Anglesey rams sell to $2600

Anglesey Merino and Poll Merino stud offered a greater number of Poll rams at its annual on-farm sale last week at Gnowangerup.

Stud principal Geoffrey Shepherdson said the recent win in the Elders Field Day Four (Poll Merinos) at the Katanning sheep show validated the consistency of Anglesey’s depth of breeding.

“Almost all the rams are sired by second and third-generation Anglesey rams,” he said.

The sale resulted in a total of 139 rams offered, with 116 sold for an average price of $1521, which was on par with last year when 111 rams sold for an average price of $1593.

With an additional 28 Polls on offer this year, there was still very competitive bidding on the top end, but values overall were down $210 a head on Poll Merinos.

On the other side, with fewer Merino rams on offer, values were up $94/head.

Volume and top-price buyers, the Dolan family of Nyabing, were keen to take advantage of the quality on offer when they secured the $2600 top-priced Poll Merino ram.

The 94kg ram measured 21.8 microns and had a greasy fleece weight of 5.5kg.

The Dolans bought a total of 14 Poll Merino rams for an average price of $2096.

Warren Dolan said he was selecting for free-growing rams with big barrels that would go to work in the family’s 3500-ewe flock, which had a 98 per cent lamb marking rate this year.

Regular buyer Glenorchy Estate, of Gnowangerup, also saw value in the Polls, securing six rams to a top price of $2500 and average price of $2075.

Tim Beeck, of Glenorchy, who manages a 1200-ewe flock, was assisted by sheep consultant Ken Littlejohn in his selections.

“We are increasing sheep numbers slightly,” Mr Beeck said.

Borden woolgrower Garry Peakall is also increasing his flock size slightly.

“We are moving towards more Poll content in our 2500-ewe flock,” he said.

Mr Peakall secured nine Poll Merino rams to a top price of $2500 and average price of $1656.

“We have experienced a very good season this year and were very content with sheep and wool prices,” he said.

Also keen to fill their buying order of Polls was the Milne family, of Borden.

Hamish and his son, Harry Milne, bought a total of nine rams to a top-price of $2400 and average price of $1555.

With Merino ram numbers on offer falling to only 20 from 48 last year, competitive bidding pushed the top price to $2500.

Kevin Frost, a 25-year Anglesey client, of Medlo Marketing, Gnowangerup, paid the top money.

The 100kg ram had a gross fleece weight of 5kg and an eye muscle depth of 42.9mm.

Also operating on Merino rams was Casey Bradshaw, of Tambellup, who bought four Merino rams to a top price of $2400 and average price of $1650.

Repeat buyers, the Cunningham family of Tambellup, bought Polls and Horns in their volume buy of 11 rams for an average price of $1445. And, returning from Quairading, the Mills family bought seven Polls for an average $1364.