Riddellvue Angus draws several loyal repeat buyers for bulls built for work

Riddellvue Angus secured a sizzling clearance at its autumn bull sale on Thursday as the stud's top bulls headed to mostly repeat buyers.

More than three quarters of the bulls sold were picked up by return clients and stud principal Ian Bates, Markwood, was delighted with their backing.

"We had a great return of clients who have been with me for 10 years or more and they've backed me," he said.

"The way the industry is, I think it's been a great result.

"We've had nearly a total clearance and I think I've got just three bulls left."

The sale saw a total of 20 bulls sold from the 26 offered for an average of $6275 and a top of $9000, hit twice.

A further three bulls were sold immediately after the sale, leaving just three behind.

The top-priced bulls were sold early on in the sale, Lot 4 and Lot 7.

Lot 4, Riddellvue Ricochet U166, was bought by Michael and Anne Green, Buxton, for the $9000 top mark.

The couple bought their first Riddellvue bull at the stud's spring sale in 2024 and returned again, happy with their first sire's performance.

Their new bull to join the one at home was sired by Reiland Ricochet R952 and out of Anvil Pebbles L075.

The August 2023-drop bull recorded TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation figures of +7.5 square centimetres eye muscle area, birth weight of +6.4 kilograms, 200-day weight of +63kg, 400-day weight of +107kg and a 600-day weight of +142kg.

"I liked his shape and sure-footedness and he has plenty of back end with a good, strong and level, wide back," Mr Green said.

He said the bull would be joined with his herd of 100 spring-calving cows.

Mr Green said he picked out the bull from looking at him in the pen.

"I like to see them walk and move around to get an idea of the shape," he said.

He said he liked the Riddellvue bulls because the stud was run like a commercial farm and bulls were presented in their working clothes, ready to deliver.

The second sale-topper, Lot 7, Riddellvue Genesis U176, also made the $9000 mark and was sold to Merv Steer, Healesville.

Mr Steer manages the Eyton On Yarra cattle operation, with about 270 Angus breeders and he has bought bulls from Mr Bates several times.

His new bull was sired by Blackjack Genesis Q04 and out of Anvil Emblybette M422.

The August 2023-drop bull recorded TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation figures of +7.6 square centimetres eye muscle area, birth weight of +2.3kg, 200-day weight of +48kg, 400-day weight of +89kg and a 600-day weight of +118kg.

Mr Steer said he liked the bull's intra muscular fat (IMF) figures, +1.2kg, its docility and birth weight.

"I wanted a good bull for heifers so I just liked everything about him," he said.

He said the bull's stretch and hind quarters suited his operation.

The bull would be joined with Angus heifers in May, to calve next autumn.

Mr Steer said the calves by the Riddellvue bulls were always "chased after" in saleyards.

Nap Nap Station, Hay, NSW, was one of the volume buyers at the sale and was also a return client.

They took home three bulls for an average of $7000.

The majority of the other bulls sold went to clients in the Yea district.

Mr Bates recently changed the direction of his stud, after dispersing his autumn-calving cow herd last month.

The stud sold 81 cows as it moved to downsize.

However, on Thursday, Mr Bates said he would still have top-quality bulls for sale in both the autumn and spring going forward, albeit potentially under a different model.

He said he liked to breed structurally correct bulls and these kept his buyers coming back for more.

"To me there's a lot of faults in the industry and numbers are trying to run the industry, which I think is undoing the industry," he said.

"There's always some loss to doing that."

Rather than pushing bulls hard with grain, Mr Bates said he ran them in a way through which they'd be suitable for any commercial operation.

"They're genuine bulls to go and serve the commercial bloke," he said.

Both Elders and Nutrien agents managed the bull sale.

Elders auctioneer Ryan Bajada said the draft of bulls "met good demand".

"I think we ended up with a 90 per cent clearance towards the end and that's very pleasing," he said.

"That's probably one of the higher clearing rates we've seen here which is good."

He said the Riddellvue result was particularly good, considering ongoing dry conditions.