TONGARA White Suffolk stud achieved a total clearance at its annual on-property ram sale at Netherton on Wednesday, despite offering 14 more rams than last year.
The stud sold all 130 rams on offer, at an average of $1529 and top price of $2800, defeating last years top by $200.
The top price was paid by G&M Ferguson, Tintinara, for lot 28 - a single with an Australian Sheep Breeding Value post-weaning weight of 17.5, PW fat of 0.06 and PW eye muscle depth of 3.1.
Mr Ferguson said the August-2021 drop ram, ticked all the boxes and would service a commercial self replacing merino flock.
"It had a great range of figures including a low birth weight, high growth, big eye muscle with a positive fat, which you don't see too often," he said.
"It will give us predicable results and that's why we have been buying from Tongara for around eight years.
"The lambs grow fast, high percentages in fertility and high yielding, and the Richards family are great people to work with."
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Tongara White Suffolk Stud principal Leigh Richards said it was nice to see a full crowd with vehicles with crates and hurdles on them.
"I do a third of the flock to an AI program each year so I can select genetics that are at the top of the game," he said.
"They are easy care sheep - low birth weight is high on my priority
"I sit slightly below the breed average for birth weight and about the same on the rest so that is small gains.
"I have been working really hard on the thickness and depth of body and can see progress."
He said the top price ram buyer was chasing its figures.
"I didn't expect lot 28 would make the top but it's obvious Chase was after positive fat figures," he said.
"It came from one of my own bred rams and for early sucker lambs Lot 28 was an example of my breeding goals.
"The sale was even all through the line and the prices indicated that.
"Loyal and repeating buyers were prepared to pay good money for good thick rams."
All but three of the 32 registered bidders made a purchase with all in attendance repeat buyers.
HK Goodall Nominees, Coonalpyn, was a volume buyer taking home 16 to a top of $1500 and $1119 av, while MC&R Heinke, also bought 16 to the same top of $1500 with an $1088 av.
Elders stud stock Tom Penna said there was a really good line-up of sheep presented.
"It was a brilliant sale with animated bidding all the way through," he said.
"There were bulk orders looking for numbers and the top end just looking for a few really went for it.
"We were impressed with the yarding as the depth of the quality went all the way through.
"Tongara have thickened up their type, they have moderated the frame and with good soft heads and good wool types."
The sale was conducted by Elders Keith with Tom Penna and Aaron Dix as auctioneer.