A replacement ram at Aylesbury Farm's 29th on-property sale at Karoonda on Thursday last week caught the eye of many, eventually being knocked down for the sale's top price of $2500.
Of 121 White Suffolk rams offered, 84 sold, averaging $1265 - compared with last year's average of $1072.
Lot 5 was the sale-topper, a June 2020-drop twin sired by AF5443, and sported Lambplan figures including +20.57 for post-weaning weight, 1.47 eye muscle depth, -0.38 fat, and a Terminal Carcase Production index of 146.39.
It was secured by first-time buyer Brian Haebich, Salty Flats, Cooke Plains, who admired the ram for its good structure.
"It was put together very well with really good figures, he'll bring a bit of size to my sheep," Mr Haebich said.
Aylesbury Farm stud principal Andrew Krieg was pleased with the quality of the offering, but said the sale lacked a few volume buyers.
"We were missing a few clients, but everyone who was here bought well, and possibly bought a few more than they thought they would because the quality was really good," he said.
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"There wasn't a tail end to the sale, we had good rams right through the catalogue, but just ran out of buyers a bit towards the end.
Mr Krieg said the stud had a particular focus on length and depth, and post-weaning weights.
A genuine group of clients - mostly repeat - helped the sale along, with 30 rams knocked down to new client Steven Daniel, Karinya Station, Moculta. Bidding was carried out by Spence Dix's Simon Lehmann, on Mr Daniel's behalf.
Other volume buyers included AS&TP Morgan, Jabuk, who took home seven sires to $1600, averaging $1186, as well as Knight Family Trust, Peake, who secured six to $1700, averaging $1200, while Maverick Farms, Karoonda, also bought six, peaking at $2200 and averaging $1433.
Plenty of bids came through AuctionsPlus from DE&LN Hansen, Georgetown, who successfully secured five rams to $2000, averaging $1420.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien, with Richard Miller carrying out the auctioneering duties.
Mr Miller said the evenness of the lineup was a credit to the stud.
"Credit to the Krieg family on the quality, that's the best line-up of rams I've seen at Aylesbury Farm," he said.
"There were some really top figures right through, the data would be in the leading top 5pc of studs in Australia for the Lambplan figures, you could buy with confidence from lots 1 to 122.
"The rams sold to spirited bidding, it was a good increase on last year's average but there were a couple of of volume buyers missing - the season isn't that favourable out in the Mallee so it's a bit tough."
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Claire Harris
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
Journalist at Stock Journal. Hailing from South East Queensland, Claire moved to SA at the start of 2019. She is passionate about agriculture, cooking, sport, and line dancing, and loves a good long road trip.
