.
Local account G & H Shemeld bought three at $1000, $800 and $600, S & L Booth & Co, Wongan Hills, bought two at $800 and $1150 and Misty Farms bought two at $1000 each.
George Cram, Cram and Sons, Kodj Kodjin, bought five at $750, $800 (2), $850 and $900 while CN & PT Poole, Beacon, bought three at $1100, $750 and $600.