It's one of the biggest on-property sales going around - with big results

It was a massive day for the Ledwith family, Kolindale Merino, Poll Merino and White Suffolk stud, Dudinin, when it hosted WA's largest on-property sale for the season on Monday and it certainly didn't disappoint.

As temperatures around the State began to rise for the week, so too did the prices and competition in the two selling sheds at Kolindale, as buyers fought hard to secure the rams they had ticked off in their catalogues.

With sheep and wool prices both up significantly on the same time last year, buyers showed their continued faith in the industry as they bid up positively through the close to four and half hours of selling, pushing prices to a high of $14,750 for a Poll Merino ram.

All up the Ledwiths put forward 522 rams and with strong competition throughout from the 59 registered buyers (19 more than last year), which had travelled from as far away as Condingup in the south east, Perenjori in the north, Moorine Rock in the east, the final result was an exceptional one with prices and the number of rams sold both up on last year.

In the breakdown, there were 64 Merinos, 258 Poll Merinos and 200 White Suffolks offered and when the final ram was knocked down and the numbers crunched, 475 or 91 per cent had sold under the hammer for a combined gross of $901,550 and an average of $1898.

In comparison, last year the Ledwith family sold 430 rams from 456 offered at an average of $1486, meaning this year's average was up $412 and there was an additional 45 rams sold.

Merino and Poll Merino

It was another big yarding of Merino and Poll Merino rams catalogued by the stud and the Elders selling team, led by auctioneers Nathan King, Riley Stasinowsky and Jay Macdonald, had the task to find them new homes.

All up 322 rams were offered and with strong buying support from returning and new clients, the majority of the rams received solid competition from multiple buyers to ensure a very strong result in terms of prices and the number of rams sold.

By the end of the offering, 275 rams or 85pc had been cleared under the hammer to 34 buyers to a sale high $14,750 and an average of $2175, which was up $349 from last year's average of $1826 when 260 rams sold from 286 offered.

In the breakdown, the Ledwiths offered 64 Merinos and sold 54 at an average of $1844 (down $10 on last year), while 221 from 258 Poll Merinos sold for an average of $2256 (up $441 on last year).

The sale started well with a classy run of 42 March shorn, shed-prepared rams which averaged $3987 and it was in these pens the top-priced rams were found.

Leading the way in these pens was an impressive Poll Merino ram in lot one.

When Mr King stood over the upstanding ram, which showed good length and depth of body as well as stylish, well-crimped, white wool, buyers took notice and it was not long before he had an opening bid of $5000.

From there the price quickly rose as a number of interested parties put their finger in the air and before long the price had surpassed the $10,000 mark.

Eventually it came down to two bidders and they continued to go back and forth, until first time buyer Tahryn Trevenen, Ken Gray & Co, High Valley stud, Tarin Rock, placed the final and winning bid at $14,750.

Ms Trevenen, who was at the sale with her agent, Dyson Jones Newdegate/Wickepin area manager Andrew Kittow, said Mr Kittow had inspected the Kolindale rams at the Newdegate Machinery Field Days and suggested she take a look at them, particularly the ones by Collinsville Emperor, so she organised to go up to Kolindale and inspect the rams onfarm before the sale

"I came up last week and looked at the top 20 rams and was impressed by the Collinsville Emperor sons and particularly this ram," Ms Trevenen said.

"He has a very good pure wool with great feel and crimp, as well as a very good structure and backend.

"I think he will fit in very well with our Poll flock which we are continuing to develop."

The 141 kilogram, March shorn, AI-bred ram, which is by Collinsville Emperor, which the Ledwiths purchased for $115,000 in 2022, has early June wool figures of 20.6 micron, 3.2 SD, 15.5 CV and 99.6pc comfort factor (CF).

As well as going home with the top-priced ram, Ms Trevenen also purchased a second Emperor March shorn, AI-bred son at $3000 which weighed 138kg and had wool figures of 22.2 micron, 3.2 SD, 14.3 CV and 98.9pc CF to be used as a back up to the top-priced ram and a 131kg ram with Lustre bloodlines that had wool figures of 22 micron, 4.0 SD, 18.0 CV and 96.4pc CF at $6000.

The second top price was $7800 and it was paid by longtime client Kim Stephen, KA & CM Stephen, Moorine Rock, for a March shorn Poll ram with good fleece density in lot 14.

The 135kg ram is an AI-bred son of Collinsville Regal, which the stud purchased for $66,000 and it has wool figures of 21.3 micron, 3.3 SD, 15.6 CV and 99.3pc CF.

Mr Stephen picked the ram out for its correct structure, good fleece density and the amount of nourishment in its wool.

"We like buying from Kolindale as their sheep have good size and plenty of wool packed on them," Mr Stephen said.

Also heading to the Stephen's property at $6200 was another March shorn Poll which weighed in at 137kg and had wool figures of 21 micron, 4.2 SD, 19.8 CV and 96.9pc CF.

Last year's top-price buyer, the Sudholz family, S & M Sudholz, Yerecoin, purchased the $7200 third top-priced ram and buyer Michael Sudholz said he liked the ram for its length of body, excellent staple length and white bright wool.

The 137kg March shorn ram, was another son of Collinsville Emperor and it had wool figures of 22.8 micron, 3.5 SD, 15.5 CV and 97.9pc CF.

The Sudholz family will use the ram in their nucleus flock of 150 ewes to breed rams for their own use.

There were another three rams to make $5000 or more in the line-up and two of them were March shorn Polls and these sold at $6200 to TB Doney & Co, Harrismith and $5600 to an undisclosed buyer which also picked up another March shorn Poll at $4800.

The final ram in this price range was the top-priced Merino ram which sold at $5000 to return buyer the Mouritz family, RBY Mouritz & Co, Hyden.

The March shorn, shed-prepared, 133kg ram had wool figures of 19.0 micron, 3.4 SD, 17.8 CV and 99.5pc CF.

Buyer Lachy Mouritz said the ram ticked all the boxes for them.

"He is a large-framed ram with a good stylish, white wool and a good fleece weight," Mr Mouritz said.

"At the moment we are wanting rams that are big framed and heavier cutters, we are not worried about micron (fibre diameter) as we are chasing more fleece weight."

Along with purchasing the top-priced Merino ram, the Mouritz family also purchased another Merino ram and four Polls to go home wih six at an average of $3000.

The Mouritz family like buying from Kolindale as it breeds robust sheep that suit the Eastern Wheatbelt.

The Hyden-based enterprise will join 2400 ewes to Merinos and another 1000 Merino ewes to White Suffolk rams this season for an April lambing.

When it comes to selling their Merino wethers, Mr Mouritz said they sell them to WAMMCO between the end of October through to February as trade weights.

"We try to get them off as early as possible but the majority will go in January/February off the stubbles," he said.

"We are very happy to see the lift in the sheep and wool markets recently after a tough couple of years."

There were several buyers that were influential at the top end of the market and secured significant sized teams.

One of the biggest of these was return buyer the Varone family, Marlu Farms, Little Italy.

Mario Varone and daughter Sandra Hunter put together a team of 12 Poll rams, which included a mix of March and April shorn sires for an average of $3783 and to a high of $4400 for an April shorn ram that weighed in at 115kg and had wool figures of 21.2 micron, 2.8 SD, 13.3 CV and 99.4pc CF.

Mr Varone said they like the Kolindale sheep because they are larged framed and have nice, fine wools.

"They are ideal sheep for Wheatbelt conditions," he said.

This season the Varones will join 3600 ewes all to Poll Merino rams for an April lambing.

Normally they tend to sell their wethers to graziers and lotfeeders, but this year they took advantage of the lamb's weights and sold them all last week to WAMMCO and a grazier.

They sold 1020 head to WAMMCO which were all over 45kg liveweight at an average of $281, while there was only 366 which didn't make the weight and they went to the grazier.

Also in this category was buyer of 10 years, Eddie Tomsic, E & H Tomsic, Karlgarin, who left a buying order with Westcoast Wool & Livestock, Hyden agent Lincon Gangell.

All up Mr Gangell secured 10 Poll rams (March and April shorn) to a top of $4400 and an average of $3720 for Mr Tomsic, as he chased rams with stylish wools, good fleece and body weights and long bodies.

Other buyers in the thick of the action were return buyers of 20 years, Paul Barrett and son Tate, PM & MD Barrett, Jerramungup and former Kolindale stud principal Colin Lewis who purchased on behalf of repeat buyers the Waddell family, B & M Waddell, Newdegate.

Mr Lewis secured 14 Poll rams for the Waddells to a top of $3900 and average of $3107, while the Barretts purchased 14 rams (seven Merinos and seven Polls) to a high of $3200 twice and an average of $2464, which will join their sire battery and be used of 3000 ewes this year.

Tate Barrett said their aim was to buy big framed rams with heavy wool cuts to help lift their flock.

"Currently our flock sits at about 19 micron and the mature sheep cut about 8kg of wool," Mr Barrett said.

One of the largest buyers for the day was the Fowler family, Chilwell, Condingup.

With Nutrien Livestock WA development manager - sheep and Merino genetics specialist, Mitchell Crosby, buying for them the Fowlers secured 25 Merino and Poll Merino rams under the hammer to a top of $3000 for a Merino ram and an average of $1828.

When selecting rams for the Fowlers, Mr Crosby was looking for sires with plenty of length and depth so they can breed lambs the Fowlers can finish in the feedlot.

He also wanted rams with nice, white wools which can handle the high rainfall environment in which the Fowlers farm.

This year the Fowlers are looking to join 17,000 Merino ewes to Merino and Poll Merino rams and 10,000 Merino ewes to White Suffolk rams.

The Fowlers drop their Merino lambs at the end of May and into June and finish their Merino wether lambs in their onfarm feedlot before selling them over the hooks to V & V Walsh at 24kg dressed from January through to March.

Their Merino lambs are weaned in September and then shorn in October.

They then go on to stubbles in November before going in the feedlot for 75 days where they are fed a mixed ration grown onfarm comprising mainly silage and wheat.

There were a couple of other buyers to purchase teams of 20 head or more and Elders stud stock sales specialist Russell McKay was doing the bidding for both.

The biggest team Mr McKay secured, which was made up of 23 Polls purchased at an average of $1422, was clerked in the books to new buyer Melrose Peak, Babakin.

Mr McKay said for this order he was looking for rams that carried long, pure wools with plenty of style but not too much nourishment.

The other order Mr McKay carried was for clients of more than 20 years the Edwards family, Brooklands Park Pastoral, East Pingelly and for this order he secured 20 Polls at an average of $1390.

Other buyers to secure double figure teams were Longview Farms, Badgebup, which picked up 10 Polls at a $1580 average, while Somerford Park Grazing Co, Trayning, purchased 12 Polls at a $1625 average.

Elders WA stud stock manager and auctioneer, Nathan King, said it was a really strong sale for the stud as it saw both a lift in average and the number of rams sold.

"We have seen a lot of sales this year where the average has risen but there have been very few where there has been both more rams sold and a lift in average on last year particularly with Merinos," Mr King said.

"It was the best line-up I have seen the Ledwith family present at auction particularly in terms of the Polls but it wasn't only me that thought this, I had a number of clients tell me the same thing, which is great to hear.

"There was good stud interest at the top end which got the sale off to a strong start and this momentum continued right through to ensure a strong result.

"Even though the sale did average more than $2000, buyers were still able to operate between $1000 and $1500 and put together good teams which was also pleasing to see especially for those buyers which buy large teams."

White Suffolk

Before the Merino and Poll Merino rams went under the hammer, the day kicked off with an offering of 200 White Suffolk rams that were all presented with Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs).

The Nutrien Livestock auctioneering team, led by auctioneer Mark Warren, rattled through the line-up in just over 1.5 hours and when the final rams had been knocked down, all 200 rams had been cleared to 24 buyers to a top of $2400 and an average of $1517, which was up $551 on last year's result.

In 2024, the Ledwiths offered and sold 170 White Suffolk sires to a high of $1600 and an average of $966.

Nutrien Livestock, Wickepin/Kulin agent Ty Miller said the Ledwith family offered a very good and even line-up of rams.

"The investment the stud has made in stud sires in recent times is certainly showing through," Mr Miller said.

"There were lots of positive comments on the rams particularly in regards to their length of body.

"The sale received strong support right through from returning and new buyers which helped the stud achieve a 100pc clearance and a very strong average.

"The final result was well up on expectations and followed the trend of sales already held this year."

Topping the offering at $2400 was an extra long-bodied ram, midway through the line-up in lot 96, when it was purchased by return buyers Paul and Michelle Cameron, PW & ML Cameron & Sons, Lake Grace.

Mr Cameron said they liked the ram for its length of body and good growth rates.

"We wanted the extra loin chops he had," Mr Cameron said.

The ram, which carries Iveston bloodlines, has ASBVs of 11.58 weaning weight (WWT), 17.48 post weaning weight (PWWT), -1.36 post weaning fat (PFAT), -0.11 post weaning eye muscle depth (PEMD) and terminal carcase production (TCP) index of 133.56 and with these figures it is in the top 10pc for WWT.

Along with the top-priced ram, the Camerons purchased another six rams to finish with seven at an average of $2071.

Also in their purchases was one of the three $2300 equal second top-priced rams which ranks in the top 10pc for WWT.

The Camerons, who will join 1500 Merino ewes to White Suffolk sires this season, like the breed particularly for its ease of lambing.

"The lambs are big and long and come out easily and they are strong when they hit the ground," Mr Cameron said.

Client of more than five years Warren Thomas, RW & JM Thomas, Mt Barker, added plenty of competition right through the catalogue pushing hard on many of the top rams which saw him purchase a team of 27 head all up at an average of $1781 to claim the volume buyer title.

Included in Mr Thomas's team was one of the $2300 equal second top-priced rams which ranks in the top 20pc for WWT and PWWT.

Mr Thomas said this year he was looking to join 6000 ewes to White Suffolk rams for an April lambing.

"Our first draft of lambs for this year will go this week and the majority will be gone by December," he said.

Securing the third ram to sell at the $2300 equal second top price was Nutrien Livestock, Mt Barker agent Harry Carroll, who was buying for regular buyer Talawa Grazing Co, Mt Barker.

The ram was part of a team of eight secured by Mr Carroll for Talawa Grazing Co at an average of $1738.

At $2300, Mr Carroll purchased a ram that was a triplet which was in the top 50pc for WWT and PWWT.

Once again the Fowler family, Chilwell, Condingup, was a major sale player, securing 25 rams with the assistance of Nutrien Livestock, Esperance agent Darren Chatley, to a top of $2000 and an average of $1372.

Mr Chatley was chasing rams for Chilwell that had good size, plenty of length and good feet to handle wetter conditions.

The Fowlers, who have been using White Suffolk rams for more than 15 years, aim to try to sell most of their White Suffolk cross lambs, that start dropping in late March, as suckers straight to the abattoirs at 41-42kg liveweight.

Already this year they have sold 1500 White Suffolk cross lambs which have averaged 23kg dressed and $230 a head.

This joining, the Fowlers will mate 10,000 Merino ewes to White Suffolk rams to lamb down in March/April in a 21-day joining.

Any ewes that are scanned dry after the first joining will be rejoined for a later lambing in July.

There were a number of other buyers that weren't afraid to bid up and buy sizeable drafts from the catalogue.

Yealering-based Woodlands Farm (WA) Pty Ltd was the strongest of these, securing 17 rams to a high of $1900 and an average of $1514, while not far behind were Frank James and grandson Ben James, FS & KM James, Hyden, who in their second year of buying, secured 14 rams to a top of $1800 twice and average of $1493 to use over first-cross Prime SAMM ewes.

Also securing 14 rams was Warranella Ag, Wagin, which averaged $1300 over its selections that topped at $1600, while KJ Cunningham & Co, Tambellup, was also among the bigger buyers, taking home 10 rams to a high of $1900 and an average of $1650.