SPRING has delivered higher averages and near-total clearances for terminal and Merino ram studs.
Buyers delivered a sound result at this week's second joint sale of 99 Keri-Keri and Australian Meat Merino rams, near Moulamein, NSW.
Keri-Keri principal Andrew Dowling was pleased to see his average leap almost $350 on last year, while Dr Jim Watts' AMM rams averaged $28 more.
The 54 June-July Keri-Keri rams averaged $1379 and the 45 June-July AMM rams averaged $1689 in a 100 per cent clearance.
Mr Dowling said the sale, conducted under the helmsman system, was stronger than expected and drew newcomers as well as regular buyers.
Martin Cash and his son, Martin, of Port Kenny in South Australia, and Tim Mulholland, of Noorong in NSW, paid the equal top price of $4100.
Meanwhile, demand for polled Merinos with fat, muscle and growth resulted in a "cracker" of a sale for Riverina breeder Andrew Bouffler.
The Lockhart Poll (Bond) and White Suffolk ram breeder had a total clearance of 156 rams to $7000 last week.
"It's simple - people are rebuilding flocks and having a rethink about how they will rebuild," Mr Bouffler said. "The industry tells us we need Merinos with more fat, muscle and growth."
New client Artunga Partnership, at Branxholme, paid $7000 for a 100kg, 22.5 micron, May-2010 drop polled ram.
Wirrani Pastoral Company, Narrandera, took home 16 polls to a top of $1900, while Gooden and Smoker Partnership, Lockhart, bought 19 White Suffolk rams to $1100.
In the meat sheep, Narrandera Poll Dorset ram breeder Graeme Hibbard found demand equally as strong.
Buyers were also out for wool sheep at the Bundaleer Merino sale at last week's Walla Walla, in NSW. Co-principal Tanya Lieschke said 85 rams sold to a top of $2400, and averaged $918.
