Riddellvue Angus bull sells for $15,000 to first-time buyer

A full clearance of 28 bulls sold to the 50-strong crowd last Wednesday at the Whanregarwen property near Alexandra.

Bidding was competitive across the sale catalogue with a good showing of new buyers, along with strong interest from repeat clients both locally and across the state, including visitors from the Yarra Valley and Gippsland.

Riddellvue Angus stud principal Ian Bates was pleased with the full clearance and the very solid average.

"That's definitely the best I've done," he said.

"Normally autumn is a bit stronger than spring but it's a reflection of the strong times in the cattle industry, and they were a good well-balanced group of structurally correct and good footed young bulls."

Mr Bates said the sale attracted many returning clients looking to repeat their previous success.

"They know what I'm doing works for them, the bulls last because of the types of genetics we have invested in," Mr Bates said.

"The grand dam of Lot 7 is still an active cow in our breeding program (and) these bulls do a good job in the paddock and clients get the rewards at the weaner sales."

While many sold to returning clients, the top-price bull, Lot 7 Riddellvue Rover R2, sold for $15,000 to new buyers, Waterham Pastoral Company, Pembro Estate, Glenburn.

The same buyer also snapped up Lot 3, Riddellvue Roberto R1, for $13,000.

Stock manager Peter Sier described Lot 7 as a nice, soft bull with good confirmation and reasonable figures.

"I think he will grow out to be quite a nice bull," he said.

"I'm happy with the purchase and Ian was over the moon with the sale."

Mr Sier said it was the first time he had looked at Riddellvue bulls and indicated he would return in the future.

"Bull prices have been going extremely well so we thought we'd try a new seller rather than just the bigger sales," he said.

Making the second top-price was Lot 12, Riddellvue Ramrod R32, selling for $14,000 to the Parsons family, Mansfield.

Manager Vaughan Semler said he had chased earlier bulls in the catalogue but was outbid.

"We had our eyes on a few others and unfortunately we had to pay more, but it's good for the industry that things are going so well," he said.

The Parsons family has been a regular buyer from the stud.

"They have nice well-balanced bulls with good figures that suit our conditions beautifully," Mr Semler said.

"They're born in the area so they're used to the climate and we like the style of their bulls."

The equal third top-priced bull Lot 10, Riddellvue Roman R83, sold for $13,000 to Yarra Valley Angus, Upper Yarra Valley.

Ashleigh Hall, who co-owns the company with his wife Lyndal, said Lot 10 was his first choice.

"I didn't bid on any until that one and I got the one I was hoping to get," he said.

"Structurally he looks nice and he was very quiet.

"He has low birth weight, which is what I want as I'm planning on putting him over heifers."

Yarra Valley Angus bought its previous bull from Anvil Angus, and now some of those genetics are at Riddellvue.

Taking home four bulls was volume buyer The Brilliant, Yarck, picking up Lot 14 for $7500, Lot 11 for $7000, Lot 29 for $8500 and Lot 32 for $5000.

Agent Tyson Bush, who bought on behalf of The Brilliant, said the bulls impressed with their birth weight, high growth and evenness.

"I know Ian and know his follow-up service is always very good," he said.

Elders auctioneer Ross Milne said the result reflected confidence in the industry and the presentation of the bulls.

"It was more than $2000 up on average compared to the autumn sale which reflects how the cattle market has grown momentum since autumn and it keeps getting stronger," Mr Milne said.

"There's a fair bit of confidence in investing in bulls and genetics moving forward."

Mr Milne said buyers were impressed with the offering.

"They were a good consistent line of young bulls that will keep developing and will continue to grow out," he said.