The Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School doubled their average price at the annual White Suffolk ram sale on Wednesday in what was one of the stud's best results.
As a result of the COVID-19 restrictions the sale was held solely online through AuctionsPlus with all 57 rams selling to average $2282 and top at $14,500.
It was well up on the $1136 average for 52 rams and top of $6300 last year.
Rams were bound for NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania with returning and new stud and commercial buyers showing their support.
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School Stud Manager Darren Smith said buyers were chasing low birth weight, high muscling and worm resistant sires with good meat-eating qualities.
More than 50 per cent of the offering were in the top one per cent of LEQ rams in Australia.
The restrictions meant that while some potential buyers were able to view the rams individually in person at open days before the sale, many conducted virtual inspections via video call, a first for the school.
Farrer 190001, a 13-month-old ram sired by SuperWhites ram Felix 170842, sold for $14,500 to a syndicate of Gemini in Victoria and Bundara Downs in SA.
This ram was ranked in the top five per cent for LEQ and had outstanding growth of 21.1 and muscle of 3.2.
The underbidders were Kurralea and Smithston White Suffolks.
The second-highest price rams, both selling at $5800, were Farrer 190111 and 190134, both sired by Felix 170761. Farrer 190111 was purchased by Ashley Park and Farrer 190134 was purchased by Pioneer White Suffolks, both of Victoria.
Other rams to which sold for more than $5000 were Farrer 190005 (sired by Farrer 140019) to Valma White Suffolks of Tasmania, Farrer 190012 (sired by Ashmore 150340) to Glen Gray White Suffolks of Goologong and Farrer 190200 (sired by Farrer 180273) to Berkley White Suffolks of Rowan.
Fletcher International Exports of Dubbo was the volume buyer, purchasing eight rams averaging $1588, while local buyer Ben Tongue of Loomberah purchased six rams averaging $1100 and Rowan Cleaver of Nyngan purchased 6 rams averaging $900.
Mr Smith thanked Garvin and Cousins who were the agents for the online sale.
He said the Farrer year 10 Animal Management students did a superb job preparing the rams from birth to sale readiness.