Data-rich Poll Merino and White Suffolk genetics draw top dollar at Kaniva sale

A first-client paid top price for a Poll Merino ram at Hannaton's annual spring sale.

Hannaton, Kaniva, sold 87 of 100 Poll Merino rams to a top price of $8000, averaging $3028, and 73 of 76 White Suffolk rams to $3800, averaging $1964.

Todd Lawrence, Avenel, paid the $8000 top price for Lot 3 after seeing the sire at the Victorian State Merino Field Days at Marnoo last month.

Mr Lawrence said the ram "stood out from every other ram that was there".

"He's such a true animal with a really good frame," he said.

"They had 100 rams in the sale and he just stood out, the breeding behind him was really good."

He said the ram would be used in the family's self-replacing flock of 230 ewes to "diversify our genetics".

"He'll be put over our better ewes and we will breed rams out of him," he said.

The 18.6-micron ram was by Ella Matta 210170 and out of Hannaton Poll 230170.

The ram's birth weight (BWT) was 0.72 kilograms, his weaning weight (WWT) was 7.07kg, his post-weaning weight (PWWT) was 10.02kg and he had a yearling weight (YWT) of 12.42kg

His yearling eye muscle depth was 1.43 millimetres and yearling fat measurement was -0.14mm.

The top-priced White Suffolk, Lot 39, was sired by Gem 240031, and recorded a BWT of 0.32kg, WWT of 12.79kg and a PWWT of 20.6kg.

The ram had a weaning eye muscle depth of 3.04mm and a post-weaning eye muscle depth of 3.88mm.

Hannaton stud principal Jonno Hicks said the sheep job was "having a great time".

"It's a really positive time in the industry and it was fantastic to see our clients chasing those better indexing, high data rams," Mr Hicks said.

He said he had considered keeping the top Merino ram for Hannaton's stud program.

"We thought the Merino ram has real stud qualities, he had industry leading growth and fleece weights, with a low wrinkle."

"We were really excited to see him go into a commercial stud - he will get used there well.

"We have a lot of his brothers, we have had success with his father and have a lot of his genetics in our stud already.

"We can't keep them all."

Elders stud stock manager Ross Milne said rams went to three states, from South Australia's Eyre Peninsula to central NSW.

Mr Milne said the sale attracted new and established clients.

"I think they came along because of where the program is heading, with pretty strong commercial estimated breeding values for fertility, carcase and wool cut," he said.

"The figures have certainly improved every year and the program is evolving."

He said Merinos remained "very, very profitable" for fibre and meat production.

"And they will continue to be that way," he said.