The sale negotiated through Landmark was finalised this week and marks the end of two decades of fine wool breeding for Grass Valley breeder Norman Roe, but also presented as a rare opportunity that the Edmonds family didn't overlook.

The sale consisted of 400 1.5-year-old to 4.5yo stud ewes, 230 ewe lambs and 156 ram lambs, with approximately 20 per cent polled.

Norm Roe established the Mannalea stud in 1989 with the purchase of mated cast for age stud ewes from the Pooginook stud situated at Jerilderie, NSW.

A number of stud ewes were also purchased from the Lefroy family's Moora-based Colvin stud, which at that time had been on Pooginook bloodlines for 10 years.

During its 21 year history, Mannalea had gradually built up its numbers based on either sires purchased from or sires homebred on Pooginook bloodlines.

The Poll Merino family was introduced in 2006 and polled sires from the Westerdale and Rhamily studs have been the driving bloodlines.

Norm said the reason for moving out of the stud was the combination of concentrating more energy on grain and prime lamb production and the farm's next generation not interested in continuing the stud.

Although it was an emotional decision, Norm said the stud couldn't have gone to a better bloke than Bruce.

"Bruce is a full on Merino man and I certainly recommend my clients to follow the stud," he said.

"The Glen-Byrne stud is only up the road and this is most important to clients looking to the future."