An on-property record of $26,000 was a feature for Simon and Melissa Male, Aberdeen Poll Dorsets, Henty when they offered 179 stud and flock rams at their 55th annual ram sale on Tuesday.
There was a complete clearance of all rams with the top priced, a twin son of Aberdeen 679-16 from a North Ulandi 23-15 daughter, bought by Brett Shepherd, Mullinger Park, Kybybolite, South Australia.
Mr Shepherd was a repeat buyer and had also used semen from selected Aberdeen sires in his breeding program.
"The ram is visually very correct and combined with a very balanced set of figures made him very attractive for use in our stud," he said.
"We think he is a ram who will take us forward producing good commercial sires and hopefully a few elite sires.
"He will also breed a good line of daughters."
Mr Shepherd recently had a successful ram sale and said it was important he reinvested in superior genetics for the benefit of his clients and the prime lamb industry.
"I want to help my clients stay abreast of the demand for red meat," he said.
The 118kg ram measured 3.5 for progeny eye muscle depth, 17.2 growth and was positive 0.1 for fat.
Mr Shepherd said they were important figures as they indicate growth potential with plenty of meat and doing ability.
Other stud sales included a twin son of Valma 97-15 at $10,000 to Warrawindi Farms, Penola, SA, a twin son of A679-16 at $12,500 bought by Moora Hills Poll Dorsets, Broadwater, Victoria and a twin son of A679-16 bought by Marocara Dorsets, Wongarbon for $9500.
Volume buyers included Burgess Rural, Henty who selected a draft of 18 sires for a $1488 average while Ben Robilliard, Old Junee bought 36 rams for $1605.56 average.
Vendor Simon Male said it was an unbelievable sale with prime lamb and stud breeders expressing confidence in the future of red meat. "It is encouraging to see the optimism through a tough season," he said.
The auction was settled by RLA, Wagga Wagga with auctioneers Michael Glasser, GTSM, and James Tierney, RLA, sharing the gavel.