THERE was plenty of strength in the bidding at the Roemahkita Poll Merino on-property ram auction at Cummins on Tuesday, with the sale reaching a top of $8250.
There were an extra 11 rams added to the catalogue this year, with 111 offered and 91 sold under the hammer for an auction average of $2539 and a further six sold in post-sale negotiations.
The top price was paid by first-time buyer JS Keatly, Willalooka, for lot 3, a 109 kilogram autumn-drop.
The ram had a 17.8 micron fleece, with 2.7 standard deviation, 15.4 coefficient of variation and 99.9 per cent comfort factor. At the age of five months old, it produced a 6.44kg fleece.
Roemahkita stud principal Joe Dahlitz said this ram, from homebred ram R170704, has been one they considered keeping within their own program due to it's qualities.
"It has a great make and shape, super wool good eye muscle and fat," he said.
The Keatlys breed their own rams and bought this one to include in that program.
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Others bidding at the top end were GJ&CA Fitzgerald, Kyancutta, who bought a ram at $7500, while repeat buyers WP Mickan & Sons, Cummins, picked up a ram at $7000.
Darryl Frahn, Murray Bridge paid $6200 for a sire.
Among the volume buyers were regular clients Brad and Kerry Claughton, Claughton Family Trust, Yallunda Flat, who picked up 13 rams to $3600. Baines Bros, Cummins, bought 10 rams to $3800 and LS&JM Newton, Elliston, bought nine rams to $2000.
Mr Dahlitz said the sale had been "amazing", although they did run out of buyers towards the back end.
He said there were still rams available for private selection.
The sale was conducted by Elders and Nutrien Ag Solutions, with Elders' stud stock's Tony Wetherall wielding the gavel.
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Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
