LONG-time local clients of Paxton Poll Dorset and White Suffolk studs battled it out with a few new Mallee buyers at the stud's fourth twilight on-property sale at Western Flat on Wednesday last week.
This saw stud principals Martin and Kirsty Harvey post a near total clearance across their 207 impressive rams on offer and lift in average for both breeds.
The biggest jump of $215 came in the White Suffolk offering which also produced the sale high of $2800 twice.
Of 115 White Suffolks offered, 111 averaging $1712.
The first of these rams, lot 2, which had great volume and capacity, sold to David Will, PG&DP Will, Bangham.
The May 2020 drop was by homebred sire, Paxton 174440 and born a twin.
It was one of three White Suffolks the Wills bought, along with four Poll Dorsets from $2400-$2500.
Lot 18, which was born a triplet and had the highest Terminal Carcase Production index in the offering of 149.1, also sold for $2800 to Oakalari, Pinnaroo.
Nigel and Megan Watson, Lucindale secured more than a quarter of the White Suffolk catalogue with Elders Lucindale branch manager Ronnie Dix.
The Watsons' 30 rams averaging $1630.
The base price in the White Suffolks was $1000 and Parilla Premium Potatoes, Parilla, secured four at this money in their good value tally of 10 rams for a $1340 average.
RP, R&TR Eats, Bordertown, secured six White Suffolks to $2300 twice, averaging $1950.
In the Poll Dorsets 83 of 92 sold for a $1769 average.
Five buyers all had the same upper limit in the Poll Dorsets securing eight rams at the $2500 high.
Richard and Will Gould, Cortina Pastoral, Greenways, bid to this price twice in their eight averaging $1950.
Scott Campbell, Brecon Props, Keith, secured 11 rams for a $2055 average, including one at $2500.
ME&JE Pridham, Western Flat, had another of these $2500 rams in their tally of six lots for a $2117.
Mr Harvey said he was "stoked" with the sale result and the continued support from clients, some who have been buying from him for 25 years, as well as a few first time buyers from the Mallee.
"Most of our rams go within a 50 kilometre area," he said.
"It is a really competitive business, especially on the terminals, so to have that continual support and a sale like we did we are thrilled."
Mr Harvey said the industry was "flying" and it was pleasing to see top-end buyers willing to pay $300-$500 more for rams than 2020.
"You can only assume that was on lamb prices," he said.
He was particularly pleased with the evenness of their White Suffolk offering and said the rams had "plenty of grunt".
PPHS director and long-time agent of Paxton, Robin Steen described it as a "very strong" sale.
"They (The Harveys) are very passionate about what they do and we are seeing repeat buyers come back year after year because they perform very well," he said.
"The lamb job is unbelievable and if you think about the old saying that 10 lambs should buy a ram we are close to that."
PPHS conducted the sale with Josh Manser and Jono Spence sharing the rostrum.
Paxton will hold its second sale for the seaon on Thursday, October 14, with 150 Border Leicester rams on offer.
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