Several stud records tumbled and a national Border Leicester ram price record was set at SA ram sales in the past week.
The week's $23,000 highest price was paid for a White Suffolk offered by Troy and Nette Fischer, Ashmore stud, Wasleys, on Monday.
Bundara Downs principal Steve Funke - who bought Ashmore 190016 at lot 1 with Vic studs Booloola and Charinga - said he had been following the ram since February.
He described it as a "ram to change the breeding goal posts", as it had a Terminal Carcase Production index of 165, ranked in the top 1 per cent of Sheep Genetics' terminal database, with a great phenotype.
"It is a very proud ram, very correct and well muscled. An exceptionally good type and right up there with the figures," Mr Funke said.
In a total clearance, Ashmore's 14 stud rams averaged $5644 and their 189 flock rams averaged a sensational $2019.
The Fischers were rapt with the support for their performance based breeding program with bidding from four states.
Bidding also reached fever pitch at Johnos Border Leicester stud's 22nd and final ram sale, held at the Naracoorte Showground on Monday.
Johnos 290/19 set a new Australian breed record of $19,500, eclipsing the $18,200 previous best set in 2013 by the James family's Coolawang stud, Mundulla West.
The successful buyers were Boogas stud, Camperdown, Vic, and Cooinda stud, Gilgandra, NSW, with United States studs Hickory Grove and Vast Plains, Illinois, securing semen for their flocks.
It is believed to be the first time in nearly 20 years that Australian Border Leicester genetics have sold to the US.
Johnos' Jeff Johnson said it was a remarkable ending to 40 years of breeding.
"It is very humbling to know that people take an interest in your sheep and have the confidence to pay that sort of money and believe the ram will breed on," he said
"His structure is in the top four or five rams we've ever bred and he was in the top 10pc on both the indexes."
Mr Johnson said lot 7 had been a lucky omen for the stud with the $19,500 ram's sire Johno's 83/11 and their previous highest priced ram selling last year for $15,000 also at lot 7 so it was only natural that they would catalogue this ram at lot 7.
"Because of the 777 we've named the ram God's number," he said.
At their 76th annual sale last week, the Close and McLachlan families, Newbold stud, Gawler River, also produced a new $20,000 stud record, when one of their Poll Dorsets sold to Mary Burzacott, Mulgundawa stud, Mount Benson.
Newbold principal Bill Close said the ram was the "best overall sheep" ever bred by the stud.
"I thought he was probably a $20,000 ram, I'm just so pleased he got to that price, his figures and ability to produce quick growing lambs with a reasonable terminal body size is outstanding," Mr Close said.
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