INTERSTATE buyers once again increased competition at Duenclin White Suffolk and Prime SAMM stud's sale at Perponda on Wednesday last week, helping to boost its top price and sale average.
A draft of 108 White Suffolk rams were offered, selling 61, to a top of $3000 for a sale average of $974.
The Prime SAMM line-up of 12 rams cleared seven lots and sold to $1300, twice, averaging $1080.
The top price White Suffolk ram was sold to long-term buyer Donald Rogers, Goroke, Vic, for $3000.
Sired by Duenclin 5824, Duenclin 8152 weighed 102.5 kilograms with breeding values of 9 millimetre fat depth, 44mm eye muscle depth and 102mm eye muscle width.
Mr Rogers said its constitution and long body caught his eye.
"What sold me was the fact that it would remained in their stud if it did not meet reserve - that says a lot about an animal," he said.
"I had some short-bodied ewes and Duenclin's genetics have helped to build muscle and stretch back into my ewes."
The ram will be used over stud ewes.
The $1400 second-highest was made five times.
BJ&BG Pfieffer, Parrakie, bought five rams to $1400, averaging $1240.
K&L Pfieffer, Parrakie, also bought five rams to $1400, averaging $1240.
Sired by Duenclin 6564, one $1400 ram weighed 103kg and measured 9.5mm for fat, 47mm EMD and 105mm EMW.
Volume buyer was C&S Donaschenz, Eden Hope, Vic, that bought 13 rams to $1100, averaging $923.
AT&AG Evans, Karoonda, secured seven rams to $800 and Steve Ball, Eden Hope, Vic, also bought seven rams to $1000, averaging $914.
A $1300 Prime SAMM top price was made twice, with both lots sold to Durrundie Acres, Renmark, who bought a further five rams, averaging $1100 across the six.
The first top price ram under the hammer was Duenclin 8979, sired by Duenclin 4854. It weighed 87kg and had a 7.5mm for fat, 43.5mm EMD and 96EMW.
Mr Huxtable said he was pleased with the sale and the growth of the rams considering the tough season.
"We generally rely on paddock feed which we did not have last year or this season but the rams have come up well," he said.
"The top price White Suffolk ram was going to remain in the stud if it did not sell because its absolutely a style and shape of ram that we aim to breed and want to continue breeding."
The sale was conducted by Elders Karoonda with Laryn Gogel as auctioneer.
