Katanning sale to $25,000

Although numbers of sale rams were down on last year, prices were up at the 97th Rabobank Katanning Ram Sale which reached a top price of $25,000.

Average prices on the rams increased by $1265 per head after the 17 ram offering realised 13 sold for an average price of $7423.

Also in the offering was a stud ewe which sold for $3000.

Total rams sold were down in numbers by five head, as compared to last year when 19 sold for an average price of $6158.

The Blight family, of Seymour Park stud, were pleased to see their sale topper and stud record top-price ram off to repeat buyer Bill Cowan, of Crichton Vale stud, Narembeen.

Mr Cowan said the Seymour Park Poll Merino ram was very correct and had lovely bright wool quality which would be put to use in his family's stud flock.

Seymour Park co-principal Clinton Blight said the ram was sired by a show ram syndicate and was one of the best rams his stud had bred.

The 19.5 micron ram had a comfort factor of 99.7 per cent.

Seymour Park sold all four of its rams offered for the top average price of $9370.

Other stud purchasers included the Button family's offering of a Manunda 17.6 micron Poll Merino ram sold for $10,000 to first-time buyer Banavie/Charinga studs of Berrimal Victoria.

Manunda co-principal Wayne Button, of Tammin, said the ram had rich wool and good fibre density.

Barloo stud found a new buyer in Garry Kopp, of Towalba Pastoral, Peak Hill, NSW, who paid $9000 for the Gnowangerup stud's 20.6 micron Merino ram.

Barloo co-principal Richard House said the ram had excellent structure and medium wool quality which was bold, bright and well nourished.

A Poll Merino ram from the Garnett family's Willemenup stud, of Gnowangerup, sold for $8000 to repeat buyer Olinda stud, of Wyalkatchem.

Mr Garnett said the 19.7 micron medium wool ram had excellent quality.

"The ram has exceptional structure, evenness of fleece and purity," Mr Garnett said.

A 19.1 micron Merino ram offered by the Hogg family, of Navanvale stud, Williams, sold to first-time buyer Eastville Park stud, of Wickepin.

Eastville Park stud co-principal Rob Mullan said the ram has excellent wool quality and would work well in the stud program.

This Navanvale ram was later judged reserve grand champion Merino ram of the show. _Countryman _ contacted Navanvale co-principal Chris Hogg after the show and the ram's fleece after being shorn weighed 17kg. Claypans stud, of Corrigin, offered and sold a $6000 21.8 micron Poll Merino ram to Belka Valley stud, of Bruce Rock.

Belka Valley also paid $3000 for a 19 micron Claypans ewe.