VALUES reached new heights at the annual Royston on-property ram sale at Napier with three rams achieving a top of $2400.
There was plenty of food and refreshments available as buyers and onlookers huddled in the ram shed while it poured with rain outside.
There was an improved attendance compared to the previous year with 20 people registering to bid.
The offering from the stud looked a little different with the inclusion of White Suffolks.
At the end of 2020 the Forbes purchased a White Suffolk stud with this year being their inaugural selling of the breed.
The White Suffolks were sold first with the Prime SAMMs following immediately after.
A total of 90 rams were offered, with 81 selling under the hammer to average $1417.
Of that 32 out of 40 White Suffolks sold averaging $1234 and 49 out of 50 Prime SAMMs sold, averaging $1537.
The offering, clearance and average were all up compared to last year when 36 out 60 rams sold at an average of $944.
Bidding was consistent throughout the entirety of the auction and three separate Prime SAMM rams made the sale's top of $2400.
Elders Mt Barker, was first to bid $2400 for the lot 43 Prime SAMM ram with figures of 6.3 weaning weight (WWT), 7.6 post weaning weight (PWT), 0.9 eye muscle depth (PEMD), 0.4 Pfat and 99.5 per cent comfort factor (CF).
Elders successfully bid on two more SAMM rams for a total of three averaging $1800.
Next to pay $2400 was RF Pugh & Co, Narrikup, for the lot 64 ram with test results of 6.2 WWT, 6.5 PWT, 1.1 PEMD, 0.5 Pfat and 99.8pc CF.
The Pughs run a self-replacing flock of 8000 Merinos.
Clare King said that the ram had all of the right figures.
"It is our first time buying White Suffolks from the stud but we have bought White Dorpers from them previously," Ms King said.
"Specifically, the weaning weight and yearling weaning weight figures as well as the wool characteristics and micron were very good.
"It had some of the finest wool in the shed and had good eye muscle.
"We are aiming to maintain our wool quality while also chasing heavier lambs and early maturity.
"We will look to maintain some of the ewe progeny from the rams we purchased."
The Pughs purchased one more SAMM ram at $1800.
Finally towards the backend of the catalogue Jarrod Thorn, NI Thorn & Co, Tambellup, made the $2400 bid for the lot 86 ram with figures of 7.8 WWT, 7.4 PWT, 0.7 PEMD,
-0.2 Pfat and 99.8pc CF.
Mr Thorn said he ran about 2000 ewes which are mated to Prime SAMMs.
"The ram had very good figures," Mr Thorn said.
He paid $1700 for one more SAMM ram.
Paul Adams, PR Adams, Mt Barker, secured a team of 15 Prime SAMM rams paying a top of $2000 and an average $1653 to be the volume buyer of the sale.
Mr Adams runs 6500-7000 Merino ewes.
"The rams I purchased will be mated to some of my maiden ewes," Mr Adams said.
Another notable purchaser was DG Walker & Son, Mt Barker, who secured six rams at an average of $1150.
$2200 was the second top price and was paid by Prairie Nominees, Newdegate.
Prairie Nominees bought three more rams for an overall average of $1725.
Swandle Investments, Esperance, paid a top of $2100 and an average of $1625 for four rams.
In the White Suffolk portion of the sale prices topped at $1800 twice.
Amerillup Pastoral Co, Lower King, paid $1800 for the lot eight ram weighing 93kg with test figures of 43 EMD and 4.8 fat.
The operation purchased three more rams at $1700 each, for a total of four.
Next to pay $1800 was WJ Hunt & Co, Mt Barker, for the lot 11 ram weighing 91kg, 42 EMD and 5.1 fat.
WJ Hunt & Co picked up three more rams totalling four at an average of $1625.
Paying an average of $1163 for eight rams was Black Wattle Grazing, Mt Barker and Wemyss Estate also bought eight rams at an average $1150, while PC & WE Bessell-Browne paid an average of $840 for five rams, respectively.
Elders auctioneer Preston Clarke said it was an excellent sale.
"There were twice as many buyers compared to last year's sale," Mr Clarke said.
"The quality of the rams was outstanding.
"All of the rams had strong ASBVs and people acknowledged and appreciated that.
"The rams with the higher index figures drew more competition with those rams achieving around the $2000 mark," he said.
Stud principal Sandy Forbes said it was the first time they have sold White Suffolks so it was good to see people showing interest and purchasing as many as they did.
"There will be more White Suffolk rams next year and they will all have LambPlan figures to go with them," Ms Forbes said.
"I'm very pleased, we really appreciated the support from both new and returning buyers."
"It is our 18th year breeding SAMMs and we have found a good balance - so that the rams have nice white wools as well as good carcase traits and long-term clients have seen the benefits.
"It was good to see people appreciating the type of rams on offer - they had good muscling.
"The strong season this year has meant that there's plenty of water around which makes a huge difference when you're running livestock."