It was the most rams ever offered by Trigger Vale, a 20 head increase in each breed on last year, but an overall clearance rate of 98 per cent showed the demand was there.

"We had this vision 20 years ago about what a Merino might look like," Trigger Vale stud principal Andrew Bouffler said.

"To have rams sold into the wider Merino seedstock industry as future stud sires, just means our vision and our type of sheep, with a real focus on polled, dual-purpose, non-mulesed and easy care genetics is being sought in the wider industry.

"I think it validates our breeding program, which is very satisfying."

The top price of $18,500 was a huge record for the stud, and a jump of $8300 from the top price of $10,200 achieved last year.

The sale-topping Poll Merino ram was bought by Phil Edwards of Pindari Bond stud, Yerong Creek.

He was by Trigger Vale 170423 and had a 18.7 micron along with a post weaning weight (7.7), yearling weight (9.2), yearling eye muscle depth (3.9) and fat (1.7) values in the top 5pc of the breed. Mr Bouffler described the ram as "bulletproof" and said he was in their top 10 for the year, just missing the cut as one of the eight sires kept by the stud themselves.

"He had extraordinary staple length, he wasn't extreme in anything but he was very good in everything," Mr Bouffler said.

Purchaser Mr Edwards said it was their second time buying rams from Trigger Vale and the top-seller was the one they had their eye on this year.

"I liked his outstanding make and shape, long, crimpy wool, he stands up well," Mr Edwards said.

The second top-priced ram was just behind at $17,500, paid for a son of Trigger Vale 170478 by Ulingala Pastoral Company, Wellington.

Mr Bouffler said the July-drop ram was out of a ewe lamb and would usually be sold as part of that cohort later in the catalogue, but was brought to the front given his impressive growth for age, tipping the scales at 88 kilograms.

The twin-born ram had 18.9 microns, a post weaning weight of 9.3, yearling weight of 11.1, yearling EMD of 3.5 and yearling fat of +1.9.

He was one of 15 rams with ewe lamb dams offered and the group sold for an average of $3713.

The third-highest priced ram was the first lot of the day, a son of Trigger Vale 160095, sold to for $14,000 to Kamora and Netley Park Poll Merinos, Karoonda, SA.

"I'm really happy he's going to be measured and bench-marked in another seedstock operation," Mr Bouffler said.

"His dad 160095 has been an unbelievable breeding ram for me and the only reason Trigger Vale didn't keep this bloke for our own future breeding program was the stud was getting top heavy in this bloodline."

The top 20 Poll Merino rams sold for an average of $8150, but there were still rams to suit most budgets throughout the draft.

The highest-priced White Suffolk ram was purchased for $3600, by Phillip Bouffler, Trigger Vale, Lockhart.

The White Suffolk draft included six individual lots, which sold for an average of $2800. The rest were sold with the option to purchase the pair.

Volume buyers included local clients Sunbury Park, Lockhart who came away with 11 Poll Merino rams, for a top price of $11,500 and average of $5472, and three White Suffolk rams, all for $2000.

Clutterback, Edenhope, Vic bought 12 Poll Merino rams, and the Perryman Family, Brookdale operated strongly in both breeds, securing 11 rams.

Greenpark Pastoral, Rand, were one of the volume buyers in the White Suffolks, purchasing seven. While, Coonong, Urana came away with six White Suffolks.

There were 80 rams sold on AuctionsPlus.

The sale was a team effort between Elders and H Francis and Co, with Nick Gray and Matthew O'Connor, Elders selling the Poll Merinos and Alex Croker, H Francis and Co selling the White Suffolks.