Bradfords rewrite record books

Records were smashed at Monday's amazing all breeds ram sale at the Perth Royal Show.

A stunning $20,000 was paid for the Bradford family's Hilltop Park Poll Dorset ram, eclipsing the previous record by $5000.

To make the sale even more notable for the Bradfords, two of their other rams fetched $19,000 and $14,000.

"They are our best three prices ever, either at the Show or the on-property sale," a delighted Dawson Bradford Senior said after the sale.

The ram was bought by Tipperary Poll Dorset stud's Randal Levett who was impressed by his figures - PWWT of 17.70, PEMD of 2.30 and an exceptionally high carcase plus index of 218.

The ram's sire, Hillcroft Farms 497-09, also leads the elite sires list on Lambplan.

"He's the fifth or sixth ram we've bought from the Bradfords and I liked his structural correctness and balance, plus his EBVs," Randal Levett said

Tipperary - run by Randal's parents, Derek and Sheryl Levett, Randal and his wife, Kristy - is based at Walkaway. It has 400 ewes in the stud and 5500 commercial ewes, mainly Merinos.

Randal was the losing bidder on the Bradfords' $19,000 ram.

Losing bidder on the $20,000 ram was West Coast Livestock's Philip Petricevich, who was operating on behalf of Warrawindi Poll Dorset stud in South Australia.

Participation by eastern states studs was huge.

"It was probably the best interstate interest in years," Landmark auctioneer John Wirth said.

"There was huge interest in the top and most sought-after sheep, with the State record being smashed twice and watching the sale was the biggest crowd in years."

Mr Wirth shared auctioneering duties with Don Morgan, of Elders, and Chris Hartley, of West Coast Livestock.

The sale started with the White Suffolk breed, where the $6600 top price was paid for a 2011-drop ram lamb offered by Lockridge Senior High School Farm stud, Kiara. The sheep had been judged as the Perth Royal Show's champion lamb the day before.

"It could be a record price for a ram lamb," Chris Hartley said.

The buyer was Andrew Green, of Stocksmart, Kojonup.

One of the two South Suffolk rams offered was sold with $2000 the price for the Bingham's Iveston ram. He was bought by Landmark's Grant Lupton on behalf of Graham Kerr Farms.

Next in the catalogue were the Suffolks with $4200 the top price, paid for a 2010-drop Pamellen ram by Rex and Muriel Warburton, of Kojonup. They also bought another Pamellen ram at $2000 and a Karinya Suffolk for $1600.

When it came to the Poll Dorset breed, many stud breeders were there to buy, including Sandown's Les Sutherland, who bought a Shirlee Downs ram at $3000 and a Hillcroft Farms ram at $3500.

WD & IM Phillips' Kanangra Poll Dorset stud, of Mordallup, bought a Dongadilling ram at $4500, while Golden Park stud, of Boxwood Hill, bought a $3100 Dongadilling ram.

Samwell's Ironstone Ridge stud, of Boyup Brook, bought a Willow Park ram at $4600 and Patmore's Riverbend stud, at Eneabba, bought a $3600 Willow Park ram.

The Hambleys, of Noojee stud, Mt Barker, bought a Shirlee Downs ram at $3800.

On the phone, Landmark's Deane Allen bid successfully on the $14,000 Hillcroft Farms ram on behalf of RM & MI Hartwig, of Wangaratta.

Stockdale stud's Laurie Fairclough bought a $10,000 Shirlee Downs ram - the Squiers family's top price - followed by Eringa Park stud, of Goodlands, with DL & VM Moulton buying a Dongadilling ram at $5000.

Moultons also bought a Tipperary ram at $3000.

A Brimfield ram was bought at $4250 by R & A Dorrell, of Jerramungup.

Willow Park's top price was $9200, the ram bought by Armdale stud, of Armstrong, New South Wales.

Ridge Top stud, of Mt Barker, bought a Willow Park ram at $5000.

Two Shirlee Downs rams at $6500 and $5000 were respectively bought by Longdale stud, of Brookton, and the Garnett family's Curlew Creek stud, of Gnowangerup.

On the phone, Landmark's Grant Lupton bought the $19,000 Hillcroft Farms ram on behalf of Crowther stud, NSW.

Another Hillcroft Farms ram fetched $9500 with Nedna Pty Ltd, of Willangie, Victoria, the buyer.