Stylish, heavy-cutting wool appealed to buyers at Sharlu Park Poll Merino and Merino studs' sixth annual ram sale at Frankton on Wednesday.
Of 66 rams offered, 58 sold to $4000, averaging $1636.
This year's sale had a $55 increase on last year's average, when a line-up of 66 rams was offered and 43 sold to $5600, averaging $1581.
In the Merino offering from White River bloodlines, 23 were sold to the top of $4000, with an average of $1508, while the Rices Creek bloodline Poll Merino offering sold 35 to a top of $3200 which averaged $1720.
The top price of $4000 was made by the Merino in lot 12 which was 118 kilograms and knocked down to loyal return buyer MS&RJ Dittrich, Truro.
It carried figures of 19.9 micron, 3.8 standard deviation, 15.2 coefficient variation, 99.1 comfort factor and a greasy fleece weight of 6.6kg after it was shorn March 10.
Mr Dittrich only purchased one ram in the sale.
He said he breeds his own commercial Merinos and the ram had the traits he was after.
"It has a nice long, real crimpy type wool on a long body," he said.
"We will put it over some of our better ewe hoggets to breed our own rams from it.
"We have been very happy with the quality of rams we get from Sharlu Park and we feel the same about the top ram we purchased in the sale."
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He said they had been buying from the Saegenschnitter family for about 10 years.
The top poll ram was in lot 3, which made $3200 and weighed 112kg when the hammer dropped with TE&EC Schiller, Neales Flat, the buyer.
It carried a 20.3M, 2.7SD, 13.5CV, 99.5CF and a 7.5kg GFW.
Sharlu Park stud principal Luke Saegenschnitter said they nearly kept it as a reserve.
The sale's volume buyer was AB&MC Tohl & Son, Jamestown, who bought 6 rams to a top of $1800, averaging $1500.
Last years top price buyer AJ Prior, Eudunda, secured four rams this year to a top of $3000 and an average of $1900.
While a new client to Sharlu Park this year, Ben Schiller, Ngapala, picked up two poll rams to a top of $3200 and an average of $2200.
Nutrien stud stock Leo Redden said it was the best sale Sharlu Park had ever had in terms of both clearance and the sale average.
"There was strong local support for their best ever line-up which showed a noticeable increase in style and quality over the usual fast growing Sharlu Park frame," he said.
"The top ram was an A grade example of the offering with a fast growing carcass, very correct, and objectively and subjectively superior wool."
The sale was conducted by Nutrien Pfitzner & Kleinig with Leo Redden as auctioneer.
Kiara Stacey
Journalist for Stock Journal. Kiara was in classified sales at Stock Journal before joining the editorial team in 2021. Kiara completed a Bachelor of Communication (journalism) at Deakin University the year prior.
Journalist for Stock Journal. Kiara was in classified sales at Stock Journal before joining the editorial team in 2021. Kiara completed a Bachelor of Communication (journalism) at Deakin University the year prior.
