The $15,000 Towalba ram will form the basis for a new stud at Mr Starks property ‘Fernwood’, Bathurst.

Mr Stark had previously held a stud, but sold it out because of Ovine Johnes disease.

With his new acquisition, Mr Stark is planning to start again.

“I bought that fellow to help me relaunch again,” he said.

“As a top sire he’s the sort of thing I’m looking for.

“He’s such a big ram, he’ll cut a lot of wool, and he’s very correct when he stands.

“I went a bit over what I wanted to pay but he’s such a good sheep.

“They don’t come along everyday, these fellows, and when they come along you’ve got to get them.”

The 140kg and 20.7 micron ram was bred by Peak Hill stud Towalba, and was the off-spring of renowned stud ‘JCandS 16’.

At the National Sheep Show, the ram was awarded the Champion Medium Wool Sale ram of the Show, as well as the Grand Champion Sale ram.

Towalba co-principal Warick Kopp said the ram would make an outstanding sire.

“He’s a very correct medium wool ram with an excessive wool cut,” Mr Kopp.

The second-top price of the day was for a Nerstane ram, from the McLaren family in Woolbrook, via Walcha, which sold for $10,000 to Terry Dolbell, of Rockley.

The sale grossed a total of $198,300, averaging out at $3,305 for the 60 rams sold.