Jan. 28, Red Bluff, CA
260 Total bulls: $4,960
1 Simmental bull: $7,000
10 Balancer bulls: $6,150
4 Polled Hereford bulls: $6,000
1 Maine-Anjou bull: $5,750
24 Hereford bulls: $5,396
149 Angus bulls: $5,150
26 SimAngus bulls: $5,073
2 Shorthorn bulls: $4,625
6 Red Angus bulls: $3,775
36 Charolais bulls: $3,532
1 MaineTainer: $3,500
Auctioneers: Rick Machado, Trent Stewart, Max Olvera and Eric Duarte
A sale entrenched with history, the Red Bluff Bull Sale continues to defy the odds with one successful sale after another. One year ago, drought plagued the West with one of the worst droughts ever seen. Western cow herds were down as much as 30-40%, yet that sale went on with great success. Now, we flipped the book this year, with ungodly amounts of moisture for the last month, snowpack levels well above average for this time of the year, cow numbers still short, and feeder and fed cattle markets strong.
We saw great optimism among all cattlemen, with one of the most steady bull markets seen from front to back at Red Bluff. This demand speaks volumes of the consistency and quality in the offering from breeders, consignors and buyers wanting to upgrade their genetic nucleus with a new impressive bull battery. The 82nd Annual Red Bluff Bull Sale was possibly as good as we have ever seen from all levels.
Overall, this sale increased the average by $330 a bull over last year. To see this average remain at its level is an enormous success.
The consignors of the Red Bluff Bull Sale have remained consistent for many years. A core group of cattlemen and cattlewomen bring bulls each year that buyers have come to know and expect their quality. Commercial ranchers around California, Oregon and Nevada gather for the sale, and many cattlemen purchase their year’s bull battery at this sale. In an age where consignment sales are known to struggle, this sale continues to bring uniform quality, pedigrees and consistency so these ranchers can assemble a group of bulls that add value to their calf crops. These bulls truly do come with a committee of ranchers’ approval commonly known as “The Red Bluff Standard.”
The bulls are sifted and graded stringently throughout the week. There is a sifting committee studying soundness, structure and overall quality. If the bull doesn’t meet their expectations, the bull is immediately sifted before it ever has the chance to reach the grading committee. Once the bull passes the sifting process, it continues to the show ring where it is judged in classes with its contemporaries and the classes are given a number grade. This number is then used in the selling order. Keeping the quality at a high level has helped build the reputation a Red Bluff bull carries and has driven the success for this sale.
Congratulations to all the consignors, especially longtime Red Bluff consignor Kudlac Herefords for consigning the supreme champion bull—who was an outstanding Hereford herd bull—and Shandar Angus for consigning the reserve supreme champion bull, who was a high performing yearling Angus bull.
The bull sifting committee comprised Mac McGiffin, Red Bluff, CA; Matt Owens, Red Bluff, CA; and Bryan Owens, Red Bluff, CA.
The bull grading committee comprised Mark Bidwell, Hat Creek, CA; Lane Russ, Ferndale, CA; and Sam Shaw, Caldwell, ID.
TOPS:
PK Cascade 21K20, 3/1/21 Hereford by PK Cascade 17K15; from Kudlac Herefords, Grants Pass, OR, to Micheal Pratt, Monroe, OR, $25,000.
LS Locknload 346, 10/20/21 SimAngus by W/C Lock N Load 5001F; from Little Shasta Ranch, Montague, CA, to Geof Miller, Orland, CA, $9,750.
M BSM 10Y HOMEBOY 1025 ET, 2/1/21 Hereford by UPS Sensation 2296; from Morrell Ranches, Willows, CA, to Bell A Land & Cattle, La Pine, OR, $9,000.
ER LM Top Gun 189, 10/22/21 calving ease Angus by EXAR Jet Stream 9150B; from The England Ranch, Powell Butte, OR, to Martinez Ranch Management, Red Bluff, CA, $9,000.
BAKER Fair and Square 6906, 9/4/21 Angus by Myers Fair-N-Square M39; from Baker Angus, Vale, OR, to Marianne Lindsay, White Bird, ID, $8,750.
Shandar Cadillac 03K, 1/8/22 Angus by KR Cadillac Ranch; from Shandar Ranch, Payson, UT, to Chase Ranch, Montague, CA, $8,500.
HDCC 8080 Idaho 142, 2/23/21 polled Hereford by UPS 2296 Sensation 8080; from High Desert Cattle, Canyon City, OR, to J.C. Oliver Inc., Seneca, OR, $8,500.
GCC Growth Fund P103, 9/19/21 calving ease Angus by Deer Valley Growth Fund; from Gudel Cattle Co., Wilton, CA, to Dan Forester, Wilton, CA, $8,250.
E750 Mr Exec Blk Valor, 9/6/21 Balancer by EGL Executive Order E125; from Louie’s Cattle Services, Burns, OR, to Shawn Lefevre, Sutherlin, OR, $8,250. — JARED PATTERSON
