This sale had a full clearance, with prices and averages up from last year
It was a turnaround in fortunes for Warwick and Nathan Teakle earlier this week when their Walkindyer Poll Merino stud cleared all 61 rams put under the hammer at the Northampton Ram Sale for a higher top price and higher average price than last year.
Also rewarded with higher prices on the day was Jessica and Rob Horstman's Mulga Springs stud, which sold all of its 40-head team of rams to a top of $2200.
Bidding from the crowd was spirited with not enough sires to meet demand.
This pushed the price for lot two to the sale high of $3500, paid by Alby and Bridget Pullella, Allaneena, Northampton, for a Walkindyer ram.
Allaneena, also went home with a Walkindyer sire for $1700 and one for $1200.
The Walkindyer average price at auction for its 61 rams was $1456.
Warwick Teakle said the family was very pleased to see their stud rams sell to a higher average and top price in 2025.
"We had a lot of repeat loyal buyers and a couple of new buyers," Mr Teakle said.
"Most of the bidders were from around the Mid West district, out to Chapman Valley."
Mr Teakle put this year's sale price hikes down to Walkindyer offering marginally fewer rams and a lot more confidence in the sheep industry among local commercial producers than at this time last year.
He said lamb prices were a stand-out positive factor in the industry, with Merino lambs selling just as well as crossbreds.
"Crossbreds are usually in the limelight, but Merinos are this year holding up to them, in terms of quality and value," he said.
Sale Summary
- (Under the hammer results)
- Walkindyer
- Offered: 61
- Sold: 61
- Top: $3500
- Gross: $88,800
- Average: $1456
- Mulga Springs
- Offered: 40
- Sold: 40
- Top: $2200
- Gross: $50,400
- Average: $1260
Barney's Bobcat bought a Walkindyer ram for $3300 and another for $1500.
G & M Box, Northampton, spent $2900 and $2400 on its selection of two rams from the stud that averaged $2650.
A ram was knocked down for $2400 to Weeine P/L, Northampton, which went home with five Walkindyer rams in total for an average price of $1820.
BJ & JK Simkin, Northampton, bought a ram for $2200 and one for $2000.
Central West Shearing took one ram for $2100 and AM Culloton and Myhyll, Geraldton, put together a team of nine Walkindyer rams to a top price of $1200 and average price of $922.
Essex Farming, Geraldton, bought 10 rams from the Teakles to a top of $2200 and average price of $1600.
Squarewell Farming also secured 10 Walkindyer rams to a top of $1700 and average of $1290.
Mulga Springs stud received $2200 as its top price - paid twice by PH & AE Cripps, Northampton.
The stud achieved an average price of $1260 for the 40 rams put under the hammer.
Ms Horstman said it was a very buoyant sale and, after a full clearance under the hammer, they were approached to see what other sires they might have at home to sell.
"The demand certainly outstripped supply this year and our prices were well up," Ms Horstman said.
"We had a good group of loyal clients come back to us and about five new buyers.
"I think sheep producers are very confident, reflected in prices paid for rams, lambs and even older ewes as people are scared about what they will replace their old ewes with - and at what price."
Mulga Springs sold a $2000 ram to MJ McKeown, north west coast, and another for $1500 to this buyer.
Wayne Boys, White Peak, built a team of nine Mulga Springs rams to a top of $1600 and average price of $1266.
William Criddle, Walkaway, bought rams for $1400 and $1200 and JM & KL Burton, Geraldton, went home with two Mulga Springs sires for $1500 each.
Sandhurst Farming, Geraldton, bought four Mulga Springs rams for an average price of $1600 and top of $1800.
