Interfaced with AuctionsPlus, the sale was hosted on September 5 by the Lucas family at Killimicat Station, Tumut, NSW, and drew buyers from NSW and Victoria including several new commercial clients.
A total of 67 bulls sold under the hammer from the 78 offered averaged $10,149. A further five bulls were sold afterwards for a 92 per cent clearance.
Repeat buyer Graham Houston and his son James, Houston Pastoral, Burrowye, Vic, secured the two top price bulls at $26,000.
Reiland V-Mogul V941, a 626kg son of Pine View Mogul G241, ranked top one per cent on BREEDPLAN for Angus breeding indexes, and was a trait leader for calving ease, birthweight, 200- and 400-day weight, milk, days to calving and eye muscle area.
Reiland Angus retained a 50 per cent semen and marketing share in the young sire.
Weighing 752kg, Reiland U-Momentum U776 was sired by The Rock Momentum Q8 and ranked in the top one per cent for IMF (intramuscular fat) at +6.5 per cent, and is a trait leader for calving ease, gestation length, birthweight, milk and carcase weight.
Houston Pastoral invested in a total of 15 bulls for an average of $12,266.
James Houston was impressed with the growth, marbling, calving ease, temperament and maternal bloodlines of the two top sires.
He said Reiland bulls had proven their longevity and structural soundness within their large commercial herd.
“Industry wise, we are looking to hit 600c/kg for feeder steer prices. Rain in the north and the US indicators supporting the herd rebuild and export market result in a positive time,” James said.
Reiland co-principal Mark Lucas was happy with the sale result, considering the challenging seasonal conditions.
“It’s always hard to forecast where people’s sights are in terms of spending money on gene stock on top of purchased fodder and agistment,” Mr Lucas said.
“All buyers were 100 per cent committed beef producers and bid freely on the better end of the bulls. They were after calving ease, moderate birthweight, as much growth as possible and with carcase data at the top end bulls.”
Purchasing the second top price bull was repeat client Dougal Kelly, Wallah Pastoral, Rugby, NSW, taking home two bulls to a top of $22,000 for his spring calving 1600 Reiland blood cow herd.
The $22,000 Reiland U-Quantum U612, weighing 692kg and sired by Lawsons Quantum S5218, ranked top five per cent for eye muscle area at +12.0sqcm and top 10 per cent for calving ease and birthweight.
Volume buyer Matt Reynolds, Mt Hugel, Grahamstown, took home six bulls to a top of $14,000 for Reiland U-Brickyard U631, a son of US sire SS Brickyard and a trait leader for birthweight, growth, milk, days to calving and carcase weight.
Mr Reynolds has moved away from prime lamb production due to the workload to focus on beef, investing in Reiland commercial heifers to bolster his herd. He selected his new sires on gestation length, calving ease, low birthweight, high growth, eye muscle area and IMF.
Among the other volume buyers were Dick and Jenny Turnbull, Holbrook, with five bulls to a top of $11,000; Simon Locke, Book Book, four bulls to $12,000; Bruce Angel, Tarcutta, three bulls to $12,000; Russell Menzies, Mangoplah, two bulls to $9000; Tom Farley, South Tahara Park, Wagga, two bulls to $8000 and Scott Churchill, Wyangle, two bulls to $8000.
Auctioneer Brian Leslie said there was solid demand at the top end for the Reiland bulls and an outstanding average.
“The bulls presented well with some lots in the top one per cent of the breed and the sale drew new buyers from Victoria. It was a credit to Reiland and a good result overall,” Mr Leslie said.
Selling agents were Elders and Nutrien Ag Solutions with Brian Leslie, DLS Shepparton, as the guest auctioneer.
Reiland is now looking forward to the spring on-line bull sale of 30 lots on October 10.
