A few new clients and increased confidence in the season helped to improve the ram sale result at Lampata Poll Merino stud in Lameroo on Monday.
Lampata stud principal Robert Pocock was very pleased post-sale, after achieving both an increase in sale top and average price.
"It has been a really good sale, considering where the industry is at the moment," he said.
"We had a few buyers drop out due to farm sales, but we were lucky to pick up a few new clients, while some of our loyal buyers were confident to pick up a few more than normal, or bid up more on the ones they wanted.
"Locally, the season had also been a little tough, but it's improving.
"We have also been out and about showing, including Keith and Broken Hill, where we have had some good quality feedback and hopefully if we continue that, we can further build up our profile.
"We're trying to breed a ram that's suited to breeding good maternal Merino ewes that produce trade lambs."
Overall, the stud sold 58 May 2021-drop syndicated-mated rams from the 79 offered to $5300 twice, averaging $1451 - an $81 increase on the 2021 sale.
The first ram to make $5300 was in lot 24, sold to Ben Hunt, Nalang Farms, Mundulla, who bought four rams in total averaging $3775.
We're trying to breed Merinos with long carcases, featuring solid meat and a decent wool on them.
- BEN HUNT
Mr Hunt said the top ram appealed for its "good flock breeding values in muscle, fat and wool".
"It was in the top 10 per cent (FBVs) on yearling weight (7.51), yearling eye muscle depth (1.32), yearling clean fleece weight (15.37) and yearling fat (0.29)," he said.
The twin ram, weighing 99.5 kilograms, was also in the top 10pc on the Dual Purpose Plus Index (138.41), and had a 18-micron wool with 2.9 standard deviation, 16.1 coefficient of variation and 99.9pc comfort factor.
"We have been buying here for many years, hoping to build on our eye muscle and fat figures," he said.
Mr Hunt also bought the sale's second-highest price ram in lot 1 at $4000.
The 95.5kg twin ram also had outstanding meat FBVs in the top 10pc, including 7.47YWT, 0.96YEMD and 138.66DP+, while its 18.4M fleece had 3SD, 16.5CV and 99.7CF.
The other $5300 top price ram at lot 32 was bought by last year's top ram buyer Adam Flavel, Jax Joynt, Meribah, who bought three rams in total, averaging $2933.
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Mr Flavel said the top ram caught his eye for its size and wool traits.
The 106kg ram had FBVs in the top 10pc for 6.73YWT and 138.78DP+, while its 18.3M wool measured 3SD, 16.4CV and 99.9CF.
"It had beautiful, nice white wool with low micron, while all its figures were appealing," he said.
"We have been trying to fine our flock up a bit."
One buyer to return after an absence was GNB Investments, Lameroo, who bought in bulk - 11 rams to $1100, averaging $936.
Another to buy in volume was long-time client Tom Evans, Mindarie, who also took home 11 averaging $800.
Mr Evans said he will continue to buy only from Lampata, attracted to the stud's "fast-growing sheep".
A few interstate buyers were also operating, with new client Caleb Morgan, Macarthur, Vic, picking up two averaging $1200, while repeat buyer PS Wallis, Serviceton, Vic, bought five averaging $1280.
Thirteen buyers registered for the sale, which was conducted by Elders Lameroo, with Steve Doecke the auctioneer.