PRE-SALE marketing of a standout Poll Merino ram by the Boughen family drew a lot of attention at the Kamora Park annual ram sale at Sandalwood on Friday.
Rain and hail on sale day didn't deter more than 40 registered bidders attending, hoping to secure the increased offering of 235 Poll Merino rams.
In the end, 204 rams sold to an impressive top price of $8600, averaging $2245.
It took to Lot 113 to achieve the sale's top price for KP283, which many bidders had their eye on.
The 131-kilogram ram had a fleece weight of 9.5kg, measuring 19.9 micron, 2.9 standard deviation, 12.9 coefficient of variation and 99.6 per cent comfort factor.
Kamora Park's Katelyn Boughen said KP283 was the biggest lot of the offering, and she expected it would sell well.
"It wasn't until just ahead of sale day we were thinking we probably should've kept him ourselves," she said.
"But once we catalogued them, we put a video out on him and I think that created some interest."
Roemahkita Poll Merino stud principal Joe Dahlitz was the successful bidder on the top ram he said had a "good in the back end and a lovely white and bolder crimping wool".
Making the trek from Cummins, Mr Dahlitz said he was in the process of delivering rams and thought he would just "pop over" to Kamora Park for a look, but couldn't go past the top ram and another he bought for $8400 in Lot 23.
He praised the stud's breeding values and said Kamora Park sheep had always done well "back home".
Lot 23 - KP062 - weighed 121kg and had 7.1kg fleece, with 17.9M, 2.9SD, 16.2CV and 99.6CF.
Mr Dahlitz said the rams would likely be mated to Glenlea Park 180173 'Smithy' ewes.
"Lot 23 is extremely safe, its got really waterproof wool," he said. "They'll both be put with some Smithy ewes and just left to do their business."
Ms Boughen said both rams had beautiful wool and great structure.
Long-time clients Wall and Neindorf, Langidoon Station, NSW, were the largest volume buyers on the day, taking home 25 rams to $2400 for Lot 98, averaging $1288 overall.
Ben Wall said the station usually bought rams from the stud each year as they "did well for us".
"They're rams with a bit lower micron and they're just nice big sheep, which is what we're after," he said.
Mr Wall said some would head to northern NSW, while others would find their new homes in Qld.
New buyers, the Rasheed family, Boolapuckee, also bought in bulk, taking home 13 rams.
Nutrien Keller Livestock were the duty agents on the day, with stud stock's Gordon Wood and Richard Miller sharing auctioneering duties.
Mr Wood said the sale was well supported by local and interstate bidders.
"We've been seeing a lot of local support for Kamora Park over the years, but then you've got buyers from Qld, NSW, the South East of SA, over to the bottom end of the EP - that shows these sheep perform in all environments from wet to dry," he said.
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