Carcase and fertility on the radar as prices hit $20,000 at Reiland Angus

Commercial producers chasing growth, eye muscle area and positive fats pushed prices to $20,000 at the Reiland Angus autumn bull sale.
Interfaced with AuctionsPlus, the sale was hosted by the Lucas family at Killimicat Station, Tumut, on April 17 and drew 33 registered buyers.
A total of 66 bulls were sold under the hammer from the 73 offered to a top of $20,000 and average of $8333. Five bulls were sold immediately after the sale.
Repeat clients Ian and Marcus Clarke, Ournie, NSW, secured the top price bull, Lot 36 Reiland Tudor T956, an August 2022 drop son of Stoney Point Kingpin K211.
Weighing 832kg, Tudor had a moderate birthweight estimated breeding value (EBV) of +5.0, a 600-day weight of +149kg, eye muscle area (EMA) of +9.6sqcm, intramuscular fat (IMF) of +2.0 per cent, positive rib and rump fat, and positive calving ease.
Marcus Clarke liked the stylish young sire’s positive fats and exceptionally high growth for the family’s 400 cow autumn and spring calving herd.
“We also look at the milk on the maternal side for retaining heifers. He will be joined to the first calvers this autumn,” he said.
The Clarke family sold Reiland blood autumn drop steers weighing 396kg and aged 10 to 11 months in January on AuctionsPlus for $1460.
“We are looking for bulls with growth, intramuscular fat, positive rib and rump fat and calving ease to go over heifers,” Marcus said.
The second top price of $18,000 was reached three times with repeat clients Dick and Jenny Turnbull, Holbrook, purchasing Lot 5, Reiland Thorn T1261, Graham and Judy Houston, Houston Pastoral, Burrowye, Vic, taking home Lot 22 Reiland Thousand T343 and Proudford Agriculture, Narrawa, NSW, buying Lot 13 Reiland Target T914.
Thorn is an August 2022 drop son of Reiland Rosewood R290 and ranked in the top 2 per cent of the breed for eye muscle area at +14.4sqcm and had an IMF of +3.1 per cent. Reiland Angus reserved the right to collect semen in the young sire.

Mr and Mrs Turnbull purchased a total of five bulls. The couple were selecting bulls with positive or neutral rib and rump fat EBVs to boost female fertility in dry seasons.
“I liked this bull’s size, frame, weight, moderate birth, great 600-day weight, a big EMA and good IMF. He will be used in an AI program over heifers and second calvers,” Mr Turnbull said.
“The sale was good value buying for commercial people – it met the market and was reflective of what is happening in the cattle market.”
Sired by Murdeduke Quarterback Q011, Reiland Target T914 had a moderate birthweight of +4.3 combined with a 600-day weight of +134kg, eye muscle area of +13.3sqcm and IMF of +3.7 per cent. Reiland Angus reserved the right to collect semen.
Proudford Agriculture invested in a total of five bulls, selecting on moderate birthweight, positive fat and above average IMF and EMA. Their Reiland blood weaners averaged 327kg after seven days in the yards this year and are then finished on winter cereals to 500kg liveweight for entry to Stanbroke and NH Foods Whyalla feedlots.
Weighing 834kg, Reiland Thousand T343 was sired by Landfall Keystone K132 and ranked top 2 per cent for calving ease, had a birthweight of +2.5kg, 600-day weight of +133kg, and top 16 per cent for marbling at +3.8 per cent. Houston Pastoral also invested in Reiland Tab T1629 for $16,000, a bull ranking top 2 per cent for marbling.
Edward Aston, Thuddungra, outlaid $14,000 for Reiland Tooma T718, a well-muscled son of US sire Baldridge Goalkeeper and featuring above average 600-day weight, EMA, retail beef yield and structural soundness. Mr Aston also paid $14,000 for Reiland Theory T1166 who boasted a carcase weight of +79kg.
Mr Aston runs 400 Angus cows, a large cropping enterprise and opportunity feedlot at Thuddungra and Rankins Springs. He grows steers out to bullocks and recently sold 80 head averaging 760kg liveweight at 14 to 16 months of age to Teys Australia.
“I select heavy set, muscular bulls with calving ease, moderate birthweight, frame size and quick maturity. I grow the heifers out at Rankins Springs and bring them back to calve at Thuddungra,” he said.
Another repeat client Dougal Kelly, Wallah Pastoral, Rugby, paid $14,000 for Reiland Thunder T352, who ranked top 2 per cent for eye muscle area at +14.5sqcm. Wallah Pastoral bought a total of six bulls.

New clients, Nyrang Partnership, Gundagai, were transitioning across to Reiland and took home four bulls to a top of $7000. Existing client Tom Hughes, Bannister Station, Goulburn, bought three bulls to a top of $12,000, Scott and Maria Anderson, Anderson Agri Services, Tumbarumba, bought two bulls to $8000, Ellamatta Pastoral, bought three bulls to $7000 and Wokolena Pastoral, Kyeamba South, also three bulls to $7000.
Reiland Angus co-principal Mark Lucas was pleased with the sale outcome and onboarding of six new clients from Victoria, local districts and Queensland.
“We had some trepidation in the lead up with the season and there is no doubt a cloud over the beef industry still – we met the market and forecast wise, and buyers got a good article,” Mr Lucas said.
“We appreciate the loyal support and bidding. We have our sights firmly set on breeding bulls that will deliver profit.”
Guest auctioneer Brian Leslie complimented Reiland on presenting a consistent line of quality bulls.
“Past buyers return here so it is telling us the article does the job. An average of $8333 and a top of $20,000 is good for everybody considering the year,” Mr Leslie said.
“Producers will keep buying those good genetics which means when the market turns, they will have the right article to sell.
“There was a lot of competition online, particularly from Victoria.”
Duty agents were Elders Wagga Wagga and Tumut/Adelong.
Caption: The top price bull at $20,000, Reiland Tudor T956, with auctioneer Brian Leslie, Sam Lucas, Reiland Angus, Ian, Jessica and Marcus Clarke, Ournie. Images Kim Woods