Murgona sale clears 100pc, setting a new benchmark for stud heifers

Interstate Santa Gertrudis stud interest saw the average and top prices soar at the fifth annual Murgona Santa Gertrudis production sale held at the Taroom Showgrounds on September 12, purchasing both the top bull and top-priced female.

The significant seedstock interest in the bulls and females offered by Dan and Kasey Phillips and their children Taylor and Brian saw a 100 per cent clearance and top of $60,000 at the sale.

The 42 bulls in the draft averaged $16,404 per head while the two pregnancy-tested-in-calf stud heifers averaged $19,500 per head, producing an overall sale average of $16,545.

In 2025, the stud sold all 37 bulls offered, plus a 'pick of the paddock' option for a 100pc clearance, an average of $13,868 and a top of $28,000.

Topping this year's sale was the breed's 2026 Royal Queensland Show reserve senior champion male, Murgona Tyrant (AI)(PP), purchased by Rob and Lorraine Sinnamon, RL Pastoral Company, Kyogle NSW.

A slick-coated, dark red son of Murgona Legend (PP), Tyrant was earlier this year awarded 2026 Theodore Santa Gertrudis Feature Show junior champion male.

The 25-month-old homozygous poll bull weighed in at 950 kilograms, delivering scan data of P8 and rib fat measurements of 15 and 10 millimetres respectively, an eye muscle area of 141 square centimetres, and boasted intramuscular fat of 6.8 per cent.

Mr Sinnamon said they were delighted to have the opportunity to purchase Tyrant, reserve champion to their homebred sire, Riverina YouTube U96 (IVF) (PP), the 2026 Ekka Santa Gertrudis grand champion bull.

"We really admired his phenotype along with appreciating his raw performance data and comparative success in recent show ring performance," he said.

"He is the right kind of Santa Gertrudis sire and we are delighted that this impressive sire joins our breeding program at RL Pastoral Company."

Two led classified S heifers, both pregnancy tested in calf to Beef 2024 grand champion Santa Gertrudis bull Murgona Raider (P) were offered, with the top one, Murgona Temptation (P) selling for $20,000 to Georgia Kirkby of Waterloo Santa Gertrudis stud, Bellata NSW.

Ms Kirkby said she'd not bought Murgona bloodlines before but she really admired their cattle on the show circuits and what they'd done for other studs.

"The heifer is preg-tested to an incredible bull, she's broken in, handled and been part of the youth show, and her sire is one we really like in the Murgona program, for his strength of spine and overall character," she said.

Because the heifer is five months in calf, she will be able to be shown with a calf at foot at 2027's major shows, another plus for Ms Kirkby.

Dan Phillips said they'd never sold stud heifers before but wanted to see what interest there was for them.

Bulk buyers of the day included Denise Hartwig, Glandore, Monto securing four lots, including three male lots for an average of $15,333 per head, and the second stud female offered, Murgona Tipsy (P) for $19,000.

Jeffery and Jacqui Dann, Daldowie, Wandoan secured four male lots for an average of $10,000 per head.

Following the sale, Kasey Phillips said there had been a lot of returning clients, which was always encouraging.

"But we did welcome some new buyers this year and look forward to building relationships with them," she said.

Genetic highlights included the first offering of 17 sons sired by Murgona Parker P78, selling to a top of $30,000 for Murgona Sherlock to Scott Dunlop, Dunlop Santa Gertrudis, Proston, and averaging $12,352.

Parker was also the sire of the top-priced female.

Stud interest was a feature of the sale - the second top-priced bull, Murgona Titan (AI)(E T)(PS), sold to Dean and Jayde Hague, Rockingham Santas, Lake Cargelligo, NSW, for $55,000.

They also bought lot 5 for $28,000.

The first bull in the catalogue went to David and Suzanne Bassingthwaighte, Waco Santa Gertrudis, Mitchell, for $22,000, while Liz Allen, Forest Park Santa Gertrudis, Blackall paid $26,000 for Murgona Tundra (P).

• Selling agents: Nutrien, interfaced with AuctionsPlus