Buyers chase Reiland genetics to $16,000 top

GTSM auctioneer Lincoln McKinlay and Reiland co-principal Mark Lucas with the top price bull, Reiland Norseman N818, bought by Graham and Judy Houston, Towong Pty Ltd, Burrowye, Vic, for $16,000.

Beef producers chasing high growth bulls with carcase paid to a top of $16,000 at the Reiland Angus autumn bull sale on Tuesday.

Held on-property on April 9 at Tumut by the Lucas family, the sale drew 27 registered buyers from the Upper Murray, Riverina, NSW southern slopes, NSW southern highlands and central Victoria.

The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus, with six bulls sold via the on-line bidding platform. A total of 55 bulls sold from the 64 offered to a top of $16,000, gross of $347,000 and average of $6310.

Reiland Angus co-principal Mark Lucas was “over the moon” with the result, saying the sale was underpinned by repeat commercial buyers plus new clients from Victoria and NSW.

Repeat clients Graham and Judy Houston, Towong Pty Ltd, Burrowye, Vic, outlaid the top price of $16,000 for Lot 23, Reiland Norseman N818.

Sired by Esslemont Lotto L3, the July 2017 drop bull weighed 840kg and was out of Reiland New Design L924.

Norseman ranked on BREEDPLAN in the top five per cent for intramuscular fat at +3.2sqcm, top 10 per cent for 600 day weight at +125kg and had a grain index of +$152. Towong Pty Ltd bought four bulls averaging $11,000, with Graham and Judy also investing in seven bulls averaging $7357 for Houston Pastoral, Burrowye.

Holbrook Breeders Australia donated a $500 credit towards semen collection for the top price bull. Mark Lucas said buyers were looking for balanced performance figures combined with lower birthweights.

“They are wanting that growth and the carcase to go with it – any bulls making money were +2.5 IMF and above,” he said.

“Fortunately we have the program humming along well with eye muscle, and buyers didn’t have to compromise at all in that respect.

“Where’s the beef industry going to be with a sniff of rain?

“I see boom times coming around the corner – anyone who can hold their cow numbers and we get an autumn break, there is a big area of NSW unstocked.”

Repeat clients Gordon and Leigh Paton, “Canberra House”, Corryong, secured the second top price bull, Reiland Ned N250, for $14,000.

The April 2017 drop bull was sired by Reiland Hilary H874, weighed 982kg, had a scrotal circumference of 43cm.

Ned ranked on BREEDPLAN in the top 5 per cent for 600 day growth at +131kg, top 4 per cent grain index at +$167 and top 2 per cent for scrotal at +3.5cm.

Leigh Paton said the family looked for high growth bulls with good 600-day weights for producing steers to finish off grass to bullock weights for JBS Australia.

Mr Paton said the Upper Murray had experienced a good autumn start and he had sown 100 ha of oats and ryegrass.

Repeat buyer Glenn Lucas, Taranee Pastoral Co, Oberne Creek, paid to a top of $11,000 for three bulls.

Mr Lucas described the sale as solid. “I was looking for low birthweight heifer bulls with positive fat,” he said.

“It has been a tough season but I haven’t fed out any fodder.”

Gavin Hodge, Ballandry Pastoral Company manager, Strath Creek, Victoria, invested in three bulls to a top of $7500.

“I was wanting all round balanced bulls to go over Angus and black baldy cows to produce feeder steers for finishing off grass to 450kg,” Mr Hodge said.

“I select bulls with a short gestation period, good eye muscle area and intramuscular fat. “This is one of the best line up of bulls I’ve seen for a long time.”

New clients, Vicki and Caddie Dixon, Tudor Valley Limousins, Braidwood, NSW, selected Reiland Nash N213 for $5500.

“We wanted a bull to go over Limousin and Angus heifers with good muscle and length to produce steers to turn off at 320-350kg,” Vicki said.

She said the Angus-Limousin females were retained and rejoined to Limousin bulls. Elders Stud Stock manager Victoria and Riverina Jenni O’Sullivan said the sale clearance was strong considering the prolonged drought.

“This was backed up by a good strong average,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

“Buyers were selective and looking for good conformation and carcase supported by the right figures with mature cow weight in the right place.

“Commercial producers showing the support they did today reveals the confidence they have in the Reiland program.”

Riverview Wallah, Rugby, NSW, bought three bulls to a top of $10,000, Coolong Pastoral, Hay, took home two bulls to a top of $6000, Marcus Clarke, Ournie, bought two bulls to $8000, Bruce Angel, Tarcutta, two bulls to $4000, Brungle Angus, two bulls to $4500, M & A Pearce, Adelong, two bulls to $5500 and Oldbury Farm, Sutton Forest, two bulls to $6500.

Special guests at the sale were New Zealand Angus breeders, Peter and Penny Hoogerbrug, Kaharau Stud, Gisborne.

Sons of two of their donor dams selected for embryo transfer programs for Reiland by Wrightson stud stock agent Kevin Ryan were in the sale.

Mrs Hoogerbrug said the package of 60 embryos was selected on phenotype and calving history, and the couple was excited to see the genetics on the ground in Australia.

Reiland Angus will hold a private treaty bull sale on Wednesday, May 22.