THE annual Kojonup Breeders Triple S ram sale once again proved popular with 68 registered buyers filing into the rows between the pens to take part.
With a total of 199 sheep penned and competition high from the three breed options, from the four studs in attendance, it was no wonder that prices and figures increased from the previous year's sale.
The outstanding results saw the overall sale average increase by more than $120, to realise $1503 over the 183 sires sold under the hammer.
Three of the four studs achieved a complete clearance and the overall clearance increased by 26 rams.
The achievements were especially impressive considering the offering increased by 42 rams.
Elders auctioneer Preston Clarke said the sale results were very good, on the back of good seasonal conditions in many areas.
"It was a really good sale," Mr Clarke said.
"There has definitely been a resurgence of interest in the meat breeds.
"There is a lot of green feed around at present, whether from good pastures or damaged crops.
"In these areas many people are looking to increase their ewe flocks."
Mr Clarke said he believed the popularity of the meat breeds was based around three main factors other than feed availability.
"The shedding sheep are starting to stand out again and I think there are three main factor for this, one is the lack of shearers, two is flies and three is animal welfare as they do not require mulesing," he said.
Mr Clarke said he respected the condition of the rams.
"The yarding was just outstanding overall and the presentation of sheep was just ideal," he said.
"The entire yarding was not overdone, they were paddock run and presented in ideal condition to work.
"People are chasing the paddock run and ready type and the prices certainly reflected this."
Nutrien Livestock Breeding's, Roy Addis, agreed the yarding was excellent.
"Rams with the higher growth figures for post weaning weight met with stronger competition across the board," Mr Addis said.
"All breeders should be commended on their results, they bred great sheep."
The sale was led by the offering of 24 Texel rams from the Jim Jan stud, Boyup Brook.
Jim Jan had an extremely solid sale with competition fierce from the get-go, resulting in a massive average of $2400, and the lowest price paid was $1700.
"There were more buyers than sheep in the Texel breed, with Jim Jan achieving an outstanding result," Mr Clarke said.
It was in the Texel section that the top price of the sale was realised, with lot 22 selling for $3400, surpassing the previous year's Texel top price by $1400 and last year's overall top by $500.
The ram was born a twin on June 19, 2020 and had Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of 0.42 birthweight (BWT), 7.5 weaning weight (WWT), 11.6 post weaning weight (PWWT) , -0.6 postweaning fat (PFat), 3.4 post weaning eye muscle depth and a Terminal Carcase Plus (TCP) index of 147.3.
The ram was purchased by long-time buyer Ellen Walker, Warranine Park, Brookton.
Ms Walker said they had been buying from Jim Jan stud for almost 15 years.
"I like Texels for the ease of lambing, they weigh well and dress well," Ms Walker said.
"We use the Texel rams over Merino ewes, usually maidens.
"We find the lambs get up to weight pretty quickly."
Ms Walker said the top-priced ram at lot 22 was towards the end of the penning and along with lot 17, they were the best in the line-up in her opinion.
She purchased a total of four Texel sires for an average of $2825.
The volume buyer of Texels was also a regular client, Darren Hunt, WJ Hunt & Co, Mt Barker.
Jim Jan co-principal Jan Glover said it had been great to see the buyers bidding and really fighting for the sheep.
"We are really happy with the results of the sale overall, it was great to see so many people in attendance," Ms Glover said
The next to sell was Orrvale Poll Dorset stud, alternating with Glencroabh & Amberley Poll Dorset stud.
Orrvale offered a total of 85 sheep and sold 69 to the $3200 top price for the stud and for the Poll Dorset breed.
The big 116 kilogram top priced ram was born a twin and had measurements of 0.53 BWT, 11.47 WWT, 17.05 PWWT, -0.83 PFat, 1.78 PEMD and TCP 143.
The ram was purchased by Pip Crook, Cooloongatta Enterprises, Kojonup.
"I liked the figures and he suited what I was looking for in regards to breeding objectives," Ms Crook said.
"He was a nice type and style.
"We put the Poll Dorset rams over Dohne ewes."
Ms Crook purchased three Orrvale rams for an average of $2167.
The volume buyer for the Orrvale offering was Lloyd Grazing, with its total of nine rams to a top of $1800 and for an average of $1478.
Mr Addis said the Poll Dorset offering had good buying support for both studs, with quality sheep selling at great values.
"The great results were very deserved by the breeders," Mr Addis said.
It was no surprise then that Glencroabh & Amberley stud achieved a full clearance of its 50 sires for a top of $2800, up by $1200 and an average of $1332, up by $201 from the previous sale.
The $2800 top priced ram was the sole purchase for Bevan Brown and Troy Hornby, JOH Grazing, Kojonup.
Mr Hornby said the ram really stood out to him.
"It had very good eye muscle and good stretch," Mr Hornby said.
"It is a nice deep ram and just great overall, it is new blood for our flock."
The volume buyer from the Glencroabh & Amberley selection was Magenta Estate, Kojonup, with its successful bids on nine rams to a top of $1700 and an average of $1356.
Glencroabh & Amberley principal Garry Mitchell said the turnout had been great and it was testament to the strength of the Kojonup Breeders Triple S sale.
"It really was a great result overall for a quality lineup of rams from all studs," Mr Mitchell said.
"Today shows that the Triple S sale is well received by all and has quality on offer year in, year out.
"A big congratulations to everybody involved and thank you to the buyers for their support."
Finally it was the return of the Karinya Suffolk stud, after a one-year hiatus, that concluded the day's sale lots.
It was a 133kg ram born on June 10, 2020 that was part of the scan classes at the Perth Royal Show that reached the Suffolk top price of $2500.
The ram's figures were 0.75 BWT, 10.3 WWT, 16.8 PWWT, -0.4 PFat, 0.1 PEMD and 137.63 TCP.
Elders stud stock representative, Michael O'Neill, purchased the ram on behalf of Esperance Farm Training Centre, Escholar stud, which had seen the sire at the Perth Royal Show.
"Crystal Henderson from Esperance saw the ram and fell in love with him," Mr O'Neill said.
"The ram will be a complete outcross to what they have been using.
"They wanted a bit of scale and structural correctness and this was the ram for the job."
Mr O'Neill also purchased the $2400 second top-priced Suffolk ram for Angus Llewellyn, Llewellyn stud, South Australia, who had been the losing bidder on the ram at the Perth Royal Show.
"He subsequently visited the farm over the weekend and liked a short list of about five rams, of which we chose this one today."
The highest volume buyer in the Suffolk catalogue was Brocklesby Grazing, Woodanillng, with representative Peter Hattingh buying the rams on behalf of owner Darryn Severin.
Mr Hattingh said they have purchased from the stud every year for about four years and they run a commercial terminal flock, mating 1600 ewes to crossbreds.
Brocklesby Grazing purchased a total of 10 rams, to a top of $1500 and for an average of $1180.
Mr Addis said it was great to see the Suffolks among the line-up again this year.
"They had a solid 100 per cent clearance and a very good average," he said.