There were plenty of familiar faces at the annual Borung on-property auction in Waikerie on Tuesday, with a clearance consistent with 2022.
In the sale breakdown, 70 of the 80 Poll Merinos on offer sold to an equal top of $3400 and average of $1297, with the 2022 sale having had 73 of the 82 rams on offer sold to a top of $4800 at an average of $1700.
The top price rams from Lot 7 and Lot 8 were bought by returning buyers Kym and Michelle Thiele, Pompoota, and Brian Hampel, Loxton, respectively.
The Lot 7 ram had a post weaning weight of 6.7, yearling weight of 7.2, yearling fibre diameter of -1.4, comfort factor of 99.8 per cent, yearling eye muscle depth of -0.7, yearling staple length of 11.7 and Dual-Purpose-plus index of 154.
Mrs Thiele said the Lot 7 was a big square long stretchy ram, with beautiful wool and she was happy with the three rams her and Mr Thiele bought, at an average of $1866.
"They had good staple length, they were correct on their feet and had plenty of stretch and body," she said.
The Lot eight ram had a 19.8FD, 99.4CF, 137DP+,3.1PWT, 4.6YWT, 0.5YEMD, 8.8YCFW, 99.4CF and -0.6YSL.
Mr Hampel had been buying from the Borung stud for many years and was very happy to purchase the 2022 Gunallo Syndicate-sired ram, this year.
"The size and structure were a big part, but it carried the wool as well and that's the main quality we look for in a Merino ram," he said.
"They've got a range for everyone and from year to year the quality we want is here."
Volume buyers on the day were Kara Station, Packsaddle, which bought 11 to a top of $800 at an average of $800; Ashton Props, Mildura, Vic, bought six to a top of $2200 at an average of $1416 while Calpara Producers, Strathalbyn, also bought six to a top of $1600 at an average of $1083.
John Nicholas, Kara Station, had attended the Borung sale for three years prior to 2023 and said the Australian Sheep Breeding Values was one of the key considerations in his purchases.
"They've got to stand-up structurally and the confirmation has got to be right in the wool-type and then we look at data on top of that," he said.
"Data's becoming more important in our decision making, with our ram buying."
Borung stud principal Brenton Krohen said he was happy with how the sale went, considering the current ram market, and was glad to see the return of regular buyers along with some new attendees.
"We're pushing our ASBVs and we're looking at more consistency in our staple length and clean fleece weight are obviously important traits we're looking at," he said.
"Most importantly we're looking to present an animal that can handle all climates and is structurally square, with a nice big rear end."
Quality Livestock auctioneer David Whittenbury said there was a quality offering of rams, with a consistently high standard of rams throughout the offering.
"They're really good in the feet, carrying an adequate volume of bone, with bright white fibre, that's fairly commercial in it's micron, with really well nourished wools," he said.
"The sheep are probably as good as structural line-up as what people will find."
The sale was conducted by Quality Livestock.
