FIRST-TIME Morley Poll Merino stud buyer Graham Clayton, Berry Springs Farm, Yallunda Flat, paid $3000 for the top-price ram at the stud's sale at Cleve on Friday.
It was the stud's 15th annual on-property ram sale and recorded an average of $1168 and 93 per cent clearance.
Buyers were from across Eyre Peninsula and the Upper North.
The top ram, lot one, was 14 months and weighed 98 kilograms, with an 18.5-micron fleece of 99 per cent comfort factor.
Mr Clayton said there was a lot to like about the ram. "I like it's conformation, it's length of staple and the thickness and brightness of its wool," he said. He concentrated on wool, putting only cast-for-age ewes to White Suffolk rams for crossbred lambs.
The ram will be in the Morley team of 16 rams and ewes for the Royal Adelaide Show next month.
Morley principal Leonie Mills said she was "very happy" with how the sale went. "We had three new buyers, which was pleasing to see," she said.
New clients included Bates Bros, Wharminda, taking three rams to $1100, and Willippa Pastoral, via Hawker, two at $600.
"I've had many positive comments about the evenness of the rams from clients," she said.
Elders stud stock's Craig Shearer said it was an impressive line-up of large-frame, plain-body Polls.
"The rams are carrying long-staple, crimpy white wools," he said. "It was pleasing to see new buyers in attendance, and the clearance was good."
