Big-bodied rams appealed to buyers at on-property sale that was buzzing
The White family's shearing shed was buzzing on sale day when it offered is annual line-up of top-quality Poll Merino rams at its Nomans Lake-based Nepowie stud.
The shed was packed with plenty of big-bodied rams that paraded bright, white fleeces and sought-after carcase characteristics, resulting in plenty of atmosphere and support in the form of spirited bidding, which resulted in prices hitting a sale high $4100.
The impressive catalogue of 203 rams was a testament to the White's commitment to the industry and Merino breed, as well as its breeding objectives, which seemed to match a large number of buyers' requirements on sale day.
This year's sale attracted a lengthy list of new and returning clients, from not only the local area but also from further afield who had travelled from the Wheatbelt and South West, eager to secure the Nepowie genetics.
When the final hammer fell, the stud had cleared 178 of the 203 rams offered at an average of $1745, which was up $122.
Last year the stud offered 219 rams and sold 179 for a $1623 average and a top of $4200.
Sale Summary
- (Under the hammer results)
- Offered: 203
- Sold: 178
- Top: $4100
- Gross: $310,600
- Average: $1745
Elders stud stock sales specialist, Jeff Brown, said it was a great result for the White family.
"The rams presented exceptionally well," Mr Brown said.
"It was a quality line-up.
"It was great to see returning buyers at this year's sale, as well as some new buyers."
Mr Brown said although buyers weren't buying such large volumes of rams this year, they were more than happy to bid up on the lots they were interested in.
"It was good to see some positivity back in the industry given wool prices are on the rise, as well as the meat market which is great to see," he said.
It didn't take long for the $4100 top price to be achieved when Elders auctioneer, Graeme Curry, knocked down an upstanding, large-framed sire with white, free-growing wool, in lot six following some spirited bidding to return buyer, Boyagin Valley Farm, Brookton.
The 105 kilogram ram has Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) of 13.6 post weaning weight (PWWT), 16.33 yearling weight (YWT), 0.23 yearling eye muscle depth (YEMD), -1.28 yearling fat (YFAT), 0.79 yearling fibre diameter (YFD), 33.2 yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW), a wool production (WP) index of 179.78 and a sustainable Merino (SM) index of 157.2.
It was also sold with carcase scans of 3.2mm fat and 27.7mm eye muscle depth (EMD), and March wool test figures of 19.7 micron, 3.6 standard deviation (SD), 18.1 coefficient of variation (CV), 98.9 per cent comfort factor (CF), and 51.8pc yield.
In addition to buying the top-priced ram, the Brookton account also purchased two more rams including the day's second highest priced ram at $4000 and one of the $3900 equal third top-priced rams to finish with a team of three at an average of $4000.
The second top-priced ram was from lot three and weighed 110kg with ASBVs of 8.09 PWWT, 11.77 YWT, 0.4 YEMD, -0.68 YFAT, -1.93 YFD, 19.87 YCFW, a WP index of 172.53 and a SM index of 149.1.
It had raw carcase data of 6.9mm fat and 30.3mm EMD, and March wool figures of 17.1 micron, 2.6 SD, 15.3 CV, 99.8pc CF, and 60.5pc yield.
When it came to Boyagin Valley's $3900 ram, it was from lot 36 and weighed 110kg and had ASBVs of 10.19 PWWT, 12.27 YWT, 0.38 YEMD, -1.13 YFAT, -0.34 YFD, 31.45 YCFW, a WP index of 179.94 and a SM index of 153.
It has raw carcase data of 4.5mm fat and 30.8mm EMD, and March wool figures of 18 micron, 2.5 SD, 14 CV, 99.6pc CF, and 66.2pc yield.
Mr Brown said Boyagin Valley Farm was selecting rams based on frame size and wool nourishment.
"They want larger framed rams with good nourishment in their wools," he said.
"They were looking for more wool cut this year.
"Good figures, growth rates and carcase traits were also important in this year's selection process.
"They try to buy from the top-end each year and in addition to wanting good body and wool types they also want rams with a good pedigree and background."
Mr Brown said they were buying rams to breed their own rams from.
"These rams will be used in a nucleus flock," he said.
"The rams they buy here handle the Brookton area and environment really well."
Nalya Farming Co, Brookton, was next up, buying one of the $3900 equal third top-priced rams.
It secured a ram from lot five that weighed 107kg and has ASBVs of 13.71 PWWT, 15.49 YWT, 0.58 YEMD, -1.07 YFAT, 0.16 YFD, 35.03 YCFW, a WP index of 181.46 and a SM index of 159.6.
It has raw carcase data of 3.7mm fat and 29mm EMD, and March wool figures of 17.6 micron, 3.4 SD, 19.4 CV, 99.7pc CF, and 66.8pc yield.
Along with this ram, Nalya Farming Co purchased another four rams including one at $3600, for a team of five at an average of $2840.
The final ram to sell at the $3900 equal third top price was from lot 13 and was purchased by Stockdale Enterprises, Karlgarin.
It weighed 94kg and has ASBVs of 8.67 PWWT, 12.51 YWT, 1.08 YEMD, -0.83 YFAT, -1.3 YFD, 23.93 YCFW, a WP index of 181.67 and a SM index of 155.2.
It has raw carcase data of 2.2mm fat and 28.3mm EMD, and March wool figures of 16.4 micron, 2.2 SD, 13.5 CV, 99.8pc CF, and 61.8pc yield.
Stockdale Enterprises also purchased another three rams, for a team of four at an average of $2875.
The volume buyer was Gavin Elsegood, VR & BJ Elsegood & Son, Mingenew, who purchased 17 rams at an average of $2159.
Mr Elsegood paid a high of $2800 for a ram weighing 92kg, that has ASBV index values of 1456.43 for the WP index and 136.8 for the SM index.
Also purchasing a large number of rams was Windorah Farms, Tincurrin, which loaded up 15 rams post-sale, to an average of $1420.
It paid a high of $1900 for a 99kg ram with a WP index of 154.21 and a SM index of 134.1.
Other buyers keen to secure the Nepowie genetics, purchasing 13 rams each, were PT & IM Jensen & Sons, Pingaring, and Narrogin account, Carlton Springs.
The Jensen family paid a high of $2300 for a 90kg ram with indexes of 138.89 for WP and 124.2 for SM, and an average of $1754, while the Carlton Springs' team averaged $1569 and topped at $2000 for a 92kg ram with indexes of 158.37 for WP and 136 for SM.
TW Flavel & Co, Highbury, also purchased a sizeable team, buying 11 rams for a $1473 average.
