THE Lucas family were able to combine a buoyant bull sale with some charitable acts.
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Buyers shelled out a high of $28,000 for the top bull on the day and this allowed the southern NSW stud to record a new in house record.
The sale at Tumut drew 36 registered buyers from the Upper Murray, Riverina, NSW southern slopes, central western NSW, NSW southern highlands and Victoria.
The sale was interfaced with AuctionsPlus, with all bulls presented in a video format and buyers seated according to social distancing regulations.
A total of 62 bulls were offered and sold to a top of $28,000, gross of $460,000 and average of $7419, which was a rise of $1109 on last year's autumn sale.
The $28,000 price tag eclipsed the previous Reiland record of $26,000 set in 2018.
Reiland Angus co-principal Mark Lucas said the sale result was a "big relief" after coping with drought, fire and the COVID-19 restrictions. Repeat clients Graham and Judy Houston, Burrowye, Victoria, outlaid the top price of $28,000 for Lot 4, Reiland Plymouth P960.
Sired by Esslemont Lotto L3, the 21-month-old bull weighed 772kg and ranked on BREEDPLAN in the top 2 per cent for all indexes, had an intramuscular fat (IMF) of +4.5 and was top 7 per cent for eye muscle area (EMA) at +9.2sqcm. Reiland retained a 50 per cent semen share and marketing rights in Plymouth.
The bull has already drawn several seen inquiries, including international interest.
Mr and Mrs Houston bought six bulls for Houston Pastoral Company and five for Towong Pty Ltd.
"The top price bull will be AIed to about 700 (commercial) heifers to produce top quality replacement heifers," Mr Houston said.
"We aim to lift marble score - our whole steer average is +2.7 now and we want to get that over three.
"We are using bulls mostly 3.0 plus for marbling." Elders Tumut branch manager Rob Stubbs paid $5500 on behalf of French Partnership, Brungle Creek, for Reiland Port Louis P410. The Lucas family donated 10 per cent of the proceeds from Port Louis to the Wagga branch of Can Assist to help regional cancer patients.
Mr Stubbs filled orders from local clients who were self-isolating at home. "The sale was very strong and well supported by those who could be here and through AuctionsPlus," he said.