Third time lucky for Kaula Dale

Being relatively new to the game, Kaula Dale's third ram sale featured plenty of bargains, with a stud sire Poll Dorset achieving the top price of $2000 and the chance to win a $3000 pearl ring.

This year, stud principal Tim Stevenson's efforts to offer buyers a choice of rams from six breeds was rewarded.

The meat and muscle market saw registrations double, pushing top prices and averages up.

First-time buyers R and HM Turner purchased the first ram of the sale - a stud Poll Dorset that achieved the top price. Landmark agent Troy Hornby, from Kojonup, purchased the ram on behalf of Mr Turner.

Mr Hornby said the ram was selected for its muscling and carcase attributes and for evenness. Its figures included 1.028 PEMD.

Demand was strong in the Poll Dorsets for the first half of the sale with the proceeds of the second ram donated to Wheatbelt Men's Health, specifically for mental health.

The $950 ram was bought by Gary Ryan, from Manjimup.

Purchasing eight rams, Mr Ryan said he mostly used Kaula Dale genetics.

The top Poll Dorset, an ex-stud ram, was the last offered and sold for $1000.

It was purchased by PW and GM McDonald, from Augusta, and included a C+plus recording of 180.7.

In the White Suffolks, two rams reached a top of $900. Cranbrook farmers B and L Sprigg and GLM and M Davidson, from Dumbleyung, took home one each.

Jindong Nominees at Beaufort River paid $700 for the top Poll Dorset-Suffolk ram cross and also took home the pearl ring.

In the Suffolk rams, 85 per cent sold under the hammer with the most sought-after ram taken home by the Davidsons for $950. Seven White Dorpers sold for an equal top price of $500.

Four were purchased by HJ and SM Kippin, from Nyabing, and the remainder by J Robertson, of Kulin.

The Samms failed to attract any interest but thanks to a phone order after the sale, 15 were snapped up for $500 by J and A Reynolds, of Esperance.

After the sale, Mr Stevenson said it was good to see return buyers get value for money and to see interest from new clients.

Mr Hornby said the sale was a good opportunity to obtain good genetics from a relatively new stud. The sale result was topped off when Kaula Dale competed well at the Perth Royal Show, winning the ram novice class.

The sale also included an offering of Merinotech Merino rams from an outside vendor, but limited interest saw only one of 10 selling for $450.

Kaula Dale Ram Sale * BREED OFFERED SOLD TOP PRICE AVERAGE Stud Poll Dorset 4 2 $2000 $1750 Poll Dorset 117 60 $1000 $615.80 White Suffolk 48 20 $900(2) $642.50 Poll Dorset/White Suffolk cross 12 8 $700 $525 Suffolk 7 6 $950 $633 White Dorper 20 7 $500 $500 Samms 20 0 0 0