Sensational Saltbush crack $4000 average at White Dorper ram sale

It was a sale for the record books for Saltbush White Dorpers at Port Augusta on Thursday, with an average nearly $2000 more than 2025.

This year's sale resulted in an average of $4256, a significant increase on last year's result of $2460.

All 119 rams offered were sold to a top of $7400.

A number of highs were noted throughout the sale, but it was lot 57 which caused a stir among bidders, with South Gap Station, Kate and Paul Greenfield, the eventual winning buyers.

Sired by Saltbush 210388, Lot 57 weighed 94.5 kilograms, had ASBVs of +6.53 for weaning weight, +4.32 for maternal weaning weight, +11.44 for post weaning weight.

Saltbush White Dorper stud principal Jamie McTaggart said it was a very strong sale and exceeded expectations.

"Demand seems to be growing for good animals supported by data," Mr McTaggart said.

"There seems to be a lot more people, and looking back through, the money came for the sheep with the right figures

"It's a bit overwhelming really, the support was incredible."

The McTaggart family have data recorded since 2007 and been on Lambplan since 2010.

Mr McTaggart said it's always been something he has believed in.

Nearly 20 years later and he said people were now leaning into that data when purchasing their animals.

"There's a lot of work in it and we have been doing it for a long time, but it seems to be a bit of a reward for effort these days."

Buyers came from throughout northern South Australia, southern central Qld, central west NSW, WA and local areas.

"We had people turn up that we had no idea about, who paid good money for rams," Mr McTaggart said.

"I think it comes down to word of mouth and the figures that we present, they are supporting good animals."

All rams were paddock reared and although they came through drought conditions, the rain earlier this year allowed for an easy finishing period with no supplement feeding.

Mr McTaggart said the 13-month-old rams had great appeal, weighing between 80-100 kilograms.

This year, the McTaggart family donated the proceeds of lot 60 to Dolly's Dream, this ram made $3400.

The sale was conducted by Nutrien Ag and interfaced with AuctionsPlus, with Gordon Wood as the auctioneer.

Mr Wood said the rams were presented "incredibly well" and weren't overdone, carrying just the right amount of weight and muscle to be appealing.

"We had the same number of registered buyers as last year, the key difference between last year and this year is the season, as well as some confidence in the sheep and lamb industry," Mr Wood said.

"It was a tremendous result and incredibly solid."