AN EVEN line of Merino rams at the Bungoona Merino ram sale was greeted by local return buyers that helped push prices to a $2700 top today at Molong.
Overall the O'Keeffe family sold 25 rams to average $1444.
Regular buyer, Donald Macfarlane from Eurella, Cudal, purchased the $2700 sale topper to use within his self-replacing flock.
Joining around 1200 ewes, Mr Macfarlane said he chases an average micron of 18 to 19, but he has cut back his numbers in the drought.
"I bought four rams today, but the lot one ram just caught my eye and I liked everything about him," he said.
The Bungoona 785 horned ram was by a Bungoona sire. Tipping the scales at 94.5 kilograms with an eye muscle depth (EMD) of 35mm and fat depth of 5mm, he measured 18.1 micron, 2.4 standard deviation (SD), 13.5 per cent coefficient of variation (CV), 100pc comfort factor (CF) and 116pc greasy fleece weight (GFW).
Vendor Adrian O'Keeffe said he was a well balanced ram with frame and good wool.
Mr Macfarlane was also the equal largest volume buyer on the day taking home four rams to average $1675.
The second top-priced ram, Bungoona 1251, sold for $2400 to the Brazier family from Euchareena.
With a body weight of 93kg, the polled ram was 18.5 in the micron with an SD of 2.8, CV of 15.1pc, CF of 100pc, GFW of 116pc, an EMD of 33mm and a fat depth of 3mm.
The Braziers also purchased another ram for the third equal top-price of $2200, in total putting together a draft of three rams for a $1867 average.
Locals Barham Pty Ltd, Molong, was the other largest volume buyer that snapped up four rams for a top of $2000, to average $1450.
LA. and ML. Gibson of Manildra was another major buyer who bought three for a $1300 average.
The sale was conducted by Schute Bell Badgery Lumby with Jason Harton, Narromine, as the auctioneer.