A sire with long-stapled, lustrous wool impressed at Pepper Well's 19th annual on-property sale on Friday, helping the stud to achieve a better top price result than last year, while the average also improved.
Of 72 rams offered, 28 sold, averaging $1471 and topping at $3800 - an $800 jump on the 2020 top price.
Weighing at 89 kilograms, the lot 8 sale-topper sported figures including an eye muscle depth of 30.5 millimetres, fat depth of 3.5mm and wool measuring 15.3 micron, 2.7 standard deviation, 17.9 coefficient of variation and 100 per cent comfort factor.
It was knocked down to Richard Hentschke, Thorlindah, Tungkillo, who has been buying from Pepper Well for about 10 years.
"We look for structurally-correct rams, with long-stapled, deep-crimping wools with a heavy cut," Mr Hentschke said.
"We're very happy with our purchases."
"The rams here are uncomplicated, productive and fertile, they have a good early-maturing pattern, and what you see is what you get."
The Hentschkes run a 1400-head self-replacing Merino flock, as well as 1400 Merino ewes mated to terminal sires.
As well as the top-price ram, the Hentschkes bought three others - the second top-price at $3600, as well as two other sires at $3200 and $2000.
The second top-price ram, lot 41, weighed 82 kilograms, with 30.5EMD and 3mm fat depth, and carried fleece measurements of 15.9M, 3SD, 18.7CV, and 100CF.
Pepper Well stud principal Hansi Graetz said while the sale lacked a few volume buyers, two or three new clients took home rams, which was an encouraging sign.
RELATED READING: Borung delighted with ram sale strength
DM&SM Schirmer, Cambrai, took home four sires, all at $800, while DC&SP Holt, Eden Valley, secured three to $1800, averaging $1100.
Three sires were also knocked down to MJ&T Seidel, Wanbi, topping at $2000 and averaging $1266.
The sale was jointly conducted by Elders and Nutrien, with Nutrien's Gordon Wood carrying out the auctioneering duties.
Mr Wood commended the stud on the dual-purpose nature of the catalogue.
"The Pepper Well rams have good long staples, they are modern Poll Merinos with plenty of nourishment and lustre in the wool," he said.
"There were a lot of rams with positive fat and eye muscle ASBVs - ASBVs are certainly a strength here."
Five rams sold shortly after the conclusion of the sale.
Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.