$3000 top at Navanvale

An extra dozen rams were added to the Navanvale Merino and Poll Merino ram sale line-up last week at Williams with excellent results.

Navanvale stud principals Chris and Mitchell Hogg offered a total 60 rams, with 51 sold to an average price of $1303, which was up $73/head on last year, when 46 rams sold for an average of $1230.

New to the sale, Doug Corker of Mayanup had a buying order from his son, Jamann E. Corker of Silverdale Merino stud, when he paid $3000 for lot two.

Mr Corker said he first inspected the ram at the Williams' Merino field day.

"The ram has consistency of style throughout, with well-balanced structure," he said.

"It's 99.8 per cent comfort factor should reflect well in future wool sales."

Mr Corker said the 19.4-micron ram would complement the Silverdale wool clip, which he said topped the Primaries wool sales in April and May for 17 and 18-micron.

"The ram represents new genetics for the stud," he said.

The $2600 equal second top-price, a Poll Merino ram, sold to new buyer Robert Duff of Williams.

Mr Duff said the stretchy 20.2- micron ram would go over his flock of prime SAMM breeders to infuse more wool quality.

Repeat buyer Anthony Kingston, of Goomalling, paid $2600 for a Merino ram, which he said would be used in his nucleus of 200 breeders to produce flock rams for a 750-ewe flock.

Also new to the sale was Wagin woolgrower Murray Edwards, who paid $2100 for a Merino ram for its wool quality and frame structure.

Volume buyer Kim Lloyd, of Boyup Brook, bought five rams to a top of $1500 and average price of $910.

"The Navanvale rams presented with good, long stable and nourishment on good frames," he said.

"We had one of the best lambing seasons this year and recorded 97 per cent marked."

Navanvale Merino and Poll Merino ram sale * Breed Offered Sold Top Price Average Merino 51 44 $3000 $1311 Poll Merino 9 7 $2600 $1393 Total 60 51 $3000 $1303