Two Rock-Bank Merino sale toppers 'some of the best rams' stud has ever bred

Rock-Bank's highly sought-after Merino genetics saw Victorian rams sell as far as Western Australia and Tasmania in another very successful sale for the Merino and Poll Merino stud.

The stud held its annual on-property sale at Victoria Valley on Monday where it sold 39 of 40 rams to average $3615.

The two most coveted rams of the sale, lots 36 and 35, topped the sale at $17,000 and $16,000, respectively.

Rock-Bank stud principal John Crawford said they were two of the best rams he had ever bred.

"I was hoping they would both go to studs, and I'm happy that's where they've ended up," Mr Crawford said.

The $17,000 ram was bought by Wurrook Merinos, Rokewood, while the $16,000 ram was knocked down to Rangeview Merino stud, Darkan, WA.

Mr Crawford said the top ram was the most balanced ram he had ever bred.

"He's got everything - the wool, carcase, the way he walks," he said.

"He is a 10 out of 10 put-together sheep."

He said the $16,000 ram had great skin and "freaky" staple length.

"He had a brilliant skin and a massive length of staple," he said.

"It was the most magical wool you've ever seen.

"Rangeview has been using our bloodlines for 10 or 15 years."

Mr Crawford said they were "over the moon" with the results of the sale, but wanted to make sure their long-term clients were looked after.

"Our sale got a bit too dear for some of our long-term clients who have been supporting us for a long time," he said.

The stud reserved around 25-30 extra rams which were available for purchase after the auction.

"Every one of those extra rams sold too - we've got nothing left," Mr Crawford said.

"We have a very close relationship with all of our long-term clients.

"So we always have a few more rams out the back in case someone missed out."

He said they had good clients "scattered through Tasmania".

"They do a very good fine wool job down there," he said.

The largest volume buyer of the sale was long-term client and commercial producer Kevin Wild, who operates near Ararat.

Mr Wild picked up 11 polled and horned rams.

"Kevin has been with us a long time, and he always buys the top-end rams," Mr Crawford said.

"He was buying the biggest, heaviest rams he could get with constitution and high-quality, superfine wool.

"He's got an excellent flock of sheep and he's had three or four top wool prices this year with them."