Sensational result at Ashmore

More than 50 per cent of the rams offered at the on-property sale on Monday ranked in the top 10 per cent on the Carcase Plus index. And every ram ranked above the industry average of 173 on the index.

So, while Brian and Rhonda and Troy and Nette Fischer offered 20 more rams in their 23rd annual production sale, the selling team had no problems enticing plenty of bids for a full clearance of 156 sireds.

The average across the sale rose by $334 to an impressive $1480, with a wide range of bidders from Kangaroo Island, the South East, Eyre Peninsula, Mid and Lower North and Vic.

Buying the top price ram at $3400 was return buyer Dean Dunsford, Keith.

The ram ranked 218 on Carcase Plus and 117.9 on the Lamb2020 index. It also measured 10.8 for weaning weight on Lambplan, 16.6 for post-weaning weight, 3.0 for post-weaning eye muscle depth and -50 for worm egg counts.

Mr Dunsford also bought another ram at $2500.

Buying the second-top price ram at $3300 was another return buyer Trevor Kennet, Murray Bridge.

The ram ranked 207 on Carcase Plus and 116.4 on Lamb2020.

Volume buyer on the day was Quality Livestock's Mark Dyson, buying for his Springmount property at Hindmarsh Tiers.

"It's the first time I've bought at Ashmore, but for the past couple of years I've been studying their figures and watching what they were doing from a commercial point of view," he said.

"I'd heard a lot of good feedback on what they were producing at the stud, and I thought I'd come along and look for myself.

"The figures on these rams are just exceptional."

Mr Dyson bought 16 rams to $2100. He also bought lot 24, which went for $2000, with the proceeds donated by the Fischers to the Ronald McDonald House charity.

Another volume buyer was another repeat client David Heinjus, Pareta Farms, Freeling, with 12 to $1900.

John Day, Boundrina, Reeves Plain, was another return bidder, taking 11 to $1100.

Troy Fischer said it was a great result for the stud.

"For 25 years the focus of our breeding program has been on performance, and that's why a lot of people came here today - they know the rams are going to perform," he said.

"We cover a broad range of traits, such as birth weight, weaning weight and worm egg counts, and all with a performance focus.

"This year was certainly our best sale and it reflects that we're producing what our clients want and also the buoyancy of the lamb job at the moment. Our clients are doing very well out of their lamb enterprises, so they're investing in good genetics."