A top price of $12,000 was achieved for a Texel ram at the Gore A and P Association's ram fair last week.
The ram was sold by Sharon Paterson, from Waikaka, and bought by Andrew and Anna Laing, from Canterbury.
It was a very sound sale, particularly for the Romney, Perendale and Texel breeds, a PGG Wrightson spokesman said.
Maternal breeds were to the fore with quality rams being offered and sold throughout New Zealand, as well as for export.
The top-priced Perendale ram was sold for $10,000 by the Newhaven stud, from North Otago, and bought by John Hendrickson, from Dannevirke.
The top-priced Border Leicester, at $8000, equalled the record top price and was sold by Des Horrell, of Riversdale, to Roger Caird, from Timaru.
Lance Wilson, from Winton, sold a Coopworth ram for $5000, Trevor Potter, from Pukerau, sold a Poll Dorset ram for $2000, Don Maclean and Co, of Omakau, sold a South Suffolk for $2000 and the Punchbowl stud, of North Otago, sold a Suffolk ram for $5000.
In the Romney section, Guy Letham, from Ashburton, sold a ram for $5500, and Dave and Sarah Wyllie, also from Ashburton, sold a half-share in a ram for $5500.
Buyers from North Canterbury to Nightcaps purchased rams at the 10th annual Craigneuk ram auction in the Maniototo last week.
Vendor John Duncan sold 225 rams from 253, comprising Dorset Down, South Dorset, three-quarter Dorset Down-one quarter Southdown, Texel-Poll Dorset and halfbred rams, for an average price of $1018, up from $740 at last year's sale.