POLLED Merino rams with carcass attributes were in demand at the North East Merinos summer sale last week.
The sale, held at Dookie College for the first time, resulted in a top price of $2500.
Two studs, Toland, of Violet Town, and Kilfeera Park, of Benalla, offered 30 polled and horned rams, and 26 rams were sold.
The sale average of $1060 was well up on last year's $628.
Most of the rams sold to North East buyers, although several lots were booked to the Western District and Flinders Island.
Don, Cheryl and Karl Price, of Cavendish, paid the top price of $2500 for an 18.5-micron poll Toland ram, which had been judged the champion of the sale.
The Prices run their own Bramburra Merino stud, selling flock rams locally, and are moving into polled genetics.
They also use Dohne-Merino ewes, in place of first-cross ewes, joined to terminal sires.
"I was looking for good, stretchy polled rams that were well covered and with the right fat cover," Mr Price said.
"I thought the sale was strong, with good buyer competition."
Vendor Phil Toland said buyers wanted heavier, fast-growing polled rams.
"There is money in sheep with the numbers running out," he said.
North East Merinos president Murray McKenzie said the move from Benalla to Dookie College had been a success.
"It's a great day. The lamb and mutton market is flowing into the ram sales," he said.
Secretary Ken Heal said several studs had withdrawn from the summer fixture due to management logistics.
"Perhaps it needs to be revisited now the sheep industry is at the top of the pile," he said.
"The new venue has proven a success, with at least 100 visitors.
"The feedback has been all quite positive."
Among the other major buyers at the sale were J Earl, from Cavendish, with 10 rams at an average of $600, and Fox Pastoral, at Merton, with three rams that sold to $1900.
