THE BOUGHEN family of Kamora Park Poll Merino stud celebrated 60 years of sheep breeding with an on-property record for an individual ram at Sandalwood on Friday last week.
The $15,000 high was one of the highlights of a solid sale that averaged $2226 and was well-supported by returning clients.
While the average was comparable with last year's $2245, even in the face of headwinds like falling sheep prices, the clearance was slightly down with 181 of the 220 rams sold under the hammer.
Kamora Park's Katelyn Boughen said while the stud would have liked to have sold a few more, the average left them happy with the final result.
"It was well supported by our regular buying crowd and it sounds like some bought more than intended to when coming here so that's always good to hear," she said.
"Our type is big bodies and good structure with trademark rich wools. That's typically what you can get here and that was the case again this year."
Lot 2 attracted plenty of pre-sale interest and proved to be the pick of the catalogue, bought by Jaburee Merino and Poll Merino stud, Wilmington, after an extended bid-off with Sharlu Park stud, Frankton.
Sired by Wallaloo Park 226, a $76,000 purchase, the 125.5 kilogram ram had wool figures of 22.2 micron, 3 standard deviation, a 13.6 coefficient of variation and 99.1 per cent comfort factor with a 7 kilogram fleece weight.
Mrs Boughen said it was a big animal with good structure and good wool to match.
Jaburee principal Benji Bury said the ram's bloodline had performed well for them in the past.
The stud sells 80 rams a year and will be holding its on-property auction on August 25.
"We've used his father and know that he breeds very well," Mr Bury said.
"He's an outstanding ram that fills the pen and has a good sirey outlook. It has a good crimpy wool, with nice nourishment, a sirey head and he's very square all round."
While the top pick headed north, the sale enjoyed strong support from Mallee and Riverland buyers, as well as a strong South East order and a sizable load taken interstate.
Leading the way in the volume stakes were the Wegner Bros, Karoonda, who have been buying from Kamora Park for at least two decades.
They bought 27 rams all up to $4200, averaging $2452.
Also featuring strongly right throughout the catalogue was Mallee View Props, Galga, securing 16 rams to $2800, averaging $1513.
Other buyers in double figures were last year's volume buyers Wall and Neindorf, Langidoon Station, NSW, who returned to pick up another 11 rams to $2400, averaging $1264.
Making the trip from Mount Benson, BT&E Ling were strong in securing the rams they wanted whatever the price, finishing with ten to $4200, averaging $3080.
Another interstate buyer, albeit just across the border, LB,PJ&SE Watts, Ouyen, Vic, secured nine to $2200, averaging $1311, while SC Dinham & Co, Tailem Bend, secured eight to $3800, averaging $2400, as did LD Stas & Co to $2200, averaging $1425.
Kevradale, Tailem Bend, bought seven rams to $2000, averaging $1371, while a host of enterprises secured six.
NM&JN White, Cooke Plains, averaging $1333, Whygee Pastoral, Karoonda, averaging $3467, MH&NE Falting & Sons, Loxton, averaging $3333, CS, GD & TJ, NJ Schubert, , averaging $2400, and DR&MC Hoare, Wynarka, averaging $2267.
The sale was conducted by Nutrien, with Gordon Wood and Richard Miller the auctioneers.
"It was a really strong average over the rams we sold," he said.
"Overall it was a pleasing result without reaching the clearance we would have preferred.
"We knew from the get go this year that we were most likely going to see a slight drop in demand for Merinos and rams in general so that average is a good result."
