Expo SAMMs to $1100

Badgingarra prime SAMM breeder Tony Abbey presented 24 plump sires at the Mingenew Lions Midwest Expo SAMM Ram Auction.

The well-attended auction almost sold out to a large gathering of buyers, who paid between $600 and the $1100 top price on the day.

This year, two buyers shared the $1100 top price, with most of the prime sires selling for about $800.

Last year, the top-priced SAMM sold for $1650.

The Sandown SAMMs co-principal said he was happy with the amount of interest the sale continued to generate each year.

Mr Abbey said he hoped buyers would be keen to attend his 80-head SAMM sale tomorrow at his Badgingarra property.

"Some of the buyers we wanted to see didn't get here, but we hope we will get a chance to see them at the bigger sale," Mr Abbey said.

One of the top-priced buyers, Brett Broad, of Turramurra Farms, Mingenew, said he was impressed with the "good and even" catalogue of rams on offer.

"These rams will fit in well with our farming program this year, with good crops and plenty of feed about," he said.

Fellow top-price buyer Mark Watson of Mondara Farms said he buys his SAMMs each year exclusively from Mr Abbey's stud. "I am very happy with the rams I bought and the prices I paid this year," he said.