For the second time in three years South Australian Polwarth stud Mount Alma has blitzed a highly-competitive field to win Supreme Australian Long Wool Exhibit at the Australian Sheep & Wool Show at Bendigo.

The upstanding 22.5-micron, 2.5-year-old ram was given the nod from nine long wool breeds by Argentine judge Jim Sama, who is regarded by many as one of the world's best sheep judges.

Earlier judged grand champion Polwarth ram, the Mount Alma ram continued Ike and Carolyn Ashby's six-year reign of the championship.

The ram from the Coonalpyn and Victor Harbor-based stud was later sold to Streanshalh stud, Campbell Town, Tasmania.

"He is a big ram with a good straight back line, lustrous white wool and a good deep body and he is breeding lustrous wool in his lambs," Mr Ashby said.

In 2006, Mount Alma also took out the supreme long wool exhibit with another ram which was also in the final line-up in 2007 and was eventually sold late last year to Uruguay for $12,000.

Australia's largest sheep and wool show continues to grow from strength to strength since relocating from Melbourne to Bendigo in 2000.

There were about 2200 sheep, 470 fleeces and 250 trade exhibitors.

More than 20,000 people flocked through the gates over the three days – up 10pc on 2007 numbers.

South Australia's 30 sheep, goat and alpaca exhibitors proved their genetic worth on the national stage bringing home a swag of broad ribbons.