Return clients push average up at Dalveen

Stud principal John Richardson said it was an excellent sale, happy to clear 109 rams of 144 offered to a sale top of $5000 twice and an increased average of $2040.

They also sold 12 rams in a mini-auction after the sale.

One of the $5000 rams at lot 10 went to Kevin Schwartz, who was the top-price ram buyer last year.

Mr Schwartz runs a self-replacing Merino flock at Coonalpyn and is a long-time client of Dalveen.

This year's top ram, weighing 117 kilograms, was sired by a Moorundie Park Pink syndicate ram.

The April/May 2018-drop ram had a 20.7-micron fleece measuring 3.4 standard deviation, 16.4 coefficient of variation and a 99.3 per cent comfort factor.

Mr Schwartz bought three rams in total through Landmark Tintinara, averaging $3867.

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The other $5000 ram was bought by J Weber & Sons, Bowhill, which bought four rams in the main sale, averaging $3700, and one in the mini-auction at $900 after the sale.

Their top ram at lot 21 had Moorundie and Nertstane bloodlines, weighed 112kg, had a 20.4M fleece measuring 2.3SD, 11.3CV and 99.8CF.

Jeff Weber said the rams would run in their self-replacing 1150-ewe flock.

The Webers normally bought a handful of rams at the sale, chasing "big frames and bright white wools".

"We just had to push a bit harder today for the ones we wanted," he said.

Elders auctioneer Tom Penna said that was the theme of the sale - competition very strong on the top-end.

"People were willing to go that bit harder on the rams they wanted because they may not be buying as many," he said.

"Many have smaller flocks because of the dry conditions so the ones they bought had to be good."

The largest volume buyer of the sale was DP&MM Densley, Keith, who took home 17 rams to $2000, averaging $1582.

The sale was conducted by Elders and Landmark, with Leo Redden also auctioneering.