*27 of 35 bulls sold to $12,500, av $6907
GOOD CLEARANCE: Landmark's Ray Attwell, the buyer of the top priced bull, Bruce Burnell, stud principal Sam Trovatello and Landmark's Peter Godbolt.
A near total clearance at Barfold stud Adameluca was part of what Landmark auctioneer Peter Godbolt says is an “outstanding result.
“The bulls presented in very, very good order, and for them to go to such a variety of areas, shows the strength of the Adameluca program.
“For the result, they have had, not much back on last year in very tough seasonal conditions was an outstanding result.
He said he felt this season’s sales had opened up a little stronger than he had initially thought.
“I thought they would struggle this year, with so many cows gone out of the system.
“But what we have seen so far, is people are willing to pay and get new genetics, fresh genetics, into their programs.”
Buyers were happy to step into the top end of the bulls, at all sales, and he said he hoped that would continue “and we get some rain, in the near future.”
The top priced bull was purchased by Bruce Burnell, Upotipotpon, for $12,500.
Adameluca Nevada N114 (ET), a July-2017 drop bull, was sired by Millwillah Elsom H283 out of Granite Ridge Alison G269 (AI).
The 19-month-old bull weighed 890kilograms, had an eye muscle area of 112millimetres, a P8 of 13 millimetres, rib of 10 millimetres and intramuscular fat of 5.6per cent.
Nevada was described as the first of four ET brothers, to sell out of G269.
The flush brothers sold for between $8500 and $12,000.
Mr Burnell said he had switched over from autumn and spring calving, due to the ongoing dry conditions.
He said he was running a herd of 140 now, “that’s just the way of the season.”
“I had previously been running Herefords, up to about six years ago, but it’s just a case of breeding what the market wants.
“They want ‘em black, you have to breed ‘em black.
“I just saw this bull and thought I would have a go.”
He said the bull may not go out for joining until Spring, but he might keep some semen, in the mean time.
“I saw the bull during Beef Week and I liked him a lot, I thought ‘that’s the sort of bull I need’.”
“I love his thickness, he walks well, he is a bull that, phenotypically, matches his figures.
“He has good length and softness, he has everything, he’s my idea of a good bull.”
Nevada had figures of a 4.3kg birthweight, 49kg 200-day weight, 91kg 400-day weight and 122kg 600-day weight.
Stud principal Sam Trovatello said the bulls presented very well and there was good feedback, from buyers.
Adameluca ended up selling all but one its bulls, by the end of the day.
Buyers came from the western districts, Mansfield and Gippsland.
“We are luckier than a lot of people,” Mr Trovatello said.
“We obviously all need the rain, but we’re not complaining, because there are a lot worse off than us.”
Landmark’s Ray Attwell purchased three bulls, two for $11,000 and a third for $12,000, for Warrnambool cattle producer Cragnor.
“He gave me three Angus bulls to bid on, and bought the three,” Mr Attwell said.
“He liked their pedigree, the figures behind them, and the way they walked when he saw them on the video.”
“I liked what I saw too.”
Cragnor would use the bulls in its commercial operation.
“I thought the prices were very, very strong, compared with last year,” Mr Attwell said.
