Hamilton stud records its highest sale average yet, offering over 400 rams

Chrome Sheep Studs recorded its highest ever average for their Chromedale rams in what the stud principals called one of their "best sales yet".

Chrome stud principals Matthew and Tanya Tonissen said it was their best ram sale for at least the past three years.

"It was an exceptionally good sale," Mr Tonissen said.

"It's right up there with our top sales."

The sale offered 439 rams across four breeds and sold 390 for an average of $2096 and a clearance rate of 89 per cent.

In the breakdown, 238 Chromedales rams sold to full clearance for an average of $2733, while 66 of the 87 ICON Southies averaged $1157, 23 of 24 ICON 25s averaged $1282 and 63 of 90 ICON Poll Dorsets averaged $970.

"The Chromesdales are our flagship breed," Mr Tonissen said.

"They're a self-replacing maternal composite.

"We've been breeding them for about 20 years."

Two Chromdale rams achieved the equal top price of $4100.

Both top-priced rams were bought by the Grant family, who run a commercial operation at Pigeon Ponds in western Victoria.

"They have been long-term clients and their young ewes are really highly sought after," Mr Tonissen said.

He said due to the evenness of their Chromedale ram offering, the top-priced rams weren't huge outliers in the sale.

"I think it made it hard to differentiate between the sheep because they are so even," he said.

"We're all about uniformity of type and consistent lines of breeding.

"There were quite a number of rams that made in the high $3000 range.

"It's great to see people recognising and appreciating that uniformity."

Mr Tonissen said he believed the strength of the sale came from clients wanting to rebuild their flock numbers post-drought.

"It's a nice relief because the last two years have been tough enough going in the stud job," he said.

"That has been more of a reflection on the season in western Victoria more than anything.

"The other reason I think is because there has been a bit of a swing of the traditional first-cross ewe buyers deciding to breed their own replacements now."

The rams were sold into three states with clients spanning across Victoria, South Australia and NSW, with most clients focused in a 100-kilometre radius of the Hamilton-based stud.

"There was plenty of competition from the south-east of South Australia," Mr Tonissen said.

"We had a lot of local support."

The sale also saw between 5-10 new clients.