Just when we thought the Spring Bull selling season prices could not get any higher, the Millah Murrah Angus Bull Sale reached new heights, that saw records set six weeks earlier tumble.
A new record top price for an Angus bull sold at auction, of $280,000 was reached, while a total clearance of 118 Angus bulls were sold for an Australian all breeds record average of $34,221. This saw the sale become the highest grossing single vendor bull sale ever in Australia, returning $4,038,000.
For vendor Ross Thompson, the results are something he, ‘Cannot get my head around. The interest ahead of the sale was insane, so we knew something was on. But I am sure I won’t witness this again in my life-time.’
Lot 11, Millah Murrah Rocket Man R38 reached the new record high price of $280,000 when Rodger Pryce, Brooklana Angus, Dorrigo NSW, represented by Ray White agent, Tim Bayliss, outbid the competition to secure rights to his new stud sire.
Rocket Man was described by vendor Mr Thompson, ‘As a remarkable bull that should propel the Australian beef industry forward. He is probably the most powerful bodied Angus bull I have seen at that age (19 months).’
Sentiments Mr Pryce clearly agreed with in his intent to purchase the bull, having also purchased Millah Murrah Prue M4 for an Australian Angus female record of $190,000 in 2017.
Rocket Man was sired by Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15, whom had 43 sons in the sale that sold to average just under $47,000. Paratrooper set a record high price at the 2019 Millah Murrah Angus Bull Sale, when he sold to the Cowan Family, Arkle Angus, with ABS Australia selling the semen in Paratrooper and have since secured the semen rights in Rocket Man.
Not long after the top selling bull left the ring, Lot 13, Millah Murrah Rembrandt R48 also eclipsed the previous high selling record when a syndicate of ABS, Woonallee Simmentals, South Australia, JT Angus, Scone New South Wales and Whangara Angus New Zealand was purchased for the sales’ second top price of $240,000.
The $280,000 paid for Rocket Man claimed the record Australian Angus top price set at the Texas Angus Stud Sale at the end of July, when Texas Iceman R725 was sold to Robert McKenzie, Macka’s Pastoral for $225,000, with Genetics Australia securing the semen rights.
Texas Angus also previously held the record average for Angus bulls sold at auction when they cleared 181 Angus bulls for $20,967
The records broken did not end there. It is believed that the sale average is also a world record average $25,322 USD, having beaten the NCC Brahman Sale in 2017 where 76 bulls averaged $26,915 AUD ($20,025USD) and Schaff Angus Valley in 2015 where 487 Angus bulls averaged $20,025 AUD ($18,440 USD).
Mr Thompson noted that the market is red hot across all sectors.
‘It is significant for the Australian Angus breed in that context – right at the point where I think the US is looking to Australia for some genetic input. With orders for semen received it shows how the Australian herd is now perceived on the world stage.’
Millah Murrah Rolls Royce R275 fetched $110,000 setting a new record price at auction for a true yearling (15 months and under) bull of any breed. The bull was purchased by Heart Angus in partnership with Hallmark Angus NZ and an undisclosed WA buyer.
Millah Murrah also eclipsed their own previous record for the top price paid for an APR bull, when $55,000 was paid for Millah Murrah Paratrooper R250 by Grant & Lisa Norman, Spring Ridge New South Wales.
The previous record was set by Millah Murrah Kingdon M192 when he was purchased by Peter and Terry Hanigan of Coonamble in partnership with the Deans family for $27,000 at the 2018 sale.
As we reach towards the end of the spring bull selling season it is easy for cattle producers and in particular Angus producers to continue with their optimism.
The day following the Millah Murrah Sale, Milwillah Angus, Young New South Wales, experienced a total clearance of 106 Angus bulls for an average of $25,726, which would have been the record average 48 hours prior.
In the middle of August Booroomooka Angus, Bingara NSW laid claim to the largest single vendor sale gross when they achieved a full clearance of 232 bulls for an average of $17,262 to gross over $4 million.
The prices being paid for commercial Angus females by restockers have reached phenomenal heights and week in week out, high prices for Angus cattle are recorded at saleyards and on AuctionsPlus, and as Mr Thompson states, records are everywhere.
‘The Australian cattle economy is experiencing warp speed growth.’
‘It’s akin to the wool boom of the 1950’s. Every star is aligned. The unusual thing is the mid-long term outlook remains bullish across the industry’.
‘What will happen when the world wakes up to the fact that cattle are the key! They convert grass to protein and assist with carbon abatement.’
‘A drought could pull us all back to earth quick smart, but you have to think it looks a bit optimistic for a while yet.’
TO VIEW ALL BULL SALE RESULTS CLICK HERE
And with up to 30 Sale catalogues listed online with Angus Australia and still to run at the time of publishing in the spring season, the Angus breed is on track to break even more records and cement its place as Australia’s Breed!
TO VIEW UPCOMING SALE CATALOGUES CLICK HERE
FEATURE IMAGE: The $280,000 Australian Angus record top-priced bull with Elders agent Andrew Bickford, Bathurst, auctioneer Paul Dooley, Tamworth and Millah Murrah’s Ross and Dimity Thompson and their daughters Millie, Olivia and Twiggy.
