RIDDELLVUE Angus presented their best line-up of bulls yet at their annual spring bull and female sale last Thursday, with a total of 54 18-month-olds going under the hammer.
The stud held their fourth annual on-farm sale at their Markwood site, attracting increased interest from local buyers with 35 bulls and 19 females on offer.
Interfaced with Auctions Plus, top priced bulls hit highs of $9500, with Geoff Kyval in Whanregarwen and Campbell Smedley in Taggerty both securing sought-after sires.
While prices were down on the sale this time last year, Riddellvue Angus principal Ian Bates said he was happy with the results.
“The bulls were probably the best set of bulls I’ve put up,” he said.
“It was great to see a lot of new people looking and then buying, which was good for us being in a new area.
“They’ve normally been a bit shy to turn up, so it was great to welcome them on-farm, to have a look and end up securing some bulls.
“We had good client representation from past clients down Alexandra-way and some new clients close to our new location in the King and Ovens Valley.”
Challenging winter conditions have required considerable fodder purchases to see producers through to spring, with the dry spell and oversupply in the cattle market reflected in prices throughout the colder months.
Mr Bates said many locals had experienced their toughest season in memory.
“I’m a realist when it comes to the industry," he said.
"I understand where beef is at the moment and though it has improved a little bit, things are still fairly tight.
“You’ve got to put blinkers on and not look at the big stud farms who have got this crazy money going on in the bull sales and be realistic.
"We are a small stud and I feel we’re doing a damn good job at what we’re doing.”
Mr Bates said the 38 Special and Reiland Ricochet bloodlines continued to sell well, with bulls in the latter selling for around $8000 per head.
“The Ricochet sons were the first sons sold and to me they are the true bulls we should be looking at in the industry,” he said.
The females reached highs of $4000 and attracted strong competition between buyers.
Mr Bates said the 19 cows were well sought-after and would be heading to Queensland, Tocumwal, Ballarat and Sale.
“There’s a bit of a mix where they’re all heading which is a good sign; people like the genetics and it’s a cheap way for them to get set up,” he said.
Mr Bates said a handful of unsold bulls would go on to the private sale list.
“You get quite a few people wanting bulls between now and joining around November to December,” he said.
“There’s a lot of time between then and now for people to realise they’ve got a bull that’s broken down and they need another one.
"It’s handy to have a few in the paddock so you can help them out later on,” Bates said
For the latest news and sale updates from the angus stud, visit www.riddellvue.com.au or Riddellvue Angus Facebook and Instagram Page.