Olinda ram the standout at Wyalkatchem sale

Olinda's $6000 Poll Merino ram was the standout result at this year's Wyalkatchem Ram Sale.

Don and Brad Eaton's big ram with his impressive wool figures caught the eye of Hurstdene stud principal Rod Butcher, of Mukinbudin, who was the successful bidder on the ram in pen one of the Olinda offering.

The losing bidder was Mitchell Crosby, of Landmark stud stock.

The ram's wool figures included a 17.6 micron measurement, 99.8 CF, 3.2 SD and 18.5 CV, and with these in mind, Mr Butcher plans a natural mating for the ram.

"Perhaps in a feedlot situation so we can keep and eye on him and the group of selected ewes he'll run with," he said.

Mr Butcher bought from Olinda in the early 1980s, as well as the first Olinda ram offered at last year's sale. He has been watching the success of Olinda's Mr J at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo.

"I've been using some Willemenup blood and these will slot in well with that," he said.

"I also try to buy some rams from our region."

Landmark's Deane Allen was the sale auctioneer.

"It was an excellent sale with prices up on last year and it was good to see the bright wools coming through and the good staple length," he said.

"Merinos also have more meat capability these days."

Volume buyers of Olinda rams were Stratford & Sons of Wyalkatchem, which bid successfully on six rams to an $1800 top price.

Primaries - account Ashby - bought six rams to an $800 top price, while SR & LD Palm of Mukinbudin bought five rams to a top of $1700.

First to offer at the sale was Quentin Davies' Cardiff Merino and Poll Merino rams, with a pleasing full clearance of the 102 offered.

Cardiff's $3100 top price was achieved in the Poll section, being the first ram offered and bought by CA & DA Tilbrook, of Yorkrakine, who also bought the third poll ram offered at $2700.

In the Merino section, a top price of $2300 was gained three times.

First to buy at this price was DA & YM Haywood of Goomalling - two rams - with Sachse Grazing, of Bencubbin, the other successful bidder.

Volume buyers were Gra Mel Nominees, of Badgingarra, which bought nine rams to a $2150 top price; Sachse Grazing, which purchased eight rams; and NF & FJ Cosgrove, of Shackleton, who bought eight rams to a top of $1900.

Ian and Di Haggerty's Prospect rams reached a top of $700 three times, with Hayday Pastoral & Grazing the successful bidder on the three rams.

Wyalkatchem Ram Sale * STUD OFFERED SOLD TOP PRICE AVERAGE Cardiff 102 102 $3100 $1349 Prospect 16 6 $700(3) $600 Olinda 60 53 $6000 $1189