Buyers at the Dunbogan Merino ram sale at Elong Elong had to dig much deeper into their pockets this year with the average price almost $1000 higher than 2019.
The Roberts family sold all 56 rams to average $2250, compared with $1254 last year, with a further 25 grade rams sold after the hammer fell.
A top price of $4000 was reached on four occasions with 23 buyers registering on the day, three of them new visitors.
Long term clients the Blackhall family, Cumnock, secured three rams for their commercial operation, including a top price sire, for a draft average of $3025.
With shearing taking place in the third week of August, the family recently sold their 17.9 micron white bright wool which averaged about five kilograms across the clip.
Colin Blackhall said Dunbogan provided rams with bigger bodies which allowed them to pursue a fat lamb market when needed or increase the wool clip.
Their core ewe flock is back to about 1200 to 1500 from the usual 3000 pre-drought.
"We have probably been trying to concentrate on fewer numbers but better quality," he said.
"We put Dorsets over the ewes we don't want to put Merinos over and that progeny is why we want big bodied Merino ewes because with the Dorsets we get another second tier of income."
Womboyne Station took home two $4000 rams plus another for a draft average of $3415 while first time buyers PJ and CA Sullivan also secured three topping at $4000.
G and E Caton purchased six rams to average $2000 but the volume buying honours went to Matt Suttor, Hargraves who purchased 14 rams to a top of $3000.
There was strong demand for sons of 17G25 who was by a Langdene ram purchased in in 2016.
The six sons exhibited tremendous early growth with a dense fleece to match and averaged $3125.
Stud principal Nigel Roberts said it was great to see demand for quick growth rates and heavy cutting fleeces in vogue.
"It was these types of sheep which attracted the largest demand," he said.
"Sheep sold from Hargraves/Mudgee through to Walgett in the west showing the versatility of the Dunbogan bloodline.
"The wools are long and free, whilst maintaining the density and weight on a sheep that exhibits fast growth."