The Pfizer Animal Genetics team that is taking orders for the groundbreaking test has said Merino and Wiltipoll producers can have clarification if sires are carrying two copies of the poll allele – a homozygous poll – at a price from $55-$80 if at least 90 sires are tested at the same time.

It is the first SNP-based (Singular Nucleotide Polymorphism) test to hit the sheep industry, after its widespread success in the dairy industry enabled dairy seedstock producers to increase their herd’s productivity by being able to predict an animal's genetic merit without the need for extensive and time-consuming progeny testing.

SNP-based testing assesses 50,000 SNPs – individual pieces of DNA - across the whole genome.

Pfizer Assistant director clinical trials Deborah Collins said the new test had garnered "substantial interest" and two runs of the test had been carried out since its November release.

As sheep producers started realising the benefits of SNP technology, Ms Collins said they should stay alert for further breakthroughs which are destined to hit Australia "soon".

The research has been validated in two sheep populations involving multi breeds in New Zealand and in a group of Australian Merinos, with an accuracy of greater than 99 per cent.

The validation of HornPoll came as Merino producers at the North East Merino February ram sale showed a clear preference for Poll rams, paying an average $1200 premium for them over Horn rams.

Across Australia there are 362 registered Poll Merino studs, compared with 716 Horn studs.

“There is certainly genuine interest in Polls as producers are realising the value of a dual-purpose animal and are going down that path,” said Elders studstock specialist Ross Dickinson.

The combined Toland and Kilfeera Park North East Merino sale at Dookie College on Wednesday resulted in 26 of 30 rams selling to a top of $2500 and average price of $1060.

Top priced ram buyer Don Price, from Bramburra, Cavendish, said he hunted down the Toland Poll sire for its meat composition.

“We breed rams and he will be a major player in our switch from horn to poll Merinos,” he said.