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CARDONIA RAM SALE.
Higher Prices Obtained.
(By 'Baranah.')
The 1932 series of stud stock auctions
commenced on Friday at Kellerberrin when
the sixth annual Cardonia ram sale was
conducted on behalf of Mr. Bmrp W_
lieake on his stud property, - In view of
existing conditions the demand was pleas
ing, with values showing an appreciable
advance on those obtained at last year's
fixture. The Cardonia Merino stud u
one of the oldest in this State, dating back
to 1867, when it was founded by Mr. R. B.
Leake, of Mooranoppin. The stud was
divided between the sons, Messrs. R. M.,
B. W. and T. H. Leake, in 1902, when they
took over Mooranoppin. In 1906 thia
partnership was dissolved and Mr. B. W.
Leake founded the Cardonia stud with his
share of the flock. Mr. Leake aims to
produce a typical South Australian type
of sheep of large frame, strong constitu
tion and bulky, robust and 'breedy' cov
ering. This objective has led him to ad
here closely to the popular and service
able Koonoona blood- A judicious intro
duction of Boonoke (N.S.W.) blood hai
enabled Mr. Leake to acquire softness of
handle and colour in the wool.
Mr. Leake first put into effect the idea
of an annual sale of his surplus stud sheep
in 1927, and the sale has been1 conducted
with success each year since. The cata
logue thiB year comprised 30 selected rams,
20 flock rams and 100 ewes. Despite ad
verse seasonal conditions, the sheep were
presented in excellent order and showed
forward growth for young sheep. The
wool, in the main, was bulky and bright
and. handled well. The majority of the
sheep carried medium quality wool with
a few on the strong side, and with wool
of good 'handle' and well-dafined charac
ter, they opened up attractively.
There was a large gathering of wool
growers from the Woolundra, Doodlakine,
Nangeenan, Tammin, Yorkrakine, Yelbem.
Meckering, Nungarin, Bungulla, Erikin and
Bruce Rock districts. Competition for
the selected rams was brisk from the out
set and good values ruled. The highest
price was 10} guineas, which was paid
by Messrs. Creagh Bros., of Nungarin, for
an outstanding strong-wooled yearling.
Mr. A. O. Dyer, of Kellerberrin, operated
keenly for some of the best rams, secur
ing sheep at 0}, 9 and 6J guineas. Mr.
E. R. Manns, of Yorkrakine, 'purchased
two promising youngsters at 7| and 6 guin
eas, while Mr. T. H. Leake, of Keller
berrin. paid 6 guineas for another. Twenty
nine of the 30 selected rams changed hands
at an average price of £6 per head. There
was very little inquiry for flock rams and
the eight sold changed hands at three
guineas per head. 'The 37 rams sold
averaged £5/7/6; last year 35 rams were
?old at an average- pnee of £4/15/.
The' ewes were not so well grown as the
rams, but they sold readily, young ewes
making. 19/ and aged ewes 13/6 per head.
These prices were a shade better than
the three-quarters and five-eighths of a
guinea obtained, respectively, for the 120
ewes submitted at last year's fixture.
Generally speaking the auction was- most
successful for a district where British
breed rams are now so extensively used.
As in the past, the selling arrangements
were in the bands of Elder, Smitb and
Co. ___^_____
$