The 29 catalogued stud rams averaged $6810, with 24 going to registered breeders; the other five snapped up by alert flock ram producers. There has only been one higher average in Detpa Grove's history for this draft - that being in 2003 when a new national record of $35,000 was set and two rams exceeded this year's top.

The 149 flock rams also sold exceptionally well, topping at $2600 and averaging $1559. The only time that has been exceeded was two years ago when the flock ram draft averaged $1621.

The sale began with the offering of 59 superb quality stud ewes with 54 of these finding new homes, topping at $1600 three times and averaging a very solid $852. There were ten successful bidders on this draft, including two via Auctions Plus.

Long-term stud supporters of Detpa Grove, the Kyle family, Ashley Park stud, Bairnsdale paid the $1600 equal top price on two occasions in putting together a line of seven very good ewes at an $1143 average, later adding the lot 80 stud ram, DG180207 for $6500. Paula and Elle McDonald, Hopea stud, Dadswell's Bridge also went to $1600 for one of six ewes they purchased at a $950 average.

The volume buyers though were Nick and Kate Wadlow, Old Ashrose stud, Hallett, SA who combined a ram delivery trip of their merinos with calling in to inspect the Detpa Grove sale stock. They will add 14 of these outstanding ewes to their stud, paying to a top of $1000 and averaging a great value $686.

The much-anticipated stud ram offering followed, with 30 stud breeders from four states and overseas among 77 registered bidders at the sale, plus 55 more registered via the Auctions Plus network.

It was the buyer of last year's $26,000 top priced ram, Roger Wilkinson, Camborn stud, Pooncarrie, NSW and buying through Elders Mildura who struck the first blow when he successfully bid $6000 for DG 180275, sired by the $20,000 (half share) Baringa Magnum 16W300. Used in the Detpa Grove stud as a ram lamb, this was the ram Roger specifically came to buy.

However, it was DG 180324 Triplet, offered two lots later that caught more than just his eye. Sired by AI sire Warburn 160048, a ram purchased in 2017 by the Shillabeer family for $16,000, this ram certainly captured the eyes of many pre-sale. With balance, excellent type, skin and hair, plus exceptional carcase attributes, it didn't take long for the bidding to heat up. Roger placed the winning $32,000 bid and was pushed by Clive and Deb Shillabeer who were bidding on behalf of the breed's only USA registered breeder Gary Heilig, Montana, who started his stud with Detpa Grove ewes and the Shillabeers' well known ram, Wingamin 'Trifecta'.

Backing the outstanding phenotype was its equally impressive list of Lambplan figures, highlighted by a weaning weight EBV of 12.5, a post weaning weight of 19.94, fat of -0.59, eye muscle depth of 2.07, plus the highest C+ index of 225 and equal highest TCP index of 154 in the draft. Detpa Grove is retaining a semen share in this ram for stud use, while Roger Wilkinson said they were open to selling some semen packages if anyone was interested.

Of very similar type and by the same sire, plus being not far behind on Lambplan figures with a C+ index of 220 and TCP index of 153 was the very next ram offered, DG 180291. This ram was purchased by William Peck, Bayview Downs stud, Mundulla, SA for the second top price of $25,000. William was the biggest volume ewe buyer at last year's sale when he purchased 15 ewes.

Denam Carter, Ridge Top stud, Albany, WA connected via phone to successfully bid $15,000 for arguably the most appealing ram in the catalogue for phenotype in DG 180729, also used in the stud as a ram lamb. So exceptional was this ram's early growth that it didn't fit the Lambplan grids, hence the confusing and somewhat meaningless figures it was given by Lambplan were irrelevant.

Western Australian breeders have been a more prominent stud ram buying force in the eastern states than most this year, with three other WA bidders securing new stud sires. Keith Ladyman and Jill Clarke, Kantara stud, Dumbleyung and Stacey and Rob Bush, Rhos Gwyn stud, Mt Barker both purchased classy and high performance rams late in the catalogue at $4000 each, but it was John Stephenson, Millinup stud, Porongurup, WA who was one of three buyers in this sale who went to $10,000 to get their selection. This was for DG 180154, sired by DG 140300, with a C+ index of 214 and TCP index of 145.

Charles Rowett, North Ulandi stud, Marrabel, SA also paid $10,000 for his preferred ram, the long and upstanding DG 180643, sired by DG 170421 and with C+ and TCP indices of 205 and 147.

A very appealing late August drop ram, DG 180811 Triplet, sired by DG 160717 Tw took the eye of quite a few lookers pre-sale, but it was Brett Shepherd, Mullinger Park stud, Kybybolite who was the most determined in his bidding and also outlayed $10,000 to get him.

Leroy and Rohan Hull, Kattata Well stud, Pt Kenny, SA latched onto another exceptionally good ram in this sale, in DG 180629, the only other ram apart from the sale topper that Detpa Grove is retaining a semen interest in. Sired by DG 160297, the growth for age of this long, deep and powerful 16-month-old ram was clearly evident for all to see, his weight being in excess of 170kg. Backing up that growth were top figures that included 19.75 for post weaning weight (the highest in the catalogue) and indices of 211 (C+) and 145 (TCP). To be able to pick this ram up for $9000 was terrific value.

SD Symonds through PPH&S Naracoorte went to $7500 for DG 180833Tw, while KJ Nunn P/L, Ballarat and the Hicks family, Hannaton stud, Kaniva both purchased two rams each at averages of $4750 and $3250 respectively.

In the 20 specially selected rams and the 129 flock rams that followed the stud ram draft, the commercial prime lamb producers were also strong in their competition. Thirty-eight of these topped $2000 while just 23 sold under $1000, the latter ones late in the catalogue.