Crookwell farmers have outlaid the top price for bull at a Tumut auction.
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Tom and Chris Hughes of Bannister Station, Crookwell, set a new record paying a top of $31,000 for Reiland Q-Stratisphere, a 17-month-old son of Stoney Point Reality M911.
The Reiland Angus spring bull sale was held on property at Tumut on September 4 by property owners, the Lucas family.
The sale drew 55 registered buyers from the Upper Murray, Riverina, NSW southern slopes, norther NSW, NSW Southern Highlands and Victoria.
The sale was interfaced with AuctionPlus, with all bulls presented in a video format and buyers seated according to social distancing regulations.
A total of 67 bulls were offered and sold to a top of $31,000, gross of $696,500 and a new record average of $10,395 - a rise of $4192 pn last year's spring sale.
The $31,000 price tag eclipsed the previous record of $28,000 set in autumn 2020.
A total of nine bulls were sold via AuctionPlus.
Reiland Angus co-principal Mark Lucas said the reviews n the bulls by clients in terms of data and presentation had been heartwarming.
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"Buyers wanted bulls with shape, but more importantly with low birthweight with good growth," Mr Lucas said.
"A semen company has expressed significant interest in the top price bull and he will be used in a major AI program this year along with a joining over Reiland registered and commercial heifers."
Weighing 644kg, Stratisphere was genomically tested and regarded by Mr Lucas as one of the best bulls offered for sale in 2020 with a birthweight of +2.7kg and 600day growth at +127kg.
On breedplan, the bull ranked top one per cent for grain index at +$194 and top three per cent for intramuscular fat at +3.8, combined with low birthweight and high calving ease at +8.3.Reiland.
Reiland retained 50 per cent semen and marketing rights in the young sire.
Bannister Station manager Mark Boileau said Stratisphere would be used in an artificial insemination program over commercial females.
"We selected the bull on his Breedplan figures - he is a well balanced, low birthweight bull with high marbling, structurally very sound, proven maternal pedigree and ticked all the boxes for us," Mr Boileau said.
"He will be the first bull we have used in an AI program.
"We joined 700 cows this year and have been on Reiland blood for 25 years.
"We primarily turn off feeder steers at 450-500kg through JBS Australia.
"Marbling is important but fertility is the number one driver for us, but we combine all those traits together to come up with a pretty good product."
Mr Boileau said the bulls presented well and the sale was strong.
Elders Albury auctioneer Brett Shea described the sale as "rock solid".
"We didn't sell a bull for the basement price of $4000 - the beauty is they are commercial producers putting bulls out with commercial cows paying a $10,395 average," Mr Shea said.
"There was tremendous confidence and 100 per cent clearance, and a solid result."
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