THERE was a strong turnout of returning clients at the Hillview Dohne sale on Friday at Streaky Bay, with the top price jumping and the average staying consistent.
Heather and Robert Holmes offered 68 rams with 63 sold during the Helmsmann auction to a top price of $6200 and an average of $1813.
The buyer of the top price ram was Kel Tanoby, Wirrulla, which had been buying at Hillview Dohne since 2018.
The top price ram weighed 110.5 kilograms with a micron of 19.5 and a yielding percentage of 68.7.
Having had all but one buyer as returning clients, there were a lot of familiar faces at the Hillview Dohne property, with multiple high volume buyers active throughout the sale.
AA Trezona & Sons, Petina, bought nine; Everglen, Lock, bought six; TJ Patterson, Streaky Bay, bought six; and Deep Well, Streaky Bay, bought five rams.
Jeff Kelsh, Kel Tanaby, highlighted the presentation of the Dohne rams as a significant attraction for them, particularly with the top price ram.
"Good fleece of wool, 19.5M, it's a good ram - don't worry about that," he said.
Mr Kelsh said the standard of sheep offered had been consistently good throughout his four years attending the sale.
"What they sell down there is pretty good, some pretty good ram studs," he said.
Stud principal Robert Holmes was happy with the results and felt like everyone who bought a ram walked away happy.
"Very happy with it, with obviously a lot of people getting what they need out of them and are happy with them," he said.
"A lot of return buyers and some returned that haven't been here for a few years, so they're obviously getting the results out of them and that's why they're back."
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Mr Holmes said the top price ram was an example of what they were trying to breed, with them aiming for more like it next year.
"Big plain body and then obviously with Merino wool, with a 18-21M, that's what we aim for and that's what we'll keep targeting," he said.
"He has just a nice big frame, straight sheep, with good condition in his wool, nice crimp, so yeah that's obviously what they chased him for."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien.