STUD principal Richard Harkeness was pleased to see clients return in number and bid strongly at his 13th annual Superior Wool Merinos ram sale at Tintinara on Friday.
Overall, Mr Harkness sold all 100 March-shorn, 14-17 month-old Merino and Poll Merino rams on offer in his main auction to $6200, averaging $2238 - a $121 increase on the 2019 sale.
"It is pleasing to see clients return to bid strongly year after year, it makes a big difference, plus we had a few new buyers," he said.
Mr Harkness also sold 12 rams from 35 offered in a mini auction after the sale.
While there was a strong start to the sale, it took until lot 40 before the $6200 top price was reached - a Poll Merino bought by return client Richard Storch, Bordertown, who was successful on seven rams, averaging $3257.
Sired by Gunallo 295, the ram had fleece measuring 18.7-micron, 16.2 coefficient of variation, 3 standard deviation and a greasy fleece weight percentage of 108.
It also had 43-millimetre eye muscle depth and 5mm fat.
There were 28 registered for the sale, with 23 buying rams, including new client Dalness Farming from Launceston, Tas, who bought the sale's second-highest price ram at $5400.
The SWM-sired ram at lot 26, had 16.7M fleece with 14.3CV, 2.4SD and 98GFWT, as well as 44EMD and 5mm fat.
It was one of five rams Dalness Farming bought, averaging $4260.
Reichstein Pastoral, Field, also paid handsomely for their five rams, which topped at $5200 and averaged $3520, while Mount Boothby Pastoral, Tintinara, also paid above average rates for their six, averaging $2500.
The sale had a few big volume buyers, with Hansen Farms, Coomandook, taking home 15 rams to $4200, averaging $2533, while Burge Trading Trust, Padthaway, bought eight in the main auction to $1900, averaging $1250, plus another four from the mini auction.
New client Willalooka Pastoral Company, Willalooka, went home with 11 rams averaging $800, while Mallee Slopes Pastoral Co, Wynarka, bought seven in the main sale to $3000, averaging $2243, and one from the mini auction at $700.
Elders Keith conducted the sale, with branch manager Steven Doecke and Laryn Gogel on auctioneer duties.
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