Dohne genetics were in hot demand during the Alfoxton ram sale on Monday where one buyer alone accounted for almost a third of the 70 head offering.
Armidale's Chris and Cindy Clonan labelled their draft of 2021 dual-purpose rams the best they had ever offered and at least 28 boasted body weights over 100 kilograms.
Almost the entire offering was sold under the hammer with 68 rams cleared to average $2360 and top at $4250.
Mr Clonan told buyers before the sale that they had been working hard on breeding nourishment without compromising carcase.
He spoke of a client at last year's sale who secured two rams averaging $1500 and had recently sold the entire four-and-a-half-month-old wether drop for a $162 average.
The marketability of the breed was a key factor for many buyers at the sale including Alistair Michele of Lochallan at Warialda who secured the top price ram along with another four for a draft average of $2700.
His most expensive purchase of the day was a "standout" that weighed 110 kilograms, had a raw fibre diameter of 19.1, greasy fleece weight of 8.6 and an eye muscle depth of 30.
The Michele family run Poll Merinos and Dohne cross and had been buying from Alfoxton for five years with a focus on body type, carcase and white, bright wool in his 2021 purchases.
"We got into it to get a better carcase sheep, but try not to lose too much of the wool," he said.
"Our sheep go all over; we kill them, we sell them privately, and paddock sales.
"We don't have any trouble selling them."
At least 22 of the rams or 31 per cent of the catalogue found a home with Ian Uebergang of Oakhurst Partnership at North Star for a draft average of $2852.
Mr Uebergang is no stranger to the top price or bulk buying honours at the sale and said the Alfoxton rams presented quite superior to others he had seen.
Given the rams were bound for harsher country, structure was critical in his selections.
He agreed the marketability of the breed was only becoming more apparent.
"(Dohnes) are renowned for not having a lot of fat and you don't want to sell fat," he said.
"I had some great sales during the year and we have had some pretty tough times until only a few weeks ago. We got rid of a lot of stock, we didn't want to but we had to and we got some great prices so that's what we look forward to."
Bucknell Grazing, Bukkulla, secured 13 head averaging $2346.
The sale was handled by CL Squires and Co with Robbie Bloch in charge as auctioneer.