Reiland Angus set record $19,479 av, top at $64,000

What many regarded as the perfect storm in the beef industry, with all the planets aligning, of seasons and prices, now had morphed from theory to reality in the Killimicat Station sale ring, with buyers pushing the top stud sires to $64,000.

In the studs 50^th year, the Lucas families celebrated in style, breaking stud records for average and top price, as commercial clients set to work on chasing commercial bulls from $8000 to $44,000.

Stud principal Mark Lucas, was lost for words and extremely humbled as he acknowledged the industry they work in and the clients he works with as the backbone to the stud success.

The top bull was Reiland Ricochet R952, an August 2020, by the Reiland Nimbo N1176 sire, going back to the Kidman Impact K99 sire.

He was secured for $64,000 by Ian Bates, Riddlevue Angus, Alexandria, Vic, who claimed he could not pick many holes in a bull of that calibre, with great fleshing, balance, phenotype and a data set that would hold its own in any stud operation.

Ricochet was in the top percentile bands for birth weight, calving ease, while coupled with carcase numbers in the top two percent of +4.4 for IMF and days to calving.

Mr Bates calves 300 stud cows and said he liked to be a bit outside the square with his breeding and not following the trendy sires and this Nimbo son gave him just that.

"He will go straight over our first calver's and as a believer in breeding cows not calves, he will breed me some great cows," he said.

Dick Whale, Independent Breeding Services, Wangaratta, Vic, set the platform for such a sensational sale, buying 17 bulls across two clients to gross a shade under $500,000.

Long time client Houston Pastoral Company, Burrowye, Vic, was one of his top clients, who paid to $46,000 for nine bulls, averaging $30,778 to record one of the highest averages of a volume buyer in recent times.

The second undisclosed client bought eight bulls averaging $26,500 and topping at $36,000.

Mr Whale said, he was chasing bulls that were above 120 for growth, nothing over six for birth weight, carcase figures of 2.5 or above for IMF, positive EMA and good structural soundness, as these clients were selling steers to the feedlots.

"When I was a boy, I was always told six bullocks or 10 weaners buys you your next bull, I know work on eight feeder steers, when buying bulls and advising clients," he said.

Mr Whale said the market is not out of kilter, with feeder steers making close to $3000, weaners to $2200 and for this reason you should be turning up to a sale with $20,000 or above to secure a good bull, as it is all relative to price.

Edward Proudford, Narrawa, runs 1200 cows and produces feedlot steers that are sold direct to Stanbroke Pastoral, Chinchilla, QLD, and relies on low birth weight bulls with big 600 day growth traits to get him there, while keeping an eye on EMA and IMF.

Mr Proudford bought six bulls, averaging close to the sale average at $19,500.

Elders Goulburn stalwart Steve Ridley, commented on the offering being some of the highest consistency he had seen at Reiland, with a great selection of phenotype, growth and super figures packed into most sires on offer.

Mr Ridley helped secure five bulls for the Kelly family, Riverview Wallah, Rugby, averaging $18,800.

"We were focused on moderate birth weight bulls, with growth, but not too high in mature cow weights, while being a strong believer of sticking to his principle of selecting for above average for IMF to complement the overal bull," he said.

The Kelly family and the Proudford family teamed up but run a close second on the top bull for $64,000.

Tenandra Park Pastoral, Mossvale, selected well buying five bulls for a $8800 apiece, while River Run Farm Pty Ltd, Currowan, loaded three at $18,000 and Towong Hill Station, Towong Hill, Vic, secured three at $11,333.

Rounding out the sale, Edward Ashton, Thuddungra, had to compete with the top enforcers, but came away with a Reiland Roman R915 bull, by the Reiland Hilary H874, and was a direct son of the Reiland Braebell J563 cow that topped the Reiland cow sale in February.

The sale was conducted by Elders and GTSM with Brian Lesley as the auctioneer.

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