Figures from the New England Merino ram sales provided by the Sheep CRC this week show that Merino rams with ASBVs achieved a premium of around $400 a ram compared to those without at last year’s on-property sales.

The Sheep CRC has asserted that producers selecting rams with ASBVs have achieved a 3 per cent to 4pc increase in genetic gain within their flocks.

At the New England on-property sales, Merino rams included in the Merinoselect program sold to a clearance rate of 82per cent, compared with 72pc for non-Merinoselect rams.

Average prices varied from $1376, with values, compared with $901 for those without.

The uptake of ASBVs - which are used to compare the genetic potential of animals independently of environment and location - has spiralled in the past five years.

Wagga Wagga livestock consultant Craig Wilson, of Craig Wilson Livestock said the days were gone where people selected sheep visually and hoped for the best.

"The Merino of the future has high performance genetics,” he said.

Elders Premier Wools Services manager, Tom Henry, Walcha, agreed.

“Most people are now using breeding values as a ram selection tool to some degree. They provide insight into how an animal will perform and confidence in knowing how an animal will breed,” he said.

“ASBV usefulness and accuracy is being enhanced with the massive volume of performance data coming from the Sheep CRC’s Information Nucleus flocks, and with this information available to industry soon, savvy sheep breeders are getting involved.”

Mr Henry said the uptake of breeding values in the past five years had resulted in some “big gains” and accelerated productivity within the Merino industry.

“Woolgrowers are decreasing micron, maximising clean fleece weight and maintaining body weight - while ensuring structural soundness through inspection.

“Also, they’re now assessing wrinkle score breeding values in order to select animals that won’t need mulesing but will retain fleece weights.”

Sheep Genetics Australia figures show there are three million animals from 1000 Australian flocks on its database.