WA studs partner up to secure 'gusty, uncomplicated' Westray ram

A "gutsy" medium high-woolcutter with a stunning sire's head topped the 49th Westray Merino and Poll Merino stud on-property sale at Peak Hill on September 12.

Blake and Danielle Tremain-Cannon and family offered 126 rams from Westray and Genanegie studs. In the breakdown, 98 from 108 Westray rams averaged $3745, while 28 of 34 Genanegie rams topped at $3500 to average $1839.

The $25,000 saletopper, Westray 240839, sired by a horned ram, was purchased in partnership by two Western Australian studs in Seymour Park, Highbury near Narrogin, and San Mateo of Brookton.

Commenting over the phone after the sale while shearing at Seymour Park, Clinton Blight said he had seen the ram at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show at Bendigo, Vic, with San Mateo stud co-principal Nigel Morrison's classer, Nathan King.

Both liked the ram and convinced Mr Morrison to join the eventual purchase.

Mr Blight said he was a very good doing ram and noted his sire's head and big nostrils and jaw bones.

"His (20.3-micron) wool is a really gutsy medium that will cut well with a lot of weight," he said.

"He's very uncomplicated and we think there'll be little wastage coming from him."

Seymour Park stud runs 3500 stud ewes and sells 200 rams at their annual on-property sale, while also running 14,000 head in total, including wethers, on their timber country.

Mr Blight said San Mateo was on similar climate and country to his in reasonably high rainfall country, so both enterprises "work together" on occasions and buy rams from each other as well.

The $20,000 second top-priced ram, 20.1 micron, was purchased by James Warden for Kigwigil Pastoral Company, Cumborah, between Lightning Ridge and Walgett.

Another long-term repeat buyer from WA was the Boyle family of Koolibah Farms, Broomehill.

The family bought three horned rams, including the $14,000 top-priced horn ram for an average of $6667, while another branch of the family, Boyle farms, bought another three rams averaging $1833.

The $14,000 ram was purchased in partnership with Tom Reed of Holme stud, Narrogin.

Brendon Boyle said the family runs 4000 Meino ewes on their mixed-farm cereal grains, barley and lupin enterprise.

Their Merinos average an 8.5-kilogram woolcut between 20 to 20.5-micron, while also running a terminal-cross program with approximately a quarter of the flock joined to White Suffolk rams.

Mr Reed had earlier bought 100 Merino ewes from Cardiff stud and named his Holme stud after a stud his grandfather owned in Derbyshire of Gritstone sheep.

Nwobelong Partnership of Bugaldie secured two rams, paying $8000 and $5500 for each.

First-time buyers Jack Jones and sons of Pine Grove, Yalgogrin North, near West Wyalong, paid up to $13,000 for their five rams averaging $6400.

Mr Jones said he and his sons Max and Bobby had viewed the ram at Bendigo earlier this year and were encouraged to buy the rams from their classer, Michael Elmes.

The family breed 2200 ewes of 19-micron with an 8kg to 9kg woolcut.

James and Lesley Jelbart of Penryn, Peak Hill purchased five rams averaging $2700 for their Merino ewe flock of 3000 head.

According to their daughter, Miranda, they return for the consistent quality, good cutting and good framed rams.

Cannon Partners family were buying Westray rams long before the stud's first on-property sale and Adam Cannon returned to secure 14 rams for the Yeronga and Oakleigh flocks topping at $4000 and averaging $2014.

Mr Cannon said the Yeronga flock of 2900 was growing 20.5-micron woo and cutting an average 7.5 to 8kg fleece.

The Woods family of Peak Hill also returned to buy three rams, including the $3500 Genanegie top-priced lot and the local cancer appeal fundraiser donation ram at $2500.

Yeoval's Ballot Box Merinos operated by the Philipson family were another repeat buyer who purchased 12 rams averaging $3521.

Returning for his eighth year, David Quinlin of Glenfairy, Mendooran, purchased 10 Westray rams with a top of $4000 and also a $3000 Genanegie ram. All up, he averaged $2818 for his 2400 ewe enterprise, of which 30pc are joined to White Suffolk for lamb production.

Mr Quinlin said with Blake Tremain-Cannon's help with classing and flock management, he aimed to select rams to continually improve eye muscle, nourishment and wool cut.

The Mitton family of Tabor, Grenfell, also returned to buy nine rams - seven Westray and two Genanegie - for a $2417 average.

The Mittons have been on Genanagie blood for some 30 years and have been buying Westray rams for the past six for their 3500-ewe flock of 19.7 to 20 micron.

Mr Mitton favoured the Genanegie rams for their woolcut and big frames.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Stud Stock and Hartin Schute Bell with John Settree the auctioneer. AuctionsPlus provided the interface.