Reiland
*60 of 68 bulls sold to $18,000, av $7117
PRODUCERS chased curve-bending bulls with growth and carcase at the Reiland Angus spring bull sale last Friday.
The Lucas family’s Tumut NSW-based stud drew 44 registered buyers from NSW, northern Victoria and Gippsland.
Repeat clients Tom and Chris Hughes, Bannister Station, Goulburn, NSW, paid the top price of $18,000 for Lot 14, Reiland Melrose M78 (ET). The March 2016 drop Reiland Gangman G581 son weighed 813kg, and had a scrotal circumference of 41cm. It had BreedPlan figures of +130kg for 600 day weight, +4.7kg for birthweight, and ranked in the top five per cent for carcase weight at +72kg.
Bannister Station, which runs 700 breeding females and turns off feeder steers at 450-500kg, also bought a full ET brother, Reiland Miracle M118, for $7000. Its manager Mark Boileau said M78’s growth figures were exceptional.
“He has style, breed character and plenty of muscling,’’ Mr Boileau said.
“We have been buying Reiland bulls for 25 years – we have had good feedback from feedlots, the female fertility is good, we have no trouble getting over 90 per cent conception rate in the cows and in the high 80s in the heifers.”
Reiland co-principal Mark Lucas said the stronger presence of low birthweight bulls in the sale encouraged the commercial buying strength.
“The low birthweight had to be linked with decent growth and good carcase,’’ Mr Lucas said.
The second top price of $16,000 was paid by John Fleming, Wagga Wagga, NSW, for Reiland Lyons L1045, a August 2015 drop son of Silveiras Conversion 8064. Reiland Angus retained 50 per cent semen and marketing rights in the bull. The 863kg bull ranked in the top two per cent on BreedPlan for eye muscle area, retail beef yield and feed efficiency.
Mr Fleming also outlaid $9000 for low birthweight sire, Reiland Murrumburra M272.
Graham and Judy Houston, Houston Pastoral, Burrowye, celebrated the purchase of their 100th Reiland bull, after using the genetics for two decades. The couple paid to a top of $15,000 for a total of five bulls on the day for their 2400 cow herd. Mr Houston chose bulls on birthweight, 600 day weight and intramuscular fat.
“Our breeding herd runs in steep country and we keep a close eye on fertility with neutral fat,’’ he said.
“The first draft of our spring drop 2016 steers are off to the feedlot and they will weigh 480-490kg at 12 months – we are getting huge average daily gains.
“We have been slowly increasing our herd and need around 20 bulls a year.
“We sold 950 calves last year with only three not making the grade, so there is no real tail in the herd. This is helping with selling surplus heifers – it gives us serious lines of cattle to sell.’’
The Houstons recently sold PTIC second calving Reiland blood females on AuctionsPlus for $2650.
Volume buyers included Dougal Kelly, Riverview Wallah & Co, Rugby, NSW, with three bulls to $11,000.
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus for the first time, and also raised donations for the mental health awareness charity, RUOK?
The winner of a trip to Beef 2018, Rockhampton, was James Chant, Oldbury Farm, Breadalbane, NSW. He bought four bulls to $9000.
The sale was conducted by Landmark, Elders and GTSM.