AN impressive team of well-grown rams enticed buyers and pushed Morley Stud to a strong average and total clearance at its annual on-property sale on Friday last week.
The Cowell-based stud presented some of the youngest auction rams seen this season.
The large-framed, June/July 2014-drop Poll Merinos averaged 95 kilograms, living up to Morley's promise of early maturing sires.
"These boys have just grown out really well, putting on some 15kg in the last six weeks," Morley principal Leonie Mills said.
Keen bidding cleared the even line-up of 60 rams that sold for an average of $1413 – a $141 rise from $1272 last year.
Two rams went to $3400, the auction peak, with long-time clients the Siviour family, Murdinga and Larwood family, Buckleboo, sharing the honour.
The sires, with twin genetics, share Nyowee heritage, which Mrs Mills said was a recently introduced bloodline.
"Lot two is the son of Nyowee 159 and ranked number 1 in the ram figures," she said.
"He's a lovely, easy care, plain-bodied sheep."
The March-shorn, 98kg sire had stand-out wool measurements and visual quality, at 18.3 micron and 99.2 per cent comfort factor. It had 134pc clean fleece weight and 79pc yield.
It will represent Morley at the Royal Adelaide Show next month before taking residence at the Siviours' property.
Mark Siviour, representing NW&AK Siviour Farming Partners, said his family had been solely running Morley bloodlines for more than 20 years.
"They just have the reliable qualities we look for, that good fleece on a large frame," he said.
The Siviours bought three more rams at Morley.
The Larwood's top-price ram weighed an imposing 107kg, surpassing the sale team average by 12kg.
"He is just ideal for producing good, weighty progeny," Mrs Mills said.
The ram had fleece measurements of 17.9M with 99.5CF, 74pc yield and 115CFW. It was the last of three in the bag for Shannon Larwood, on behalf of PN&CA Larwood and Co.
"His figures alone made him too good to go past," Mr Larwood said.
"On paper, he was top dog and then upon viewing him here today he had the appearance to back up the solid wool figures.
"Credit to Leonie and the boys, they've had a good season and it really does show in their rams. They're as big as I've seen them and as solid and as well-rounded as I've seen them.
"They're probably the best line-up I've seen for a good number of years."
Crowd numbers were up on last year and included some spectators, with 24 of 27 registered bidders securing a sire.
Familiar faces filled the largest orders – RT&AJ Finlay, Port Augusta, bought seven to $700; Willippa Pastoral Co, Port Augusta, six to $900; and five-a-piece to SC&LE Snodgrass, Tumby Bay and Glenowen Pastoral, Cleve, to $2000 and $2200 respectively.
EV Bawden, Tumby Bay, secured a son of Terrick West 76, for $2800 – the auction's second top-price.
