PRODUCERS seeking fine, bright, soft handling wool had plenty of choice at the 12th annual Mallibee on-property Poll Merino and Merino ram sale at Wannamal last month.
The sale was well attended with the number of registered buyers up by three compared to last year with 17 people putting their names down to bid.
There was a total of 102 rams offered and 87 sold under the hammer averaging $1183.
Of that 78 were Merinos and 68 sold averaging $1260, while 24 were Poll Merinos and 19 sold to average $905.
Although this year's clearance numbers were down by four rams, the overall sale average was improved by $161 compared to last year's sale.
Several bidders selected the lot one ram in their catalogue and after some strong competition, values finally topped at $5000 with the Merino ram being knocked down to John McTaggart, JH McTaggart, Glen Mervyn.
The ram had wool test figures of 18.3 micron, 4.6kg greasy fleece weight (GFW), 99.9 per cent comfort factor (CF) and 16.4pc coefficient variation (CV).
This year's top price well and truly superseded last year's top of $2200 for a Merino ram.
Mr McTaggart runs 400 Merino breeding ewes and has been purchasing from the stud since its inception 12 years ago.
He said the quality of the ram was outstanding and it would be used over his Merino ewes.
Mr McTaggart went on to purchase one more ram, paying the second top price of $3100 for a Merino ram with wool test results of 16.4 micron, 4 GFW, 99.9pc CF, 17.1 CV.
Deby and Graeme Pyle, Pyle Bros, South Stirling, purchased 18 rams, paying a top of $2100 and an average of $1428.
Walking away with a total of 15 rams at an average of $820 was returning client Menardie Pastoral Company, Dandaragan.
Annadale, Moora, was an active bidder throughout the sale and paid an average of $946 for 13 rams.
One of those rams purchased by Annadale included the lot 68 Merino ram which made $1400 with the money being donated to the not for profit Black Dog Institute to help fund suicide prevention and mental health research.
Elders stud stock's Kevin Broad was bidding on behalf of Sunnydale, Kojonup and successfully bid on 11 rams averaging $809.
GC Tropiano, Mullewa, picked up seven rams at an average of $1057.
Returning buyers EH & BH Cocking paid a high of $3000 for a ram with wool figures of 16.3 micron, 4.1 GFW, 100pc CF and 18.4pc CV.
The Cockings paid an average of $1983 for a total of six rams.
Mallibee stud co-principal Roger Glover said that the sale was exceptional.
"I think we had some new buyers as well as returning buyers so we must be doing something right," Mr Glover said.
Elders auctioneer Graeme Curry said that the quality of the wools on both the Poll Merinos and Merinos was very good and was reflected in the prices paid.
"Again there was strong demand, though it did tail off towards the backend of the catalogue," Mr Curry said.
"Overall it was a good line-up of rams and was a credit to the vendors."
