Anglesey rams sell to $3200 top

Anglesey Merino and Poll Merino rams sold to a top price of $3200 and stud record average price of $1921 last week at Gnowangerup.

Stud co-principal Geoff Shepherdson, who was celebrating the stud’s 50th year of registration, said this year’s heavy weighing sale team sold well above expectations after Landmark auctioneer Mark Warren sold 117 of the 120 rams on offer.

Mr Warren said the outstanding line-up with more Polls in the sale attracted a high average price with competitive bids from strong support of repeat buyers.

Anglesey’s 30th annual on-farm sale offered a sale ram team which averaged 21.1 micron, 3.2 SD, 98.9 CF, seven-month growth fleece weight of 5.41kg, eye muscle of 40.86mm and a body weight of 102.5kg.

The sale topper, out of pen four, a 120kg Poll Merino sold to the Dolan family, of WP Dolan & Co, Nyabing, who are regular buyers at the sale. The ram, ear tag 021, measured 22.1 micron, 3.4 SD, 98.4 comfort factor and had an eye muscle area of 45.4mm and a fat of 6.2

The Dolans took home 12 Poll rams for an average price of $2417.

Before the start of the sale Mr Shepherdson paid tribute to his 36-year sheep classer, Philip Russell, and long-standing Anglesey clients, the O’Neil family, of Ongerup, who have supported the stud for 40 years.

Maurice O’Neil and his partner, Jade Peacock, were only too pleased to return the compliment with their purchase of 14 Poll rams to a top-price of $3000 and average of $1779.

With only 12 Merino rams in the catalogue, all bred out of Poll Merinos, bidding was competitive with account Medlo Marketing, of Gnowangerup, securing the $3000 top price, which weighed equal heaviest at 122kg.

Other long-standing repeat buyers included Glenorchy Estate, of Gnowangerup, who were also keen on the Poll line-up, securing 13 rams to a top of $2900 and average of $2181. Tim Beeck, of Glenorchy, who was assisted by Ken Littlejohn in his selections, said he was bidding on slightly broader microns to up the fleece weight in the flock.

Also back at the sale, the Milne family, of HJ & NG Milne, of Borden, bought a total of nine rams for an average price of $2100.

The Peakall family, of Amelup, secured seven rams for an average price of $2171.

Tambellup woolgrowers, the Bradshaw family, also paid their respects to the sale, picking up six rams for an average price of $2167.

Another volume buyer, account KJ Cunningham & Co, of Tambellup, bought 13 rams for an average price of $1438.

From outside the general area, Narembeen woolgrowers, the Hickey family, of PG & RM Hickey, paid $2700 for a ram.

Joe Hickey and his brother were also taking home a Poll Merino ram they bought privately from Anglesey for $6000.