The 'complete package': Millah Murrah bull smashes national record price

Bulls headed to nearly all states in a record-smashing result at the Millah Murrah on-property Angus bull sale near Bathurst, on Thursday, September 3.

Bidding hit its highs early in the sale with Millah Murrah Wyatt W50 knocked down for a mammoth $420,000 at lot 4, to stud Gundungarra Angus, Robertson.

The price is a national Angus breed record and believed to be a national all-breeds beef record price.

But it was not the only high of the sale, which had full clearance of 121 bulls for an average $37,528, grossing more than $4.5 million.

In 2025, the stud sold 124 bulls for an average $34,145.

The 2026 breakdown included 64, 18-month-old bulls to the $420,000 top, averaging $42,546; 36 yearlings to $72,000, averaging $31,110 and 21, two-year-old bulls to $54,000, averaging $33,238.

Wyatt was sired by Millah Murrah Ulsterman U145, which goes back to Millah Murrah Rector R53, while the dam Millah Murrah Kerry U68, goes back to Millah Murrah Ricky R45.

Named in honour of stud founder Wyatt Thompson, the bull's estimated breeding values figures include good fat scores in the top 5 per cent for rib at +3.2 and top 8pc for rump at +3.1pc, with an eye muscle area figure of +10.4.

Wyatt also has calving ease-daughter figures of +8.4, gestational length of -8.2 and mature cow body condition of +0.53 - all in the top 5-8pc, with him already used with heifers in the stud this season.

His 200-day, 400-day and 600-day growth figures were +51, +95 and +125, respectively.

He also had stand-out feet, ranked in the top 2pc for claw structure and feet angle.

Millah Murrah stud principal Ross Thompson said Wyatt was "the most complete bull we've ever put forward for sale".

"Every animal has an imperfection but he's the closest I've ever been in my breeding career to getting everything in the right spot - structure, phenotype, pedigree, data, temperament, beautiful strong head and great feet," he said.

Gundungarra Angus manager Dave Croker said they had identified this bull early on, particularly liking his sire.

"When we first saw him, he was the complete package - a very complete bull," he said.

"He's one of the best Angus bulls I've seen in my life. He has so much scope and presence, and is as quiet as a cat.

"I fell in love with him and needed to have him."

Of paying a record price for Wyatt, Mr Croker said he knew there would be plenty of competition for this bull.

"We think as good as he is, he'll leave a long-lasting impact on the industry," he said.

Wyatt will be used "heavily" in the stud, with some semen to be released.

Gundungarra Angus also bought a second bull, Millah Murrah Warlock W216, for $64,000.

In 2025, Gundungarra Pastoral paid $150,000 for Millah Murrah Vulcan V105.

The 610kg, yearling was by Millah Murrah Trigger T308 and Millah Murrah Flower U333, with a birthweight EBV of +1.4, in the top 10pc, as well as EMA and rib fat figures in the top 6pc at +12.7 and +3.0, and a milk figure of +27 in the top 5pc.

His 200-day, 400-day and 600-day weight figures were +42, +83 and +106 respectively.

Also capturing plenty of attention was Millah Murrah Woodruff W48, catalogued at lot 14 and brought forward to be offered at lot 11.

The 19-month-old, 812kg bull, sold at $200,000, to a syndicate of Heart Angus, Tamworth, and Shepwok Angus, Esperance, WA.

The bull was by Millah Murrah Ricky R45, out of Millah Murrah Flower T238, a dam that goes back to Millah Murrah Paratrooper P15, which set the $160,000 Angus breed record in 2019.

Two full sisters of Flower T238 averaged $90,000 at the Millah Murrah female sale in 2023.

Woodruff's figures included a calving ease-daughter EBV of +94, in the top 3pc, a MCB figure in the top 1pc at +0.74 and feet scores in the top 1pc and 2pc.

His 200-day weight was +59, 400-day at +107 and 600-day of +135.

He has already been used within the stud, with them expecting 35 calves in autumn.

The bidding partnership in part came about through a cricket trip, with the Paterson family of Heart Angus visiting Jordan Whiting of Shepwok Angus while in the region late last year.

The idea was cemented the morning of the sale.

"We kept bidding against each other and decided it was easier to go together," Mr Whiting said.

Woodruff will remain in NSW but will be used heavily in the Shepwok AI program, with semen also to be marketed through Hallmark Genetics.

Chris Paterson said the bull stood out for his balance, thickness and breeding.

Jye Paterson said Woodruff was difficult to fault with great pedigree.

In another sale standout, a full brother to Wyatt W50 followed him into the ring, with Millah Murrah Weston W20 knocked down at $120,000.

The 812kg, 19-month-old had 45cm scrotal circumference and 6.5 frame score, as well as top 2pc and 1pc claw structure and foot angle EBVs.

Weston's other figures included a top 2pc eye muscle area of +14.6 and retail beef yield of +1.9, as well as a top 3pc docility of +41.

His 200-day, 400-day and 600-day weight figures were +52, +87 and +120, with Weston also used on heifers within Millah Murrah.

He was bought by Bassett Angus, Roma, Qld, among its two lots.

Edward Bassett said they have had excellent success with Millah Murrah genetics in the past and thought Weston a "very good bull".

"He's just an excellent bull with good skin type, walks well, with a very good phenotype and overall genetics," he said.

Bassett Angus also bought Millah Murrah Wilson W18, a Milwillah Ramjet R1029 son, out of Millah Murrah Flower U39, at $44,000.

There was plenty of stud interest from the outset with Ellengerrin Angus, Inverleigh, Vic, kicking off the sale by paying $50,000 for Millah Murrah Wilbur W80; Ascot Angus, Warwick, Qld, paid $52,000 for two-year-old Millah Murrah Vigour V215; Coolie Angus, Merriwa, selected Millah Murrah Warlock W180 for $46,000 and Boambee Angus, East Seaham, took home Millah Murrah Warlock W36 for $44,000.

Rosemount Angus, Newbridge, bought Millah Murrah Winston W227 for $42,000 and Millah Murrah Whisper W207 for $34,000; Rosebank Angus, Tariana, selected Millah Murrah Wordsworth W84 for $42,000; Wilgunya Angus, Gerangamete, Vic, took home Millah Murrah Whisper W261 for $38,000; a syndicate of Kidman Angus, Dubbo, and Red Willow Partnership, Dubbo, selected Millah Murrah Whisper W214 for $34,000; Hurley Family Angus, Darco, Vic, bought Millah Murrah Wilson W119 at $28,000 and SB Angus, Brooklyn, bought Millah Murrah Warlord W143 at $24,000.

With more than 150 registered bidders, competition minimised those selecting in volume.

JS Grazing, Injune, Qld, selected four bulls to $46,000, averaging $36,500; RJ Pye, Drillham, Qld, bought four bulls to $32,000, averaging $28,500; and Greenhills Pastoral, Willow Tree, bought four bulls to $28,000, averaging $24,500.