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Les Hampton, owner of the LBT Gelbvieh ranch in Craig, isn't comfortable negotiating prices for his bulls in private treaties.

He always wonders whether he got the best price.

Auctions, such as the North West Colorado Bull Sale held Saturday in Hayden, attract a variety of sellers and tend to reflect the true market, he said.

"I'd rather bring it here and have the market determine the price," Hampton said as potential buyers perused his Gel--bvieh bulls at the Routt County Fair--grounds. "You either walk away happy or sad."

Hampton was among about 26 ranchers, most from Routt and Moffat counties, who sold their bulls at the sale, which was organized by the Community Agriculture Alliance and the Colorado State University Routt County Extension Ser--vice.

The groups initiated the sale three years ago to promote the local cattle industry by connecting sellers with local buyers and some from as far as Wyoming, Utah and Nebraska.

Extension agent C.J. Muck--low has said that any future auctions likely would be contingent on buyers' and sellers' overall satisfaction with prices Saturday.

The auction was the most successful yet, with 41 bulls and about 15 heifers selling for $95,175 -- about $25,000 more than last year's sale of 44 bulls.

The average sale price this year, $2,900, also was an im----provement over last year's average of about $1,600.

"I feel good about what happened here today," said Marsha Daughenbaugh, executive director of the Community Agriculture Alliance. "We're in good shape."

Like many ranchers, Tommy Rossi of Yampa typically sells his black angus bulls by word of mouth and private treaty, but the auction is a good way to talk to a lot of commercial and purebred buyers at once, he said.

"Basically, it's just a better way to market my bulls and get my name out there," Rossi said, adding that the event also is a good way to connect with other producers.

"In a sense, you're competing with them, but if they like your cattle, they might mention you to other buyers," he said.

For buyers, the auction provides convenience and a good selection, important factors for any purchase.

"It's just easy," buyer Kathy Smith of Hayden said. "There are some good bulls here."

Almost all the bulls in the auction are raised in Northwest Colorado or elsewhere on the Western Slope, so buyers know the animals they buy, and plan to graze in the mountains, are adjusted to higher elevations.

"They are acclimated to this area, and they do really well," Smith said.

An animal's veterianarian-assigned pulmonary arterial pressure, or PAP score, is among factors buyers consider when bidding. They also consider a bull's genetics, including its bloodlines, as well as its birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight.

Ideally, the bulls will have a small birth weight for easy calving and then put on pounds quickly, Smith said.

The bull sale wasn't all serious business. Participants such as Hampton also saw the event as an occasion to socialize and reconnect with other ranchers in the Yampa Valley.

"It's an interesting environment," Hampton said. "It's kind of a fun day and social time, too."

-- To reach Tamera Manzanares call 871-4204 or e-mail tmanzanares@steamboatpilot.com