Calving ease, growth and carcase in demand at Reiland Angus spring sale

Real-world, industry-relevant bulls with calving ease, growth and carcase were in demand from commercial beef producers at the Reiland Angus 2025 spring bull sale.

Interfaced with AuctionsPlus, the sale was hosted on Friday, September 5, by the Lucas family at Killimicat Station, Tumut, 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 to hit a top price of $26,000, twice, and average $10,149. A further five bulls were sold afterwards.

Repeat buyer Graham Houston and his son James, Houston Pastoral, Burrowye, Vic, secured the two top-priced 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 50pc 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 1pc for IMF (intramuscular fat) at +6.5, 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 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 600 cents a kilogram for feeder steer prices, rain in the north and the US indicators supporting the herd rebuild and export market result in a positive time," Mr Houston 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 100pc 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-priced bull was repeat client Dougal Kelly, Wallah Pastoral, Rugby, 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 5pc for eye muscle area at +12 and top 10pc 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.

He said the tough winter had forced him to open chopped silage buried in a bunker to keep his herd going.

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 1pc 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.