THE Poll Merino top price and averaged jumped at the 61st Poll Merino on-property auction for Babirra at Stansbury on Tuesday, which was combined with the 21st Babirra Dohne sale.
Poll Merino averages skyrocketed about 50 per cent to $1457 - for $988 last year - and a top price of $4800, from $1800, while the Dohne average fell slightly at $1629.
Of the 52 Dohnes offered, 47 sold, this year reaching a top of $4000.
The top price Dohne was Lot 3, born on Anzac Day in 2021 and sold to regular buyers Sunnyvale Proprietors, Eden Valley.
A coeffficient of variation of 17.4, eye muscle depth of 34 millimetres, 3.2 standard deviation and 99.5 per cent comfort factor, as well as an 18.6 fibre diameter, helped the animal stand out for buyer, Dickie Kroehn, who also bought Lots 1 and 12.
"I like the ram for it's good size and figure and depths," he said.
"We have been buying at Babirra for 12 years and believe they breed traits of excellent top rams."
The ram was also in the top 20 per cent of the breed for post-weaning weight at 6.04 and top 10pc for yearling clean fleece weight at 14.07.
Next in line at Lot 4 was the second highest price paid at $3400, by the Tilbrook family, Curramulka.
This ram, with a fibre diameter of 20, 3.2SD, 16.0CV and 99.3CF, was also rated in the top 5pc of the breed for PWWT at 7.92, yearling weight at 8.79 and YCFW of 17.31
The Dohne sale's main volume buyer was regular client MS&SM Jackson, Rowena Station, via Broken Hill, NSW, who took home 26 rams to a top of $2000 and average $1146.
The offer of 29 Poll Merinos rounded out the sale with 14 cleared, bringing a top price of $4800.
Securing the top ram was regular buyers, the Cook family, Pangari, Minlaton.
The ram had a 19.7 micron, 3.0SD, 15.1CV and 99.8CF and a dual-purpose index of 152.3.
"We like the good body shape and lack of wrinkle of the Babirra rams," Graham Cook said.
"We run sheep on sandy country and so look for a bit of grease in the wool, these suit us perfectly.
"The 19.1 micron is tidy and we have bought our rams here for many years."
Stud principal's Craig and Lynda Farrow were happy with the outcome.
"We are breeding for good eye muscle and consistent muscle and fat," Mrs Farrow said.
"We aim for consistent wool in the merinos and with the Dohnes' we look for good muscle and to keep the wool brilliant.
"We were happy with the sales results and, as always, we thank our valued customers."
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Elders auctioneer Tom Penna said the sales result was good for the Farrow family.
"We look to be up overall on last year and I was very impressed with the quality of the rams," he said.
"It's the best quality yarding I've seen for some time and the sheep exhibit terrific body, growth and shape traits which will pay off for buyers."
