For their 2020 annual Poll Merino sale, Stephen and Carol Higgins, Woodpark Poll, Jerilderie penned 140 rams for auction.
Of those offered 137 sold to top of $13,000 and average price of $3455.
Top price at $13,000 was paid for a son of 16058 by Tupra Pastoral Co, Oxley.
The fleece of the ram measured 19.1m, 2.8 SD and 99.9 percent CF, while MerinoSelect Index production measurements included 10.8 yearling weight, 166 DP and 177 MP (all in top five percent of MerinoSelect Index).
Tupra Pastoral principal Fergus McLachlan said if you want to improve the quality of your flock you have to buy from the best.
"Woodpark Poll genetics have done extremely well in the Peter Westblade wether trial and those numbers don't lie," Mr McLachlan said.
"We want to breed the best sheep we can and when you benchmark against the best industry standard we know our flock improvement is real."
Second top price at $11,200 was paid by Michael Corkhill, Grassy Creek Merinos, Reids Flat.
The son of top performing Woodpark Poll Merino sire 16525, he had the very attractive fleece measurement of 16.5m, 2.7 SD and 99.6 percent comfort factor: his performance measurements included -2.1 yearling fibre diameter (in top ten percent MerinoSelect Index), 154 MP (in top thirty percent) and 17.9 (yearling clean fleece weight).
When opening the sale, stud co-studmaster Stephen Huggins noted the production results from Woodpark Poll Merino clients excelling in the largest commercial Merino trial, the Peter Westblade Merino Challenge.
After 16 years and more than 400 flocks entered in Australia's largest sheep genetic evaluation, the combined Woodpark Poll-blood flocks have had the highest combined fleece and carcase value of all bloodlines.
"We are very proud of the rams which are a delight to present," Mr Huggins told the assembled buyers.
"They have done very well through a good season.
"The Peter Westblade results are a great validation of their fleece quality and carcase characteristics."
The sale was settled by Elders, Jerilderie with auctioneers Nick Gray (Elders) and Peter Godbolt (Nutrien Ag Solutions) taking the bids.
Full sale report this week.
Have you signed up to The Land's free daily newsletter? Register below to make sure you are up to date with everything that's important to NSW agriculture.