A SUPERB line-up of Merino and Poll Merino and White Suffolk rams was presented by Orrie Cowie principals Dennis and Heather Dalla and family at their 48th annual ram sale Warooka last week.
The main auction offering of 77 Merino and Poll Merino rams was dominated by the latter, with two-thirds of the offering being Polls and the four top prices coming from that sector.
The 47 registered bidders competed strongly, and 36 were successful in purchasing, with the Merinos and Poll Merinos topping at $9500 and averaging $1862 in a total clearance, and 43 of 48 Redwood White Suffolks topping at $1500 twice averaging $876. Forty-two mini-auction Merinos and Poll Merinos cleared to $1200.
Long-time Orrie Cowie regular buyers David and Gavin Reade, Curramulka, made the headlines in both offerings by taking the top- and third-top-price Poll rams at $9500 and $6500, plus the two top-price White Suffolks at $1500. They also added another White Suffolk at $900.
The $9500 sale-topper, OC120006, sired by Exceller 108, impressed most at the sale. Weighing 98kg at just on a year old, he carried magnificent long-staple, free-growing, white and soft handling 19.4-micron wool. He was champion strong wool ram at the recent Angaston Show.
A Regal 058 son, OC122501 was the $6500 purchase and was not far behind in quality, having a wonderful sire's head and very free-growing, nourished wool. He was champion medium wool ram at Angaston. Both rams had virtually identical-testing 19M wool.
Underbidder on the top ram was regular Orrie Cowie purchaser, David Kelly, Bindon, Western Australia. Having missed the ram, he picked up OC102, a Star Affair 101 son with a wonderfully correct structure and soft appealing and well-nourished wool for $7500.
Western Australian breeders regularly provide good support at this sale and Robert and Braden Lange, Melrose stud, Narrogin were back again, taking the Poll OC122614 for $2600.
The Voigt family, Melrose, also Orrie Cowie regulars, took the top-price Merino ram at $4000 in their two horned purchases. This was for OC125155, a 115kg, heavy-bone ram with 19.9M perfectly crimped, white medium wool.
A dominant buyer at Orrie Cowie for many years has been Bruce McCarthy, Clare, and he was back in force again this year, although his purchases were at excellent value this year. Buying through Elders Clare's Peter Rolestone he took three Polls – at $3800, $2000 and $1800 – and three Merinos at $3400, $2800 and $2600.
Sale agent was Elders, and auctioneer Tom Penna.
