RIDDELLVUE Angus at Markwood believe they presented their best line of bulls yet at their annual spring bull and female sale last Thursday.
The stud farm held its fourth annual sale, attracting an increased interest in local buyers to their 18-month-old 35 bulls and 19 females on offer.
Top priced bulls went for $9500, bought by Geoff Kyval in Whanregarwen and Campbell Smedley from Mundroola, Taggerty.
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 there were a lot of new people looking and buying which was good for us being in a new area.
“They’ve normally been a bit shy to turn up, but it was good to see them have a look and secure bulls.
“We had a good client representation from past clients from down in the Alexandra region and a bit in this new area in the King Valley 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 market being reflected in prices throughout the colder months.
Mr Bates said many locals had experienced their toughest season in memory.
“I’m a realist with the industry, I understand where the beef job is at the moment and it has improved a little bit, but things are still fairly tight,” he said.
“You’ve got to put blinkers on and not look at the big stud farms who have got these crazy money going on in the bull sales and be real, 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/h.
“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 onto the private sale list.
“You get quite a few people wanting bulls between now and joining at around November to December,” he said.
“There’s a lot of time between then for people realising they’ve got a bull that’s broken down and they need another one, so it’s handy to have a few in the paddock so you can help them out later on.”
For the latest news and sale updates from the angus stud, visit www.riddellvue.com.au or Riddellvue Angus Facebook and Instagram Page.