There was a complete clearance of the 2017-drop Merino and Poll Merino rams offered by the Litchfield family of Hazeldean at Cooma during their 'Best of the Best' sale last Wednesday.
The 33 rams averaged $3454.
The top price of $13,000 was paid by B.E and N.A Tremain, Yeoval, for a Poll Merino by 11003542 Hazeldean Hugh while the top Merino ram price of $6500 was paid by B and M Rudd, Dalgety, for another Hazeldean Hugh son.
The sires on offer had been reserved prior to the Spring 2018 ram sales to complete a second stage fibre test in early December.
"Their data is highly accurate," Bea Litchfield said.
"The team is a product of the Hazeldean Merino breeding program, which continues to focus on the primary drivers of proven productivity and soundness and has experienced a significant boost in the past few years due to the adoption of DNA testing and influence of Hazeldean Super Sires including Hazeldean Hugh."
Ms Litchfield said the offering was a tribute to Hugh, with 25 direct sons and five grandsons.
"We were very happy with the sale," she said.
"There was a lot of interest in rams with relevant and profitable data."
Top price buyer Brett Tremain, who was a long time client of Hazeldean, was very happy with the production of his flock at Yeoval.
"We keep our wethers for two or three shearings, depending on the season, and the wool cut across our flock is very good," he said.
"I was attracted to the son of Hugh for his figures … his actual figures matched the ASBVs."
Those ASBVs were 30.44 per cent for yearling clean fleece weight (YCFW), 204.24 MP+ with fleece measurements of 17.6 micron, greasy fleece weight of six and staple strength of 42.78 when shorn on December 5.
He was in the top one per cent for MP+ and top 10 per cent for YCFW.
Mr Tremain was concentrating on rams with high figures and Hazeldean Hugh had proved himself, being top of the indexes for Merino performance. It led him to purchase a second son for $4250.
Other strong prices for Hugh sons included $5250 paid by Tony Flannery, Harden, for a horned ram and $5000 paid by Curwin Maclure, Tarcutta.
Shaun Beasley, Lindenow South, Victoria, paid $5250, while Andrew Sheridan, Bengworden, Vic, secured a ram at $5250.
Volume buyers included Alex Wilson, Goulburn, who bought three for a $2583 average. The auction was conducted by Paul Dooley.
