INCREASED values across both studs at sustained clearances capped off a good result for the Rintoul family's Dongiemon and Tilba Tilba studs' 27th annual on-property ram sale at Williams earlier this month.
The lineup of 159 medium wool Dongiemon Merino rams and fine and superfine wool Tilba Tilba Poll Merino and Merino rams presented in outstanding paddock-finished condition after receiving no supplementary feed since shearing.
There was strong local and surrounding area support represented in the 26-strong buying register with buyers coming from a diverse range of environments including the coastal plains, South West, Great Southern and Northern Wheatbelt, highlighting the versatility of the Rintoul's wools and breeding.
At end of selling, Elders auctioneer Preston Clarke and the Elders and Nutrien Livestock selling teams had sold 132 rams (83 per cent) of the 159 Dongiemon and Tilba Tilba rams under the hammer for an improved average of $1309, up $76 on last year's overall sale average where 131 of 160 rams (82pc) sold at auction for an average of $1230.
The breakdown of the sale saw 84 of 94 Dongiemon Merino rams (89pc) cleared under the hammer to average $1417, up $91 compared to last year's average of $1326 from a clearance of 88 of 100 rams (88pc).
The lineup of 32 Tilba Tilba Poll Merino rams saw 29 rams (91pc) sell at auction to average $1145 and mark the biggest improvement in average of $121 on last year where 25 of 30 rams (83pc) sold for an average of $1024.
In the run of Tilba Tilba Merinos 19 of 33 rams (58pc) found new homes at auction to average $1084, a $40 lift in average on last year where 18 of 30 rams (60pc) sold for an average of $1044.
Established 18-year client Michael Burges, Commodine Farms, Cuballing, paid the sale's $2600 top price from the outset for the productive March shorn Dongiemon sale team leader that displayed wool tests of 20.8 micron, 4.4 SD, 21.2 CV and 98.9pc comfort factor.
Mr Burges collected a further eight Dongiemon rams at the sale costing from $800 to $2000.
He said the Dongiemon rams have performed well and made significant improvements to his sheep enterprise in almost two decades on the bloodline.
"Since we started selecting rams here, we have dropped our flock average by two microns and increased our wool cut by a kilogram per head during this time," Mr Burges said.
"It's proving in our area that by going to a finer micron you don't have to forego wool cut.
"They are extremely productive sheep with bright white wools that can handle the environment and we don't have any problems with the nasties which used to occur such as body strike, fleece rot and dermatitis."
Dongiemon client of 20 years and regular buyer of bigger numbers at the sale GJ & RE Abbott, Duranillin, returned to stock up with a team of 10 rams and paid Dongiemon's $2400 equal second top price for lot six to kick off a run of four straight rams knocked down to the Abbotts.
Their top-priced ram's late September wool tests were 20.4 micron, 3.1 SD, 15.2 CV and 99.8pc CF with a greasy fleece weight (GFW) of 4.5kg from its mid-June shearing.
The Lavender family, Redneval Grazing Company, Williams, also paid to $2400 on their way to collecting five rams with their top bid paid late in the sale in pen 72 for a ram testing 20.9 micron, 3.5 SD, 16.7 CV and 99.2pc CF and 4.5kg GFW.
Return volume buyer of the Dongiemon lineup of rams Norrine Farms, Pingelly, tallied a team of 12 rams costing from $800 to $1700 while Elders Williams agent Graeme Alexander representing long-time clients DCS & JA Fowler, Williams, paid from $800 to a $2200 top price early in the sale for a ram in pen 11 displaying tests of 19.2 micron, 3.8 SD, 19.8 CV and 99.6pc CF with 4.1kg GFW.
Other larger teams of Dongiemon rams put together at the sale included another long-time Dongiemon buyer AJ Batt & Co, Boddington, which operated from $800 to $1700 for nine rams, return buyers Blueburn Farming, Williams, finished with eight rams costing $800 to $1500, long-time Dongiemon buyer of more than 26 years Kevin Winspear, NH Winspear & Co, Broomehill, collected seven rams at stronger values from $1200 to $2000 and G Carstairs & Co, Dwarda, bid to $2100 for six rams.
The sale then swung onto the Tilba Tilba rams kicking off with the lineup of Poll Merinos and it was the second poll ram offered that topped the Tilba Tilba prices when it sold to Western Australian College of Agriculture (WACA) Harvey for $2500.
The stylish ram displayed mid-September wool tests of 19.3 micron, 3.2 SD, 16.6 CV and 99.7pc CF and 3.9kg GFW from the May 20 shearing.
The College added another 19.6 micron Tilba Tilba poll ram to its account for $1600.
WACA Harvey sheep technical officer Steve Adams said the Tilba Tilba type is well suited to the South West and the College's sheep enterprise continues to improve and reward students with successes.
The College's October shorn ewe flock is joined in early January and Mr Adams said he appreciated the support from farm manager Geoff Howell for the College's sheep and wool programs.
"We need the bright white waxy wools Tilba Tilba offers for our rainfall," he said.
"We have seen strong improvements in our wool clip and enjoyed some ongoing Royal Show successes for both the College and the Rintoul family.
"The College's wool quality is as good as I have seen it in the past six years since I have been in this position.
"It's great for the College going forward to getting young students interested and retaining them in the industry and feeling good about the product they are producing.
"We have a number of students here at the sale and they really benefit from coming out to different properties and seeing what other people are doing."
Williams graziers EK & L Kennedy paid to stronger values for their team of six Tilba Tilba poll rams including two rams at the stud's $2200 second top price with their top selections testing 20.6 micron, 3.1 SD, 15 CV and 99.9pc CF and 3.4kg GFW for the third ram offered and again deep into the run for a ram testing 17.6 micron, 3.2 SD, 18.2 CV and 99.7pc CF and 3.2kg GFW.
The run of Tilba Tilba Merino rams sold to $2100 with HA & SJ Harries, Boyup Brook, collecting one poll ram and two Merino rams with the top bid paid for the second ram offered, March shorn ram displaying tests of 16.8 micron, 2.3 SD, 13.5 CV and 99.8pc CF.
Mr Alexander paid $2000 for the Merino sale team leader that tested 17.7 micron, 2.8 SD, 15.7 CV and 99.5pc CF.
Volume buyers of Tilba Tilba rams were return buyers of bigger numbers E & EB Pessotto and GR & SL Mead, Chowerup, who collected eight Merino rams costing mainly $800 each and seven Poll Merino rams from $800 to $1600 respectively.
Glengrove collected six Tilba Tilba Merino rams for $1000 each while Nutrien Livestock, Williams agent Ben Kealy filled an order of five Poll rams at value for $800 each on behalf of return buyers G & GM Klug, Williams.
Want weekly news highlights delivered to your inbox? Sign up to the Farm Weekly newsletter.
