BUYERS lifted their sights at Andoma Poll Merino stud's 27th annual on-property auction at Mundulla on Friday, helping lift the sale average by almost $100 from last year.
The clearance rate and top price were also higher, with 62 of 65 rams sold to $4400, averaging $2308.
Last year, 58 of 65 rams sold to $4000, averaging $2210.
Lot 3 - tag 508 - was this year's top price ram at $4400, secured by long-term client Chris Wurst. Mr Wurst relocated from Saddleworth to Senior, north of Bordertown, in 1992 and has been buying Andoma rams ever since.
"We select for wool type and wool cut and good body size," he said.
"Andoma rams are very honest, no fuss, paddock-reared and are serviceable sheep."
The Wursts secured three rams averaging $3333.
Tag 508 was an AI son of the $60,000 Gunallo 170295 'Gawny', and had wool tests of 20.3 micron, 2.9 standard deviation, 14.2 coefficient of variation and 99.7 per cent comfort factor.
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Spence Dix & Co auctioneer Dean Coddington added up the bids at a rapid pace throughout the sale, and buyers bid strongly for their selected rams. The first 40 lots were offered individually and averaged $2942.
Regular top-end buyer HF Duell & KM Duell bought eight rams to $4200 twice for an average of $3500.
"We have bought at all 27 Andoma on-property sales and privately before that," Helen Duell said
"We like the wool type and evenness of wool and they are good-framed sheep and a very even selection of rams to choose from."
The major volume buyer was Tim Leach, PJ Leach & Co, Mundulla, who bought 13 rams averaging $1208. Other volume buyers included KJ&JF Edwards with six rams averaging $2166; WR Jackson, with five averaging $2660; and GB&I Clarke, five averaging $2080.
Andoma stud principal Andrew Mosey was pleased to see clients secure the rams they wanted.
"We were very pleased with this year's rams straight out of the paddock with strong heads and muzzles," he said.
"The sale rams have had almost six inches (150 millimetres) of rain on them since the start of July and their wools have held up extremely well."
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Looking ahead, Mr Mosey is excited by the first lambs of the One Oak 0-18036 sire they bought privately for $10,000 last year.
The sale was conducted by Spence Dix & Co and Elders, with Mr Coddington taking bids.
"(The sale) was a credit to Andrew and Karen Mosey on an outstanding line-up of good, even, paddock-reared rams that was strongly supported by very loyal clients."
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