England Cattle Company based in Mercedes, Texas held their first annual “Brahmans on the Rio” Production Sale on March 21. The sale was scheduled to be held on the ranch in conjunction with the England’s Brahman Camaraderie Party. Due to the COVID 19 breakout it was decided on the week of the sale to change to an online format with an innovative “live” closeout. The sale started at 8 a.m. on Friday, March 20, and the last internet bid was taken at 7 p.m. the following day. Following the close of the internet bidding the sale switched to a live auction with Auctioneer Mike England selling the lots starting at the last internet bid and live bids being placed via Cattle in Motion.
The sale was highly successful with 20 lots grossing $143,850 with the following breakdown:
• 14 Live Animal Lots Averaged $8,775
• 4 Semen Lots Averaged $650/straw
The high selling lot was a one-third embryo interest in LMC +S POLLED MADONNA 274/1 that sold to Chris Allen of Irving, Texas for $35,000. Two Rio Grande Valley Brahman breeders, 7N Ranch and Billie D. Simpson, partnered to purchase the popular polled show heifer prospect ECC POLLED LUCIE 358/9 for $17,000.
The England family is appreciative to the buyers, 61 registered bidders, Chris Shivers of In nity Cattle Services, Tim and Erin Lockhart of Cattle in Motion and everyone who shared encouragement during this uncertain time. They look forward to again hosting this event in 2021 on their ranch and hope that everyone will mark their calendars and make plans to attend.
