Fertility and carcase top bucket list as buyers pay to $30,000 at Reiland

Above average maternal traits combined with carcase were on the bucket list for commercial beef producers at the Reiland Angus 2024 spring bull sale on September 6 with prices topping at $30,000. Interfaced with AuctionsPlus, the sale was hosted by the Lucas family at Killimicat Station, Tumut, NSW, 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, Glenn Innes, NSW, 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, 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. 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,” Mr Whale said. “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 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, 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. The $20,000 Reiland Ticket T1641, by US sire SS Brickyard, was a curve bender from top 20 per cent for birthweight, at +2.8kg through to +131kg for 600-day weight, plus positive fats and an intramuscular fat at +2.9 per cent. Reiland Angus reserved the right to collect semen in the bull. He will be used in a broadscale heifer AI progam. Wallah Pastoral also outlaid $16,000 for Reiland Tatum T393, weighing 806kg and with a scrotal circumference of 44cm. “I was looking for bulls with a balanced data set – no extremes but covering marbling, growth and maternal traits,” Mr Kelly said. “The Reiland maternal traits and fertility put us in good stead and enable us to hit our target weights for feeder steers. What really keeps us coming back is the fertility which is one of our main profit drivers with heifers and cows getting back in calf. “We run our cow herd quite hard, and these cattle can stand up to being pushed along. We turn off feeder steers and also trade steers finished on cereal crops. “I liked Reiland Ticket for his good data set, phenotype, structure, and feet. We will use (Ticket and Tatum) in our AI program over 500 heifers resulting in a shorter calving window and being able to pick the top end genetics for spreading over many females.” Repeat clients Edward and Peta Proudford, Proudford Agriculture Company, Nawarra, NSW, purchased five bulls to a top of $15,000 for Reiland U-Patriot U143. Edward likes to select bulls on birthweight and 600-day weight followed by eye muscle area and intramuscular fat. The family recently sold 2023 spring drop Reiland blood steers averaging 470kg to Whyalla Beef Feedlot, Qld. Tom Farley, South Tahara Park manager, Wagga Wagga, took home five bulls to a top of $12,000 for Reiland Tawny T391. Tom was selecting bulls for both a heifer and cow joining with positive fat and recently turned off Reiland blood feeder steers averaging 430kg to Thomas Foods International. Among the volume buyers were Houston Pastoral, Burrowye, three bulls to a top of $20,000, Bruce Angel, Broula Merinos, Tarcutta, with three bulls to a top of $11,000; Angus Waugh, Goobarralong, with two bulls to $12,000, Wokolena Pastoral, Kyeamba South, two bulls to $10,000, Mount Hugel, Grahamstown, two bulls to $12,000, Taranee Pastoral, Tarcutta, three bulls to $13,000 and Rochedale Livestock, Adelong, three bulls to $8000. Selling agents were Elders, Nutrien Ag Solutions and Ray White GTSM with Brian Leslie, DLS Shepparton, as the guest auctioneer. 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. The sale will be linked with AuctionsPlus and I do believe the time is right for a quality female sale,” Mr Lucas said