ANDEN White Suffolk stud equalled the national White Suffolk record price of $36,000 at its 20th annual sale in Woomelang, Vic, on Thursday last week.
This price was first made in 2005 by a Detpa Grove stud ram.
Stud principal Andrew Donnan has been focusing on producing sires that can make outstanding contributions to the breed.
Their previous high was $28,500 at the Adelaide Elite Sale in 2008.
This year as many as 25 stud breeders made the trip to the Vic Mallee, probably sparked by Anden winning the interbreed trade weight and export weight lamb production pair of rams classes at the recent Adelaide Royal Show.
Sale topper Anden 140298, one of the winning trade weight pair, caught the eye of many stud breeders.
The August-drop youngster had performance figures of 17.42 post weaning weight, -0.84 post weaning fat and 1.97 post weaning eye muscle, culminating in a 214.49 Carcase Plus Index and a Lamb 2020 dollar index of 114.96.
He was sired by Burwood 110959 - bought in partnership with Detpa Grove in 2012 for $21,000.
Two bidders in particular were prepared to go all out.
Nathan Ditchburn, Golden Hills stud, Kukerin, WA, travelled with stud adviser Mark Edwards and Elders WA stud stock manager Tim Spicer.
Likewise, Ian Kyle, Ashley Park stud, Bairnsdale, Vic, saw the ram in Adelaide and felt it would work really well in his stud flock.
Mr Kyle's son Reagan was at the sale and on the phone to his father who had other commitments on the day, and with the pledged support of semen share partners in the Mullinger Park and Seriston studs, dug in for the bidding duel.
But it was Nathan and Julie Ditchburn who were more determined and won the battle.
"I haven't ever seen a ram that is so well put together, being beautifully balanced, having a great topline and an exceptional hindquarter and leg set. To support that, his combination of performance figures, especially the high growth and good muscling, made him a ram we just had to have to take us to the next level," Mr Ditchburn said.
He said the ram would be used in an extensive AI program, and naturally across about 80 ewes.
The performance levels of the Donnan family's sheep are exceptional as shown by all 21 specially selected White Suffolk rams being more than 200 Carcase Plus Index and 81 per cent of flock rams also at that level.
The second top price of $9000 was paid by the Hull family's Kattata Well stud, Port Kenny, which also bought last year's top price ram.
Anden 140310, with 220.57 Carcase Plus Index, was in the winning export production pair in Adelaide and also won his individual class.
SA buyers included Brian and Troy Fisher, Ashmore White Suffolk stud, Wasleys, who chimed in with two top buys at $5000 and $8000.
David Pipkorn, Detpa Grove stud, Jeparit, Vic, and Andrew Frick, Gypsum Hill stud, Padthaway, combined forces to buy a ram at $8000.
The 21 selected White Suffolk stud rams averaged $5905, up $3983 on last year's result.