IT WAS an emotional day for the Thompson family of Millah Murrah Angus, as several records tumbled throughout their 33rd on-property bull sale held at Goonamurrah, Bathurst last Thursday.
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Ross Thompson said the day was an "indescribable experience" for him and his family, as he thanked all those that were part of a sale that re-wrote the history books.
It took two hours for the 118 bulls to sell for an Australian all breeds record average of $34,221. It was also one of the highest grossing single vendor bull sales ever in Australia, returning $4,038,000, all under the hammer of legendary Stud Stock auctioneer Paul Dooley.
The remarkable feat also marked a new Australian Angus record sale average, surpassing Texas Angus' sale of 218 bulls for an average of $20,967.
It is also believed to be a world-record average for a bull sale at $25,322 USD, ahead of NCC Brahmans in 2017 where 76 bulls averaged $26,915 AUD ($20,025 USD) and US Angus stud Schaff Angus Valley in 2015 where 487 yearling bulls averaged $20,025 AUD ($18,440 USD).
But the records did not stop there when the highly-anticipated Millah Murrah Rocket Man R38 was knocked down to Brooklana Angus, Dorrigo through Ray White agent Tim Bayliss for a new Australian Angus record top price of $280,000.
In the blink of an eye, bids climbed beyond $200,000, leaving the gallery full of spectators as well as at least 1200 people watching online in absolute awe.
A son of the $160,000 Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15, that was a previous record-holder, he was out of Millah Murrah Abigail P57 and was used in the stud, with cows flushed to him.
Presenting with all selection indexes and five traits within the top five per cent of the breed, including 200-, 400- and 600-day weight, mature cow weight and carcase weight, the 19-month-old weighed 844 kilograms with a 45 centimetre scrotal circumference.
Underbidder on the top bull was Nigel Kerin of Kerin Ag, Yeoval.
On Tuesday it was announced that ABS Australia had secured the worldwide semen marketing rights of Rocket Man R38, with spokesman Bill Cornell commenting that his physical attributes are as impressive as his spread of estimated breeding values and his maternal ancestry.
Just behind the high-seller was Millah Murrah Paratrooper R48, now named 'Rembrandt R48' purchased for $240,000 by ABS Australia, JT Angus, Scone, Woonallee Simmentals, South Australia and Whangara Angus, New Zealand.
These two sires exceeded the previous record set in July when Ben and Wendy Mayne of Texas Angus, Warialda sold Texas Iceman R725 for $225,000 to Mackas Angus, Salt Ash.
Bill Cornell of ABS Australia said the two high-sellers were standouts back in June when they inspected the draft.
"When we came back and looked at the figures - these two bulls are just sublime with respect to what the market wants today," he said.
"Paratrooper is breeding the house down, and we just can't keep up with supplies, so we needed to get at least one son.
"The thing about Rembrandt is his pedigree. You follow it down and you have Paratrooper, Kingdom, Emperor and Woody - you have four champion, high-priced bulls."
Mr Cornell said the bull was everything they wanted - pedigree, estimated breeding values (EBVs) and outstanding look and structure.
The power of Paratrooper P15 continued throughout the draft with 43 sons sold to average $46,990.
RELATED READING: Paratrooper sons "just like their father"
In the breakdown 17 rising two-year-old bulls sold to a top of $36,000 and averaged $28,588, while 61 bulls, 18 months old, reached the $280,000 sale-high and averaged $36,361, and 40 true yearling bulls topped at $110,000 and averaged $33,350.
Forty-eight bulls sold for $30,000 or more, and 15 sold for over $40,000.
Underbidders of the $240,000 second top-priced bull were the Paterson family of Heart Angus, Timbumburi, who went on to pay a new record price paid for a true yearling Angus bull at auction of $110,000 for Millah Murrah Paratrooper R275 that has been renamed 'Rolls-Royce R275'.
The 13-month-old was out Millah Murrah Abigail M293, a Coonamble Hector H249 daughter, and weighed 606 kilograms.
Return buyers to Millah Murrah, Chris Paterson of Heart Angus said their $110,000 selection was about the sixth bull they had bought from the stud.
"What stood out to us was his overall balance, stance, skin type, structure, and the meat in him for a yearling bull - we think he is going to grow out well," Mr Paterson said.
"We own Nectar (N334) and he is doing a really great job. We really liked the Paratrooper P15 sons. They are very even, have great tops in them, a lot of meat in them, so for him (Paratrooper R275) to go over some of our Nectar daughters is what we are aiming for."
New Zealand rights were secured by Hallmark Angus, with the Western Australian rights in Paratrooper R275 secured by an undisclosed buyer.
Also picked up by New Zealand interest was Millah Murrah Nectar R53, which sold for $36,000 to the Rowley family of Springwaters Angus, Boorowa and Twin Oaks Angus, Ngaruawahia, NZ. He was a 760kg, 19-month-old son of Millah Murrah Nectar N334 out of Millah Murrah Brenda N72.
Included in the line of Paratrooper P15 sons was Millah Murrah Paratrooper R250, an Angus Performance Record (APR) bull that set a new Angus record price for an APR bull when he was bought for $55,000 by Grant and Lisa Norman of Spring Ridge.
Buyers were active from Queensland to Western Australia, and nearly everywhere in between, with online platform Elite Livestock Auctions recording 221 registered buyers placing bids on 81 lots, or 70 pc, of the 118 lots recording bids.
Nineteen lots sold through the platform, including the $46,000 Millah Murrah Paratrooper R127 sold to Victorian buyer Robert Swinton, Tandarook.
The largest volume buyers were Anthony Skinner and Stephen Harris, Macada Pty Ltd, Oberon which bought eight bulls at a $42,375 average. They paid a top of $55,000 for Millah Murrah Paratrooper R282 and $48,000 for Millah Murrah Paratrooper R342, two full flush siblings to the $110,000 record-breaker.
Overall the three flush flush siblings averaged $71,000.
Western Australian stud buyers were Michael Wallace of Springhills Angus, Boyup Brook which bought the lead lot at $32,000, the Kupsch family of Black Tara Angus, Allanooka which bought one bull for $42,000 and return buyers Arkle Angus, Munglinup who were the buyers of Paratrooper P15, which bought one bull for $32,000.
Stud interest in Queensland saw Bulliac Angus, Miles pick up a new sire, Millah Murrah Paratrooper R94, for $46,000.
A number of bulls are headed north to Queensland, most to repeat buyers including JS Grazing, Double J, Injune, which bought three bulls at a $36,000 average, David Ben of Mt Kingsley Trust, Injune, which bought three for a $27,333 average, and online buyer Andrew Bourke of Roma picked up four at a $27,000. Sand Country Beef, Moona, Injune, which bought two at $20,000 each, JL and JI Shaw, Moscow Downs, Injune, who bought one at $30,000.
Also taking home multiple bulls were new client Swatchfield Pty Ltd, Black Springs, four bulls at a $28,000 average, Sunny Point Pastoral Co, Oberon, four bulls at a $27,500 average, Cavan Station, Yass, four bulls at a $28,000 average, new buyer John Abrahams Properties, Megalong Valley, four bulls at a 31,000 average, Standard Pastoral Co, Tarana four bulls for a $24,500 average and A and K Larnach, Rockley at a $29,333 average.
The sale was conducted by Elders with guest auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth.
- FULL REPORT IN NEXT WEEK'S THE LAND.
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