SHEEP studs have been richly rewarded for their passion and commitment to the industry in one of the state's most buoyant ram selling seasons.
In the past three months, nearly 170 on-property and multi-vendor sales have been held in SA resulting in many millions of dollars worth superior genetics going under the hammer.
Merino sales have set the pace with many total clearances and the majority of averages in the $1300 to $2000 price bracket.
Increases in average have also been seen later in the season at many on-property British breed and maternal sales with only a few South East sales falling victim to an oversupply of rams as the season turned.
The highlight was again the Adelaide Merino ram sale where the top price was $66,000, paid for a ram from the Collinsville stud - the highest price in 18 years.
The sale averaged $7609 for 87 of 109 rams - the highest Merino multi-vendor sale in the nation for the fifth consecutive year.
The terminal British breed sales more than held their own, including Ulandi Park Poll Dorset stud at Marrabel clearing 103 rams for a $1356 average, Ashmore White Suffolk stud, Wasleys, selling 136 rams for a $1146 average, and the mammoth Allendale and Days Whiteface sale at Bordertown where there was a 90pc clearance of 430 stud and flock Poll Dorset, Suffolk and White Suffolk rams to an $8750 high.
In the Border Leicesters, Inverbrackie stud at Strathalbyn achieved a $1156 average for 214 of their 220 rams.
Buyers of White Suffolks, Border Leicesters and Poll Dorsets have become strongly figure- driven, chasing the rams with high-ranking ASBVs for weaning and post-weaning weight, and Carcase Plus index.
* Full report in Stock Journal, October 30, 2014 issue.