A total of 289 rams of the 363 offered sold for an average $2652.

The top-priced ram of the sale was a short wool Merino ram consigned by Robert Harding, Glendonald Merino stud, Nhill. A partnership of two Merino breeders from NSW's Monaro region fended off competition to secure the 15 month-old ram for $21,000.

It was the first time Michael Hedger, Snowy Plain Merino stud, Berridale, NSW, and Michael Green, Boudjah, Cooma, had purchased a ram at Sheepvention, but they decided the instant they saw the ram come off the trailer on Sunday, it was the one they wanted.

"It was its volume that first appealed to us and it is very well balanced," Mr Green said.

"And we're very confident his wool type will do well in our country and with his enormous barrel and growth, if his progeny are sold over the hooks or in the saleyard, with that kind of body, you'll ensure they're in the front lane.

"For the merino to continue, it's got to be a dual purpose animal."

Its fleece measured 18.7-micron, 15 co-efficient of variation, 2.8 standard deviation and 99.8 per cent comfort factor.

Vendor Mr Harding was confident the ram was "a great, good-doing sheep" with a tremendous barrel, but the interest (with bidders from throughout the eastern states) in the 115-kilogram, medium to medium/fine young sire and the eventual price fetched, well exceeded his expectations.

He said this dual purpose type ram would help clients tap into the stronger wool and meat prices. 

Although the future looked bright for sheep producers, Mr Harding said it was "precarious" for the stud industry, as the national Merino flock continued to shrink. 

"The body weight of Merinos has increased incredibly in 10 years; we've achieved terrific genetic gain.”

Landmark's stud stock specialist, southern NSW, Rick Power, said it was difficult to find a true medium wool ram with that wool quantity and carcase attributes in the one package.

Other sale highlights included a 23 month-old Langdene ram that topped the long wool Merino section at $14,000. It was purchased by brothers Ian and Robert Plush and Ian's son William, Kerrsville Merino stud, Colleraine.

A Willandra ram was sold for $12,000 to Grogansworth Merinos, Bowning, NSW, and Terrick West ram was snapped up for $10,000 to the Pickering family, of Western Australia.

The top prices in the Dohne section also steamed ahead, with Macquarie Dohne stud, Warren, NSW, offering two stud rams in its pen of five, that both fetched $10,000. Both rams were purchased by breeder syndicates.