Dominant line-up of rams showed the characteristics this stud is renowned for

With the wool market showing significant upward movement including a jump of more than 100 cents per kilogram clean last week, and record sheep and lamb prices over the past few months, buyers were armed with a new-found confidence at the House family's Barloo/Willemenup on-property ram sale at Gnowangerup last week.

The House family put forward an impressive offering of 280 well-grown, well-made, quality woolled Barloo and Willemenup blood sires, offered with August wool figures, along with body and wool growth rates, and buyers showed their faith in the stud's genetics and the ever-improving sheep and wool industry, pushing prices to a high of $7200 for a Poll Merino ram.

Right through the catalogue there was solid competition on the rams that appealed to the 43 registered stud and commercial buyers, from as far away as Mingenew in the north, Munglinup in the south east and Narembeen and Tammin in the Wheatbelt, as they showed their renewed faith in the sheep and wool industry following significant lift in both sheep and wool prices in the past six months.

As a result of this strong competition, there were still rams in the last row making more than $4000.

When the numbers were crunched after just over three hours of selling by Elders auctioneer, Nathan King, 260 of the 280 rams offered were headed to 39 new homes at an average of $2043 and for a gross of $531,100.

Last year in comparison, the stud sold 223 rams from 290 offered to a top of $4400 twice, an average of $1829 and for a gross of $407,900, which meant there were 37 more rams sold, while the average rose $214 and the gross lifted more $120,000.

In the breakdown, the Poll Merino rams made up nearly 70 per cent of the catalogue, with the Houses offering 194 Poll Merinos and by the end of the sale, they had cleared 174 to the $7200 top price and an average of $1860, which was up $63 on last year, while the number sold was up 24 head.

In the Merino side of the catalogue, the stud offered 86 rams and cleared them all under the hammer to a high of $4600 and an average of $2412, which was up $516, while the number of rams sold was up 13 head.

Elders stud stock sales specialist, Russell McKay, said the stud presented a quality line-up of rams which received strong buying support from across the State.

"It was a dominant showing of rams that showed the characteristics Barloo sheep are renowned for, including good sized frames, white wools and cutting ability," Mr McKay said.

"There was good buying support right through the catalogue even up until the last ram which made $3200, from not only local clients but also from further afield including in the lower Great Southern, as well as the northern and eastern Wheatbelt, which shows these rams can go anywhere and perform.

"It was very obviously right through the sale buyers were chasing the rams with extra frame size and width of body.

"Overall it was a very strong sale with more rams sold and the average up on last year, which shows there is good confidence coming back into the sheep and wool industry.

"We are all very happy with the result after a couple of challenging years in the industry."

An offering of 19 March shorn, shed-prepared rams got the sale off to a strong start, selling to an average of $3895 and it was in the last few lots of this run that the $7200 top-priced ram was found.

Making the day's $7200 top value was lot 16 when Mr King offered up the wide, deep, long, Poll Merino ram.

Mr King took an opening bid of $3000 on the upstanding March shorn sire and from there he received a flurry of quick bids before knocking the ram down to first-time buyers Wayne, Beth, Simon and Natalie Schulz, WB & BM Schulz, Williams, who selected the ram for its structure and wool quality.

Wayne Schulz said the ram had a very good structure and a nice, white, long-stapled fleece.

"We really liked his outlook," Mr Schulz said.

"He is very good on his feet, stands upright and tall and has a good constitution.

"He also has good condition and nourishment in his wool."

The ram, which is by Collinsville Imperial 5121, has August wool figures of 19.6 micron, 2.7 SD, 13.7 CV and 99.7 per cent comfort factor (CF) to go with a wool growth rate (WGR) of 1080 grams per month and a body growth rate (BGR) of 316 grams per day.

The Schulz family will use the ram in its nucleus ewe breeding flock of 200 ewes where it will be a new bloodline to breed rams for its own use.

This year the Schulz family will join 2500 ewes to Merino rams and 2000 Merino ewes to White Suffolk sires for a May/June lambing.

The family has already this year sold three quarters of their Merino wethers dropped this year to a Wheatbelt grazier at about 30 kilograms liveweight at 4.5 months of age.

Simon Schulz said they have been selling their wether lambs like this for the past 10 to 15 years as they run their sheep at a very high stocking rate, which means it is critical they get their wether lambs away as early as possible.

"We don't chase golden rainbows, we stick with the system that works for us in our environment," Mr Schulz said.

The second top price was $5800, achieved by another March shorn Poll Merino ram, from lot four, when it was purchased by return buyer the Heal family, Heal Farming Pty Ltd, Three Springs, who left its buying to classer Courtney Sutherland.

Mr Sutherland said the ram had a good length of body and a beautifully, filled in twist.

"He also has a rich, waxy, long-stapled wool," Mr Sutherland said.

"The Heals want fast growing, early maturing types as they aim to sell their wether lambs in September and he certainly ticks that box."

Mr Sutherland said he was also chasing the ram's bloodline as he had shorn its sire and was impressed by it when he shore it a number of years ago.

The ram is by Willemenup Spartacus 30 and it has wool figures of 18.1 micron, 2.6 SD, 14.3 CV and 99.9pc CF.

It has a WGR of 1160g/month which was one of the highest in the catalogue and a BGR of 297g/day.

Also heading to the Heal's property was a paddock run Spartacus 30 son, at $3500.

It has wool figures of 20 micron, 3.1 SD, 15.5 CV and 99.1pc CF, while it has a WGR of 1033g/month and a BGR of 306g/day.

Mr Sutherland said both rams would be used in the Heal's nucleus flock of about 320 ewes.

"They breed rams for their own use and this year they will join between 2500-2800 ewes to Poll Merino sires," Mr Sutherland said.

"This year they recorded a 120pc lambing, while their wool clip averages 20 micron."

There were two other Poll Merino rams in the March shorn, shed-prepared offering which sold for more than $5000.

Making $5400 in the line-up was a Collinsville Imperial 5121 son from lot 15, when it sold to repeat buyer Redwood Enterprises Pty Ltd, Tambellup, for its only purchase on the day.

The well-made sire measures 19.1 micron, 2.9 SD, 15.3 CV and 99.8pc CF in the wool, has a WGR of 1060g/month and a BGR of 250g/day.

Return buyer, the Squiers family, CJ Squiers & Son, Quairading, purchased the final ram to sell for $5000 or more, a Spartacus 30 son from lot 11 when they had the final bid at $5200 on it.

It has wool figures of 19.7 micron, 2.8 SD, 14.1 CV and 99.7pc CF, while it has a WGR of 1160g/month and a BGR of 273g/day.

Other buyers to purchase at the top end of the Poll market were Capemont Farms, Katanning, which secured two sires at $4600 and $4200, while EF Jaekal & Co, Ongerup, purchased one at $4200 and GM & TL McLennan, purchased three to a high of $4000.

The top price for a Merino ram was $4600 for a classy March shorn sire, catalogued in lot six.

Having the final bid on this ram was the Hinkley family, GL & A Hinkley, Gnowangerup.

The ram, which carried the stud's Dominator bloodline in its pedigree, has wool figures of 21.1 micron, 3.0 SD, 14.0 CV and 99.7pc CF, while it has a WGR of 1080g/month and a BGR of 279g/day.

This wasn't the only ram in the stud's Merino team to attract the attention of buyers, as there were another three which made $4000 or more.

The $4400 second highest price for a Merino ram was paid by return buyers the Stewart family, Teddington Farms, Gnowangerup.

They went to $4400 for an Angenup Centurion son which has wool figures of 20.5 micron, 3.1 SD, 15.2 CV and 99.3pc CF, as well as WGR of 1133g/month and BGR of 301g/day.

In addition to buying this sire, the Stewarts also purchased another four Poll sires to a high of $4200 to finish with an overall average of $3760 over its team of five.

Return buyers of more than 30 years, Peter and Juliana Bailey, Peter Bailey Partners, Narembeen, who only had eyes for Merino rams, paid the next highest price for a Merino ram at $4200 for a Angenup Centurion son with wool figures of 22.2 micron, 2.9 SD, 13.2 CV and 99.1pc CF, as well as WGR of 1000g/month and BGR of 297g/day.

By the end of the sale, the Baileys had secured another nine Merino rams to finish with 10 at an average of $2513.

Mr Bailey said he was looking for rams with good body size and stylish, white, bulky wools.

"We were certainly chasing the quick maturing types," he said.

"I think it was a very good line-up of rams and we like buying here as there is always a good even team of rams to choose from.

"The Barloo sheep do very well in our area."

The Baileys will this year join 1800 ewes to Merino rams for a March/April lambing and their aim is to have all their wethers sold to either processors or feedlots by nine months old.

The Bailey's mature ewes range between 21.5-22.5 micron and cut about 7kg.

Rounding out the buyers to spend $4000 or more on a Merino ram was buyer of more than 35 years, Geoff Cosgrove, Cosgrove Farming, Mingenew.

At $4000, Mr Cosgrove secured an Angenup Centurion son that has wool figures of 22.4 micron, 3.3 SD, 14.7 CV and 97.6pc CF, along with a WGR of 1067g/month and a BGR of 298g/day.

Along with securing this ram, Mr Cosgrove purchased another eight Merino sires and three Poll rams to finish with 12 for the trip home at an average of $2750.

Mr Cosgrove likes buying from Barloo as the stud's sheep have good robustness, big frames and heavy wool cuts.

"Today I was looking for rams with top quality wools and good carcases," Mr Cosgrove said.

"Normally our aim is to sell our wethers to processors as hoggets, but at the moment we still have last year's drop of wethers in the paddocks.

"We will shear them soon and sell them a couple of weeks later as mutton.

"As things have turned out with both the wool market and sheep prices lifting, holding them over will certainly pay off."

The Cosgrove's flock averages 19.5-20 micron and a 7kg wool cut across everything, while their lambing percentage sits between 95-100pc.

This year the Cosgroves are looking at joining 3000 ewes to Merinos for a May/June drop.

Also bidding up strongly on the Merino rams were return buyers of seven years, Kevin and Rohan Mead, AK & AJ Mead, Ravensthorpe, who purchased 15 Merinos to a top of $3800 twice and an average of $2967.

The Meads, who will join 2500 ewes to Merino rams this season for a July/August lambing, were looking for rams with big frames and plenty of wool.

"We come here and buy as it is getting harder and harder to find Merino rams and here we have the ability to choose from a large selection of rams."

The Meads' mature sheep and hoggets average 20.5-21 micron and a 7.5kg cut and they sell most of their wethers over the hooks at about 12 months of age in August, following their first shearing in June.

The volume buyer for a second year running was the Egerton-Warburton family, G & M Egerton-Warburton, Frankland River.

The Egerton-Warburtons purchased 25 Poll Merinos and four Merinos at an average of $1869, paying a high of $3900 for a Poll ram.

Grant Egerton-Warburton said the family had been purchasing from the Houses since they purchased the Willemenup stud, where they had previously been a client for 25 years.

"Today we were looking for rams with nice, white, bright wools with conditioning to keep the water out," Mr Egerton-Warburton said.

"They also had to have good bodies and we didn't want anything over 21 micron."

This year the Egerton-Warburtons will join 4000 ewes to Merinos and 4000 Merino ewes to Suffolk and Poll Dorset sires for a five week lambing starting in the second week of July.

Mr Egerton-Warburton said they were going to increase their joining numbers this year on the back of the turn around in the sheep and wool markets.

"We dropped our numbers back the past couple of years and increased our cropping area due to where the sheep industry was at the time," he said.

"But now the sheep and wool markets have turned around and grain not looking as profitable in the coming year due to grain prices dropping and input costs increasing, it makes more sense to increase our sheep numbers and take out a few paddocks of crop."

Another big buyer was Harley Bairstow alongside sons Regan and Courtney, HW & HA Bairstow, Wagin, who picked up eight Merinos and 11 Polls to a high of $2500 paid for a Poll and an average of $1621, as they chased rams which would breed them profitable sheep.

"We wanted ram with a combination of good wool and carcase traits," Harley Bairstow said.

"We have upped our numbers slightly over the past couple of years and this year are looking to join 3700 ewes to Merino rams.

"We kept the faith in the industry and looks currently like it will pay off.

"The sheep industry is volatile, so you have got to look at it long term and not chop and change as you have a lot of infrastructure tied up in it."

Currently the Bairstows run their wethers through to 3.5 years old and get a couple of wool clips off them before they sell them.

"Doing this works well with our cropping program currently but we may look at changing it in the future depending where we end up with our mix," Harley said.

There were three other buyers to secure more than 15 rams and these included JP Fidge, Narembeen, which secured 22 Poll rams to a high of $1900 and an average of $1018, while return buyers of more than 50 years, the Stewart family, DM and MCL Stewart, Lake Grace, which purchased 15 Poll rams to a top of $2300 and average of $1013 and C & M English, buying through Mr McKay, secured 15 Merinos and one Poll at an average of $1587 and to a top of $2400.