Breeding for profit: Westray marks half-a-century of Merino confidence

A milestone year and rams so ideal one family had him on the shopping list for months made for an unforgettable combined Merino sale in the state's Central West.

Westray and Genanegie Merino studs sold 142 rams to average $3745 at Peak Hill on Friday, September 11.

The fixture was Westray's 50th consecutive annual on-property Merino and Poll Merino ram sale, held alongside Genanegie's 33rd annual sale, and attracted a large crowd and buyers from NSW, Qld, Vic and WA.

Of the 142 rams sold under the hammer, 48 horned Merinos averaged $3360 and topped at $10,000, while 94 Poll Merinos averaged $3940 and reached a sale high of $16,000.

A charity ram also sold for $2500, with all proceeds going to CanAssist Peak Hill.

The sale topped at $16,000 for Lot 7, tag 250097, a Westray Poll Merino from the stud's Regal breeding line, bought by Gus and Aleena Greenaway, Milroy Merino stud, Gunnedah, through Greenaway Pastoral Co.

The Regal-sired ram's fleece measured 20.1 micron, with a 99.6 per cent comfort factor and greasy fleece weight of 125pc.

Mr Greenaway said sound structure was a priority and the ram had caught their eye months before the sale.

"We saw him in July and earmarked him then as something we really wanted for our own stud. He's got beautiful, bright wool," he said.

"We loved his staple length, his shape, his wool cut and his body."

Gus and Aleena Greenaway plan to single join the ram to a hand-picked line of ewes in their own stud.

"The goal is to improve the structure of our own sheep without losing our existing good wool-cutting ability," Mr Greenaway said.

Another of the leading Poll Merinos, Lot 3, tag 250083, sold for $13,000 to Alistair Wells, One Oak Poll Merino stud, Jerilderie.

The Cruden-sired ram measured 19.1 micron, with a 99.6pc comfort factor and greasy fleece weight of 130pc.

Mr Wells said structure and constitution were important in his selection.

"Structure and constitution, well-bred rams, purity of wool, softness of skin," he said.

"He's a well-balanced, uncomplicated sheep from a stud that cuts plenty of wool."

The top-priced horned Merinos, were Lot 4 tag 250726 and Lot 5, tag 250727, both selling for $10,000 to Ashby Ag and GA & TJ Stanford respectively.

The Lustre-sired 250726 measured 19.8 micron, with a 99.6pc CF and 125pc GFW, while 250727 measured 19.8 micron, had a CF of 99.5 and GFW of 123pc.

Average prices for the volume buyers; MW Philipson, 14 rams, $4393; Cannon Partners Family, 12 rams, $2521; R and J Trudgett, 10 rams, $2350; Minnerong Partnership, nine rams, $2806; JM and PJ Mitton, eight rams, $3063; Peter Davis Burbar, six rams, $3667; and Glenfairy Pastoral, six rams, $3708.

Several buyers added to their purchases after the auction, including Adam Cannon, Cannon Partners Family, who secured 12 rams under the hammer before purchasing a further eight after the sale, taking his total to 20.

His father, Peter Cannon, has been buying Westray rams since 1987, and Mr Cannon said wool cut and body structure remained central to the family's breeding objectives.

"Wool cut and depth of body, that's what we're after, because we're breeding ewes," he said.

"The frame and depth of body, deep through the chest, for wool cut. We don't care so much about horns or polls, that's not important."

Mr Cannon joins about 2500 Merino ewes each year, as well as a further 600 ewes to terminal sires.

Greg Bell, buying through Minnerong Partnership, secured nine rams under the hammer and added another after the sale.

"Size and wool quality is what we are after, just a quality dual-purpose animal," Mr Bell said.

Mr Bell plans to join the rams within about four weeks. They will then be shorn in December, given a break and joined again for a second joining.

Stud principal Blake Tremain-Cannon said the sale had attracted a strong crowd, including plenty of returning clients.

"It was an enjoyable day, a bit of a spectacle. A lot of people come just to support us, not necessarily to buy," he said.

"The result was stronger than we anticipated, and the feedback on the rams has been extraordinarily positive."

Mr Tremain-Cannon attributed the result to markets and seasonal conditions and said he was pleased to see both interstate and local buyers competing.

Nutrien auctioneer John Settree acknowledged Westray's 50-sale milestone at the conclusion of the auction.

"It's a big achievement, seeing so many return buyers and new buyers in attendance," he said.

"It's very easy to buy good sheep off good people."

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag Solutions, with auctioneer John Settree taking the bids.