A bidding duel between two leading Merino studs on the Monaro pushed the top price for the 27th annual sale at Cottage Park, Cooma, to $20,000.
Mark and Jodie Pendergast with their sons Will and Charlie presented 111 Merino rams for the sale and were overwhelmed to realise a sale average price of $3904.55 for 110 rams sold.
Paying the top price was Simon and Kristina King, Avonside Merinos, Cooma, who that morning had conducted their own successful sale, and their determination overcame the bidding of Michael Hedger, Snowy Plain Merino stud, Berridale.
The son of Cottage Park 837 weighed 118kg and carried a fleece with the measurements of 138 greasy wool percentage (GWP), 19.1 micron, 3.2 standard deviation (SD), 16.6 co-efficient of variation (CV) and 99.6pc comfort factor (CF).
He also recorded 6 Pfat and 34.71sq cm eye muscle area (EMA).
Mr King considered his stud sire prospect was a very correct sheep, with tremendous size and outlook.
"He is square and with solid bone," he said.
"He has great wool production figures, a really strong sirey head, a lot of volume and very attractive."
Second top price at $9500 was paid by Michael Collins, Mt Bute Merino stud, Skipton, Victoria, and he was advised by Nutrien stud stock agent Rick Power.
The son of Yarrawonga 001 carried a fleece with the measurements of 130 GWP, 17.9 micron, 3.1 SD, 16.4 CV and 99.9 CF.
Mr Power said the soft handle of the elite fleece was the main factor in convincing Mr Collins, who has been looking for a new sire, to purchase him.
"It is a lovely soft wool with great handle," Mr Power said when opening and admiring the fleece.
"Michael asked me to keep an eye out for a suitable ram and I think this one will do a lot of good in Victoria.
"It is just so hard to find wool with this feel, and length of staple."
Third top priced ram at $7500 was bought by Peter and Robert Allen, Temora, who have been long standing clients of the Cottage Park Merino stud.
Their top pick of the catalogue in a draft of seven rams for average price of $5000 weighed 112kg, with carcase trait figures of 6 Pfat and 38.09 sq cm EMA.
The fleece of the ram measured 130 GWP, 18.4 micron, 2.9 SD, 14.8 CV and 99.2 CF.
"We liked his very plain body which was still carrying a heavy fleece," Peter Allen said.
"His wool is white and very soft with the right greasy tip and pencil staple ... on a ram with good conformation."
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus, and was conducted by Nutrien and Elders, Cooma, who settled the sale which was led by auctioneer Rick Power, Nutrien stud stock.
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.