*122 of 130 rams sold to $4000, av $1992
Strong demand boosted competition at last month's Nareeb Nareeb Merino and Poll Merino annual ram sale.
Buyers flocked from across Victoria and Tasmania to get their hands on a large selection of rams on offer.
The Nareeb stud recorded a 94 per cent clearance rate offloading 96 Poll Merinos and 26 Merino rams to more than 20 buyers.
Nareeb Nareeb stud principal Richard Beggs said his family had been holding the on-farm sale for more than four decades.
"We've been running our ram sales for about 40 years now ... we were one of the first studs in Victoria to start running on-property ram sales in the 1970s," he said.
"It was a good, strong sale and the depth of quality in our rams meant that buyers didn't have to chase any particular ram because there were plenty there for everyone."
Buyers from the Western District and Wimmera were strong throughout the sale.
"Our average was down a bit but we sold more rams this year ... a lot of it is about clearance and we were happy with our clearance rate this year considering we put a bit more in," Mr Beggs said.
"We had a very dry start to the year but the second half has been very good; since the middle of May we've had good, consistent rainfall.
"We grew grass this winter and in previous years it was too cold to do that and along with the spring rains, our pastures are bulking up a bit which is great and has made a difference."
Western District Pastoral Company was the largest volume buyer, purchasing 22 Poll Merino rams.
George and Nick Mills, Panshanger, Longford, Tasmania bought 20 Poll rams and Damien Meagher, WISS Woolbrokes, bought 16 rams for several clients.
Henry Smith, Cressy House Estate, Tasmania walked away with 12 Poll Merinos.
The top-priced ram was purchased by Simon and Anna Greene, Karingal Enterprises, Elmhurst.
"It's bold, has high fertility and the engine room is all good," Mr Greene said.
"It has breeding values for where we're heading in terms of fertility, wool cut and carcase and it did stand out due to its big frame, clean face and nice crimped wool.
"We're going to put it over our two-and-a-half-year-old ewes and then we'll do a progeny valuation on that ram."
It was the third year the Karginal Enterprises has purchased rams from the stud, taking home a further two rams after buying the top-price ram in this year's draft.
"Nareeb Nareeb are very good to deal with and their rams and breeding objectives are along the same lines as ourselves in terms productivity, carcase weights and genetics," Mr Greene said.
Elders Hamilton auctioneer Ross Milne described the sale as "solid" and was pleased with the strong clearance recorded.
"To sell over 120 rams with a modest top and an average of almost $2000, it was a very good commercial sale," he said.
"We're having a very good season up here and most of the sales have been getting good clearances, however, in some cases prices have been back on a very high average last year."