A six-figure top and full clearance for a milestone catalogue offered at Milwillah

A milestone catalogue offering for Milwillah Angus was welcomed by purchasers at the annual bull sale held on property at Clover Hill, Young, on September 5, with the draft extended by 30 bulls compared to last year.

The stud also put forward the largest number of younger bulls, with 12 to 18-month-olds making up 53 per cent of the draft.

The stud achieved a full clearance with 128 bulls selling to a top of $180,000 to average $18,828.

In the breakdown, five yearling bulls sold to a top of $14,000 to average $10,800; 30 15-month-old bulls reached a top of $85,000 for an average of $15,633; while 33 18-month-old bulls sold to $28,000 for an average of $14,030.

The 60 two-year-old bulls sold to the top price of $180,000 for an average of $23,733.

Milwillah Rimfire U445 stole the show early in the draft, selling for the top price to Bannaby Angus, Taralga.

The 25-month-old son of Milwillah Rimfire R1023 measured a scrotal circumference of 42 centimetres and weighed 943 kilograms.

A descendant of two of the program's influential sires going back to S Powerpoint WS 5503 on his sire's side and Milwillah Moonshine M131, who was the sire of his dam Milwillah R520, he was described in the catalogue as being a mating that brings together proven maternal genetics.

Used as a yearling within the stud, Rimfire U445 displayed high-ranking estimated breeding values (EBVs) for his carcase weight of +86, placing him in the top 10 per cent of the breed, while being in the top 8pc for rib fat at +2.6 and in the top 2pc for rump fat at +5.2.

He continued these high-performing figures into his calving ease traits, recording calving ease daughters in the top 16pc at +6.8, while having a days to calving figure of -6.3, placing him in the top 18pc.

He also ranked within the top 36pc for his 200-day, 400-day and 600-day weight values, and recorded a scrotal size figure of +3.1.

The bull that kicked the sale off to a strong start just before the top-price was Milwillah Uncanny U625, purchased by Sara Park Angus, Glen Innes, for $140,000.

The only son in the offering to be sired by Milwillah Cracking P431, out of the program's donor females Milwillah Barundah D1, it was described as a bull who 'holds cow maker appeal' in the catalogue, while being phenotypically one of the most outstanding young bulls seen at Milwillah.

Weighing 968kg and recording a 41.5cm scrotal circumference, the 25-month-old bull was used as a yearling throughout the stud program.

The young sire ranked in the top 8pc for his mature body condition score EBV of +0.48 and his eye muscle area value of +11.4, while being in the top 5pc for his scrotal size value of +4.2.

Herb Duddy, Sara Park Angus, Glen Innes said he loved the structure and the outlook of the young sire.

"He's nearly a perfect bull for me," he said.

Mr Duddy said Uncanny U625 would go on to be joined to some of the 150 mature females throughout the program's stud operation, alongside the family's commercial operation.

He said this wasn't the first time the Glen Innes program had purchased from Milwillah, securing the second-top-priced bulls from last year's sale, Milwillah Upload U26, for $90,000.

Mr Duddy said the program did not use much artificial insemination, preferring to have walking sires and being able to see what the end result would look like.

The highest priced 15-month-old bull, Milwillah Sergant V284, also attracted strong attention, selling for $85,000 to Western Australian purchaser, Richard Metcalfe, Koojan Hill Angus, Manypeaks.

The young bull was sired by Milwillah Sergeant S791, who was purchased in the stud's 2023 sale for $190,000 by Bannaby Angus, while going back to Ardrossan Equator A241 on his dam's side.

Ranking in the top 9pc for gestation length with -7.9, he also placed in the top 6pc for EMA at +11.9 and in the top 5pc for his rump fat at +3.8.

Richard Matcalfe, Koojan Hill Angus, said the Milwillah program was run on a similar basis as his own.

"This bull's data fits very well with what we are looking for," he said.

His stud consists of 3000 Angus breeders, with the aim for them to be easy-doing, large framed females.

Many volume buyers were active. RCB Pastoral, Inverell, purchased 33 bulls for a top of $28,000 for an average of $10,757, while PJ and PM Alcorn Pty Ltd, Harden, purchased seven bulls for a top of $22,000 for an average of $12,285, and Rostron Grazing Pty Ltd, Alpha, Qld took home five bulls for a top of $18,000 to average $14,000.

Return clients Ulladulla Pastoral, Holbrook, secured eight bulls for a top of $35,000 to average $20,125.

Tim Wright, Elders Holbrook, said the operation was currently running 1500 females, planning to join 500 heifers this year.

He said the European Union-accredited operation normally grew steers out to feeder weight, however the last few year's with a tighter season they had turned them off as backgrounder cattle.

"We've had lot of support from the EU buyers this year on the progeny," he said.

"The last few years we've offered all our steers and the heifers we're not keeping on a big AuctionsPlus sale and it's gone well.

"Both the Table Top and Milwillah bulls we used produce great females, and that's why we keep coming back."

Other noteable sales included Peakes Angus, Barraba, who took home Milwillah Leupold U434 for $40,000.

Milwillah Valley V1002 was purchased by Kunuma Angus, Cooma, for $24,000, and Milwillah Sergeant U694 was knocked down to Duddy Angus, Glen Innes for $30,000.

Coffin Creek Angus, Mudgee, secured Milwillah Vincentvan V740 for $28,000, while return purchaser Lisa McKinlay, Emerald, Qld, took home Milwillah Powerpoint U662 for $34,000 and Milwillah Venture Cap V206 for $42,000.

Milwillah stud principal Will Caldwell the increased embyro work carried out by the stud had paid off in regards to the consistency of the bulls on offer.

"It was an interesting sale, there was value which was good and then we had the highs of some of the season topping prices as well," he said.

"It was a good sale for all involved.

"The bulls looked good, I'm really happy with the product we're putting out there.

"We've doubled our number of embryo calves dropping this year as well, so people have got access to the top-end cows of our herd."

He said the operation had been breeding and selling bulls privately in Central Queensland, and was looking to hold a sale there next year.

Mr Caldwell said all of the bulls offered in the north would be bred and raised in the tick and heat zone.

The sale was conducted by Elders Young and Nutrien Wagga Wagga, with Andrew Wishart and guest auctioneer.

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