Moora Hills top Poll Dorset ram bought by local Broadwater client

The stud, run by father and son Barry and Linton Price, offered 75 rams with 73 going under the hammer to average $1287.

It was the largest draft the duo had consigned for their 14^th sale, with the top-priced ram smashing last year's record by $200.

Moora Hills stud co-principal Linton Price said it was the best presented line of rams the pair had offered since purchasing the stud in 2007.

"They were very even and I think that's because of our genetics and the way we work on quality over quantity," Mr Price said.

The consignment of flock rams sold mainly to local buyers, along with one South Australian buyer and a handful of clients from the Edenhope district.

Eight rams were sold via online platform AuctionsPlus, including to a commercial client from Mount Gambier, SA who bought four rams.

The top-priced ram, Lot 20 200228, went under the hammer for $2100 and was bought by repeat buyer, Lynton Milgate, Broadwater.

The top ram was a twin sired by Bundara Downs 179552 out of Moora Hills 150127.

"He was a low birth weight ram, had a power of muscle and very close to positive fat," Mr Price said.

Mr Milgate said he had bought rams from Moora Hills for more than a decade.

"Being a terminal ram, he'll go over my self-replacing maternal ewes and the lambs from those ewes will go onto an abattoir," he said.

"The ram has magnificent structure, reasonable figures and a great rear end on him which is where a lot of your meat comes from."

Among the volume buyers were first-time clients RM & T Burger, Glenthompson, who bought eight Poll Dorset rams to $2000 for Lot 15 and $1900 for Lot 1.

Meanwhile, two other buyers from Cavendish and Tyrendarra bought six rams, respectively.

"The rams had a tough autumn and winter but the grass is growing now so as long as we keep getting a bit of rain, it'll be a great spring," Mr Price said.

"The only thing the rams were lacking was a bit of sunshine."

Representing agent South Grampians Livestock auctioneer Dylan Praolini said it was the second consecutive year the stud had achieved a high clearance rate.

"The rams are very reasonable buying with their shape and muscle, so the opportunity is there for people who are looking for underrated stock because they're starting to get the following they deserve," he said.