KEITH based Castle Camps stud enjoyed a full clearance in its White Suffolks and jump in average of more than $100 on 2021 at its ninth annual sale on Friday.
But there was also plenty of very affordable rams in both breeds knocked down for under $1000.
The increased Border Leicester offering from stud principals the Carr family was always going to test the market and while bidding surpassed $2000 many times in the top half of the catalogue demand waned in the second half.
Twenty nine rams sold for the $800 base price.
Overall 74 White Suffolks averaged $1463 and 75 of 88 Border Leicester rams averaged $1325.
The sale's $2600 top price was paid for lot 81, a July 2021 drop with the highest post weaning weight figures in the catalogue at 12.76.
It was bought by Platinum Livestock's Adam Bradley on behalf of Marcollat Pastoral Company, Marcollat, who also bought the top price ram in 2021.
"We keep coming back because we are happy - they have good constitution and they also have the good carcase attributes because we can get the wether lambs off as suckers at 23-24kg (carcaseweight) in spring," Mr Bradley said.
Marcollat Pastoral Company will offer 1200 Border Leicester-Merino ewe lambs on AuctionsPlus in November.
Longbottom Partners, Mount Benson, were the sale's biggest bidder with 15 Border Leicesters to $2100, averaging $1200.
Manuka Pty Ltd, Greenways, bought seven Border Leicesters for a $1971 average, including lot 88 for $2400.
Long-time clients Steve and Heather Graetz, Willalooka, bought the $2500 highest price White Suffolk at lot 24.
The June 2021 drop, Days 180082 son was a great figured ram with a Terminal Carcase Production index of 143.53
Miller Whan and John's Peter Creek secured 10 White Suffolks for SK Hutchinson paying $800 to $1100.
KD Day & Co, Padthaway, bought their nine rams throughout the White Suffolk catalogue for a $1944 average, paying to $2400 for their top pick.
Platinum Livestock's Ben Dohnt, who auctioneered at Castle Camps for the first time, said it was a very consistent line of rams in both breeds.
"You would have been happy whether you bought lot 1 or lot 25 or lot 70 in each line," he said.
He was pleased to achieve full clearance in the White Suffolks and said he was not surprised it was a "bit sticky" on the Border Leicesters given similar results at a few eastern states sales.
Stud principal Ian Carr was also happy with the result.
"We put our Border Leicester numbers up to make sure everyone had a chance to get some after a great sale last year, but we knew there were a couple of buyers who already had enough rams," he said.
He was grateful to their long-time clients who continued to invest in their genetics and said it was great to see a few western Vic buyers operating again, with the past SA-Vic border closure negatively impacting on their previous two years sales.
Mr Carr said the rams had a difficult spring as lambs but in the past month or two they had really started to go ahead.
"We look after them as much as we can but they are not pampered too much and go on and perform," he said.
"Our regulars keep saying to us that the rams keep going and have that longevity."
The sale was conducted by Platinum Livestock Keith and Miller Whan & John Mount Gambier.
