Above average maternal traits combined with carcase were on the bucket list for commercial beef producers at the Reiland Angus 2024 spring bull sale last Friday with prices topping at $30,000.
Interfaced with AuctionsPlus, the sale was hosted by the Lucas family at Killimicat Station at Tumut and drew buyers from NSW and Victoria including several new stud and commercial clients.
A total of 67 bulls sold under the hammer from the 70 offered for a 96 per cent clearance and average of $10,209.
Among the new clients were Greg and Sally Chappell, Dulverton Angus at Glenn Innes, securing the top price bull for $30,000. The rising 16-month-old Reiland U-Recharge U23 was sired by Dunoon Recharge R102 and out of the famed Braebell cow family.
The 666kg young sire ranked on BREEDPLAN top 15 per cent for calving ease, a breed average birthweight of +4.5kg, 600-day weight of +144kg, an eye muscle area of +8.9sqcm, top 5 per cent for intramuscular fat at +4.6. Reiland Angus reserved the right to collect semen.
Dick Whale, Independent Breeding Services of Wangaratta, secured the bull for Dulverton Angus and said the stud had been selecting bulls on a combination of BREEDPLAN data and Igenity Beef genomic profile.
“All the Reiland U bulls were tested using Igenity Beef and U-Recharge was the highest indexing bull,” he said.
“His sire Recharge is doing a good job in the industry and his grandmother was the $25,000 high sell cow in the Reiland 50th anniversary sale.
“Many recent sales have struggled on clearance and to sell 67 bulls for $10,209 is very good. These strong phenotype bulls found their mark. People like to have carcase but as long as the bulls are sound, free moving and with adequate muscle, it suits them. I like to see yield in cattle as well as carcase attributes.”
Reiland co-principal, Mark Lucas, was humbled with the sale result following a challenging winter to prepare bulls.
“According to industry pundits, in spring 2026 people will be selling the steer progeny of the bulls bought here for 30 per cent more than what they are today,” Mr Lucas said.
“We have come through the dark phase and now there is a positive outlook for the industry as we move through recovery.
“Relative to the areas under seasonal constraint, including northern Victoria and the Upper Murray, it was an exceptional sale. I respect the no nonsense program of Dulverton Angus and see their purchase of an elite young Reiland sire for use in their genetic program as a feather in our cap.
“It was clear the commercial buyers were looking for breed average birthweight and calving ease, growth at least 20 per cent over the average and balanced carcase data.
“It appears that IMF or EMA were considered equally and it’s up to us to keep our genetics in that zone where we are driving better carcase yet retaining positive fats.”
Purchasing the second top price bull was repeat client Dougal Kelly, Wallah Pastoral at Rugby, NSW, taking home eight bulls to a top of $20,000 and average of $12,375 for his spring calving 1600 Reiland blood cow herd.
Among the volume buyers were Houston Pastoral at Burrowye who bought three bulls to a top of $20,000.
Reiland Angus is now looking forward to the second annual spring online sale on AuctionsPlus of 35 autumn drop bulls on Friday, October 11, followed by a Reiland genetics female sale at the Gundagai saleyards in early March 2025.
“Clients with surplus females will be calculating their matings now and are asked to register their interest,” Mr Lucas said.
“The sale will be linked with AuctionsPlus and I do believe the time is right for a quality female sale.”
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 12 September 2024.
