Millah Murrah's $24,000 cracker

(Courtesy The Land Thursday September 10, 2009 page 88)

 By Andrew Norris

The Millah Murrah bulls offered on-property at “Goonamurrah”, Bathurst, by the Thompson family last week attracted competition right to the last of the 68 lots offered, which all sold.

A good mix of stud and commercial buyers were present, and strong competition pushed the top lot to $24,000, while 41 of the bulls sold for $4500 or less in a sale that averaged $5603.

In the breakdown, 22 two-year-old bulls sold to $7000 and averaged $4977, 36 18-month-old bulls sold to $24,000 to average $5681, and 10 yearling bulls topped at $14,000 to average $6650.

Millah Murrah principal, Ross Thompson, said the sale reflected great stud recognition and had strong commercial support.

He said it was as good as any of their sales in the past 23 years and included the second highest gross ($380,500) and second highest top price, and was the first year the stud had sold Pfizer Star accredited bulls.

The top-priced bull, Millah Murrah Equator D78, by BT Equator 395M, was sold to the recently established Gilmandyke Angus stud at Orange, owned by E.G.T. and B.C. Bateman, "Kangaroobie".

Manager, Derek Hubert, and Gilmandyke stud consultant, Jack Newham, were on hand to buy the bull.

They chose the bull for its growth, correct structure, “great site outlook” and outcross genetics for their herd, Mr Newham said.

"We like the cattle here for their potency - the females here are some of the best in the breed," he said.

Mr Hubert said Equator D78 was the style of bull they wanted to breed, as it was well suited to feedlot markets, particularly to Japanese export.

The herd at Gilmandyke includes 250 stud cows and 2000 Commercial cows, with the core of the stud herd bought at the Narrangullen dispersal.

Equator, a March 2008-drop calf, weighed an impressive 768 kilograms at only 17 months, had a daily average weight gain of 1.45kg and a 44 centimetre scrotal circumference, all in a frame score of 7.4.

Its estimated breeding values (EBVs) included +56, +99 and +125 for 200-, 400- and 600-day weight, and +14 for milk and +1.6 for intra muscular fat.

The second top price of $14,000 was reached twice: once for Millah Murrah Equator D1, and again for Millah Murrah Infinity D105, while third top of $12,000 was paid for Millah Murrah Equator D67.

The first of the $14,000 bulls, Equator D1, by BT Equator 395M, sold to Peter Grieve, Talooby stud, Rylstone, who was impressed by its overall structure, skin type, presence, and “a pretty handy set of numbers".

Mr Grieve said the bottom half of its pedigree, including Kelp and 036, tied in well with his herd.

"He was also an extremely well fleshed bull that showed great temperament in the yards," he said.

The next at $14,000, Infinity D105, by Te Mania Infinity 04 379 AB, went to the Shaw family, including Jeff and Jenny Shaw from "Moscow Downs", Injune, Queensland, and their son and daughter-in-law, Jeremy and Julie Shaw, "Beulah", Ben Lomond.

In their first year of buying at Millah Murrah, the Shaws' purchases also included two bulls at $7000, to be used for breeding weaners Injune and Roma, Qld, sales.

Infinity will be used on heifers at Ben Lomond later this year by artificial insemination after they collect both Infinity and one of their new $7000 bulls, Millah Murrah Tex Design D13.

The Shaws run 9716 hectares at Injune across four properties, with 566ha at Ben Lomond and 1012ha at Nundle, with a herd of about 1500 cows.

Making the long trek from Tasmania for new stud sires, Michael and Dimity Hirst, Entally Forest Angus stud, Longford, bought Millah Murrah Equator D67, by BT Equator 395M for $12,000 and Millah Murrah Tex Design D102, by The Meadows 469 Designer A64, for $6000.

"Both bulls are just from really top female lines," Dimity Hirst said.

Auctioneer Paul Dooley, Elders stud stock, Tamworth, said the sale's yearling bulls had averaged well, and buyers were after the new bloodlines.

Mr Dooley described the draft over all as one of the best the stud had presented in 10 to 12 years.

He also pointed out the excellent weight for age of the entire draft, with a large part of it consisting of 18-month-old bull's, many of which exceeded 700kg.

Volume buyer was Rimanui Farms, “Boonaldoon”, Moree, which topped at $4000 four times and averaged $3714 for seven bulls.

Selling agents were Elders Bathurst.