*37 of 38 bulls sold to $40,000, av $12,162
*Total clearance of 18 females to $24,000, av $5700
Merridale's annual on-property sale was heavily supported by both stud and commercial producers, following a successful lead-up.
The stud announced the night prior to the sale that star lot - Lot 3 - had won Agri-Gene Angus Talent Quest, securing him a position in their 2021 Sire Directory with his successful purchaser to receive semen royalties.
"For Agri-Gene, he's a bull that is going to do a lot for the maternal Angus herd," Robert Onley, Agri-Gene, said.
"He's got power and performance as well as an awesome phenotype and lots of growth, which is shown on paper as well."
On sale day Lot 3 lived up to his success, being the top-priced bull of the sale, secured by Scott Finlay, Granite Ridge Angus, Avenue Range, South Australia.
The 23-month-old bull was an embryo transfer son of Topbos Leading Edge L292, and out of the Dream cow line.
He was in the top 1 per cent of the Angus breed for 200 and 600-day weight, and top 10pc or better for calving ease daughters (CEDtrs), 400-day weight, mature cow weight, eye muscle area and retail beef yield.
"Lot 3 was a stand out due to his red meat and his power, and everything else just matched up," Mr Finlay said.
The second top-priced bull - Lot 4 - was secured by Nick Franc, Francs Angus, Carranballac.
A full sibling to Lot 3, he also packed a good set of figures being in the top 10pc of the breed for CEDtrs, gestation length, 400-day weight and 600-day weight.
A further five Angus studs across Victoria and NSW supported the Tennyson stud.
In the females, Lot 47, the pick of the embryo transfer sisters, were brought forward in the sale to be secured by Hills View Angus, Colac.
The ET sisters were sired by Texas No Regrets N046, out of the Merridale Vicky D55 cow, with Graham Nowell and his son Luke selecting 47a as their pick.
"We've just started the stud, securing a female from the premier sale, and we needed another elite female to match," Mr Nowell said.
"We primarily selected this female because of her family, I was the losing bidder on the heifer's great-grandmother 20 years ago.
"We know the family we know what they produce, and starting out we need to have something elite to continue breeding elite females."
Agent Justin Costello, Costello Rural, secured 14 bulls in the sale for multiple clients in the Corryong area.
Merridale stud Principal Peter Collins was excited by the support received by other Angus studs securing his genetics.
"Lot 3 was a great honor for us, and a new record price for us, going to a good stud at Granite Ridge," he said.
"The other bulls that went into studs is just, real hot.
"Our everyday buyers, such as Costello Rural, Nutrien Euroa and TB White Ballarat, have always shown us huge support and continue to do so.
"I couldn't be happier with how the sale went."