KELVALE Poll Merino stud principals Stephen and Peta Kellock had reason to smile on Thursday, with their on-property sale at Keith achieving a total clearance and significant lift in top price and average.
All 120 15-month-old rams sold to eager buyers, with competition remaining strong throughout the catalogue. Sires sold to $5000 twice and averaged $2209, a rise of $1000 and $722, respectively, from last year's sale.
Top price honours were shared between regular buyers Tom Davey, Port Neill, and Rob Henry, Formosa Estate, Cressy, Tas.
Mr Davey outlaid $5000 for a big-framed ram, sired by Kelvale 099, with wool measurements of 18 micron, 2.6 standard deviation, 14.4 coefficient of variation and 99.6 per cent comfort factor.
The ram had Australian Sheep Breeding Values of 5.44 yearling weight, eye muscle of 0.22 and positive fat of 0.52.
Mr Henry's long-stapled sale topper was sired by Kelvale 121, and measured 19M, 3.7SD, 19.5CV and 98.8CF.
It had ASBVs of 5.96YWT, 0.6YEMD and 0.35YFAT, and caught Mr Henry's eye for its good conformation, staple length and heavy cutting ability.
