A QUICK decisive bid meant Jamie Helyar, Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island claimed his pick of the rams at the Wattle Wood Springs Suffolk sale at Myponga on October 21.
The top price ram sold for $1000, and was one of four bought by Mr Helyar.
"He's nice and square, with broad long legs, so I thought I'd grab him while I can," he said.
The ram was by a Wattle Wood Springs sire, who was the offspring of a New Zealand ram.
The ram had an eye muscle depth of 40 millimetres and fat depth of 5mm, weighing 93.5 kilograms.
Mr Helyar has been buying at the sale for the past three years it has been held.
"The lambs have been really good," he said.
He recently sold some lambs on-hook and was impressed with how they yielded.
Stud principal Garry Gum had sold privately in the past before beginning his on-property auction three years ago.
"We've still got a lot of regular buyers from before, which is pleasing that they are happy with what they're getting," he said.
"We're getting good feedback from clients."
Mr Gum, and wife Pauline, also sell lambs direct to customers under their Yankaponga name.
He said they focus on maternal lines, and rotate genetics to keep the flock fresh. "We cull ewes fairly heavily, looking for good doers," he said.
"It's no good buying a top ram and putting them over second-grade ewes.
"We run about four families of ewes and rotate the rams."
Volume buyer at the sale was Geoff Brooksky, Kingscote, KI, with eight rams.
The sale was conducted by Elders Strathalbyn, with Paul Clifford taking bids.
Elizabeth Anderson
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
Stock Journal's magazine editor.
