Millah Murrah Angus gross $187,000
(By Phoebe Kerin for The Land November 23 2000)
Interstate competition and “near perfect” interim EBVs combined to push prices to $9500 for a breeder unit at the Millah Murrah Angus on-property stud female sale at Bathurst. Pouring rain did nothing to dampen buyer spirits: 65 cows with calves sold to average $2928, and seven heifers to average $2964. The sale grossed $187,000 for Wyatt, Winsome and Ross Thompson, and Jane Loneragan.
The top-priced cow, Millah Murrah Flower S117 (AI), was knocked down by Elders auctioneer, Paul Dooley, for $9500 to Nigel White, Coffin Creek Angus, Mudgee. S117 is by NZ sire import, Hingaia 469, from Millah Murrah Flower K30, and her four month old calf is by BR New Design 036. Despite a high birthweight of 42kg, the calf had interim EBV’s of +5 (63%) for birthweight; +86 (61%) for 600 day growth, and +14 (49%) for milk. Mr White also bought a seven-year-old cow, Millah Murrah Abigail N25 ®, with bull calf at foot for $3500.
After buying all 60 commercial “Millah Murrah” females in September, Victorian breeder, Andrew Anderson, of Rossander Angus, Warrnambool, and his manager, David Bird, bought seven lots to average $3500. They paid a $6250 high for a two-year-old daughter of TC Stockman 365 (imp US), with a two-month-old heifer calf at foot by RR Traveller 5204 (imp US).
“The Millah Murrah stud cows have some interesting calves at foot and bloodlines we haven’t got,” Mr Anderson said.
A partnership of Chris Garvin, Triple B Angus, Orange, and Stephen Chase, Waitara Partnership, Trangie, bid to $6000 to secure a stylish two-year-old cow, MM Prue T130 (AI), a TC Stockman 365 (imp US) daughter with a two-month-old RR Traveller 5204 (imp US) bull calf at foot. (Mr Garvin is pictured, right, with guest auctioneer, John Fryer, Sydney, and Ross Thompson). Mr Chase bought two other heifers at $3000 and $2500.
Karen Arnott, Skagway Angus, Currabubula, outlaid $5500 for a three-year-old Millah Murrah Luigi Q21 daughter, and $5000 for MM Prue U67 (AI), a heifer by Glenoch Megaforce M16. Ms Arnott bought six to average $3750.
The Costellos, Nairn Park Angus, Tenterfield, paid $3500 for a heifer sired by Summitcrest Scotch Cap OB45 (imp US).
The sale was conducted by Elders.