$1606 average for Manunda

The Button family’s annual Manunda Poll Merino ram sale resulted in a record average price last week at Tammin.

An extra 20 rams were offered this year with 269 selling on the rail for an average price of $1606, compared to last year when 250 rams were sold for an average price of $1497.

Landmark auctioneer Michael Altus said the record offering of rams met strong demand.

“Buyers were bidding with the optimism of the favourable season in the Wheatbelt,” he said.

“With 46 registered buyers, at the end of the day, all 270 rams offered were sold.”

Manunda stud principal Wayne Button said the result was testament to the great season and good returns for sheep and wool.

Only metres away stood a paddock of Baroota Wonder wheat richly green with white heads just appearing.

“We were very pleased that farmers were keen to invest in their ram requirements,” Mr Button said.

Mr Button’s father, Roy, said the sale was one of the highlights of his farming career, which went back to when he was a 15-year-old and ran a team of Clydesdales to tackle the farmwork.

Repeat buyer Peter Hewett, of Martindale Pty, secured the $6950 top-priced ram, measuring 19.9 microns and sired by Banavie 333, which the Buttons purchased for $60,000 in 2015, and out of a Haseley ewe.

Banavie stud principal Tim Polkinghome described 333 in 2014 as having perfect structure, size, purity and carried a long-stapled, white, lustrous, crimpy wool.

Mr Hewett said the Banavie son provided outcross genetics and would be put over Martindale’s nucleus ewes to breed flock rams.

“We been buying Manunda bloodlines for nine years with good results,” he said.

Also taking interest in 333’s progeny was Rhamily Poll Merino stud principal Ray Edmonds, of Calingiri, who secured a son for $3200.

Kalannie woolgrower Brian McCreery secured the $5000 second top-priced ram, sired by Coromandel Sir Thomas, the 20.6-micron ram carried an eye muscle measurement of +4.

Mr McCreery runs a flock of 2000 Merino ewes with his wife Susan and sons Rowan and Jorden.

“We run half the flock to Poll Merino rams and half to SAMM rams,” he said.

“We are having the best season in 50 years and are very optimistic about sheep and wool values.”

Also selling in the top order was a Rhamily Benny-sired ram, going back to a Manunda grandsire that sold for $4500 to Schorer Nominees, of West Pingelly.

This sire combination also gained the attention of Chris Barnett, of Seven Oaks North stud, Burracoppin, who paid $4400 for a Poll Merino son.

H & M Rolinson, of Kalannie, began their nine-ram buying order by securing a Benny son to a top of $2800.

New buyers Rob and Tania Menzies, of New Norcia, secured five rams sired by Benny for an average price of $1740.

Mr Menzies said he was previously buying Hyfield bloodline rams and was running 3000 Poll Merino ewes.

Repeat buyer Ian Della, of Bodallin, was the top order volume buyer, securing a Gunallo 08 sired ram for $3200 and adding another seven rams to his buying order for a total average price of $2857.

Another stud purchase came from Elders agent Nathan King, who purchased a Manunda Jacko-sired son for $3000 on behalf of Toorackie stud, Williams.

Toorackie stud principal Dennis Haddrick said it was the first Manuanda ram he had purchased and would go over Jacko family ewes to add extra structure.