Fortune’s Rafter U Cross 13th Annual Bull Sale
Date: April 23, 2013
Location: Philip Livestock Auction, Philip, SD
Averages: 75 Angus Bulls – $3,923
Philip Livestock Auction was the place to be for the 13th Annual Bull Sale for Fortune’s Rafter U Cross Ranch. This ranch is owned by Roger and Cory Fortune of Quinn, SD. They sold both yearling and two-year-old Angus bulls, providing quality cattle backed by a very strong first year breeding guarantee.
The Rafter U Cross cattle are very maternally bred. Roger and Cory have purchased some of the top herdsires in the nation, and they use them as some of their “in herd” service sires. By using these herdsires naturally, they are able to sell big groups of half brothers. These bulls are deep-sided with lots of thickness down the top.
Top selling bull of the day was lot 17, selling for $12,500 to Jeff Nelson, Philip, SD, and Jim Tines, New Underwood, SD. Fortunes Confidence 224 was a yearling bull, and he was sired by Connealy Confidence 0100, and out of a daughter of SAV 004 Traveler 4412. This was the first bull in the sale ring, and he had good numbers. Born at 70 pounds, he weaned at 738 pounds to ratio 115. His EPDs were CED 14, BW -1.7, WW 53, YW 101, and MILK 28. His $Beef score was $76.69.
Another top selling yearling bull was lot 50. He sold for $12,000 to Mickey Simons, White Owl, SD. Sired by Sitz Up Trend 2049, he was out of a daughter of SAV 8180 Traveler 004. With a 69 pounds birth weight, he grew aggressively, and weaned at 840 pounds. His EPDs included CED 10, BW 0.6, WW 50, YW 99, and MILK 26.
Lot 20, born April 28, 2012, was another son of Connealy Confidence 0100, and he was out of a daughter of SAV 004 Traveler 4412. He had an 81 pound birth weight, and a 674 pound weaning weight. His EPDs were CED 9, BW 0.8, WW 47, YW 93, and MILK 28, plus he scored $71.53 on $Beef. This good bull sold to Jeff Nelson, Philip, SD, for $7,500.
JT Moon, Creighton, SD, made his top selection with lot 4, another son of Connealy Confidence 0100. Born at 65 pounds, this bull was out of a daughter of Sitz Game Day 8636, and he weaned at 775 pounds to ratio 115. His EPDs were CED 14, BW -1.3, WW 52, YW 102, and MILK 29. This heifer bull had all the right numbers, and sold for $7,000.
Lot 49 sold for $6,500 to Bob Fortune, Belvidere, SD. Here was another heifer bull, as he had a 65 pound birth weight and a BW EPD of -0.4. Sired by Sitz Up Trend 2049, he was out of a heavy milking daughter of Sitz Alliance 6595. He weaned at 677 pounds to ratio 105. Other EPDs included CED 7, WW 47, YW 86, and MILK 26.
Fred Rittberger and sons, Hermosa, SD, selected lot 67, Fortunes Rito 278. This bull was sired by SAV 707 Rito 9098 and out of a daughter of Rito 707 of Ideal 3407 7075. With a 77 pound birth weight, he weaned at 614 pounds. His EPDs are CED 6, BW 2.1, WW 47, YW 86, and MILK 22.
The top selling two-year-old bull was lot 81, selling for $5,750. He was sired by SAV 707 Rito 9098 and out of a daughter of SAV 004 Traveler 4412. Born at 80 pounds, he had weaned at 690 pounds to ratio 110.
This sale also offered some fancy heifers which were all sired by Rafter U Cross bulls. These heifers were consigned by cattlemen who continue to use Rafter U Cross bulls – Stout Brothers, Tines, Nelson, and Fortune.
