The bull was sold for three-quarters interest to a two-part syndicate that included Sullivan Farms of Dunlap, Iowa; and Curtis and Jackie Castle of Crawford, Oklahoma.

Colyer Herefords & Angus will retain the other quarter interest in the bull.

C Miles McKee went into the sale barn having earned accolades as the leadoff bull for the National Western Stock Show Grand Champion Pen; and as Southwestern Livestock Exposition Grand Champion Bull at the Fort Worth Stock Show.

The bull captured the attention of crowds at both shows, leading Kyle Colyer, one of the managers at Colyers Herefords & Angus, to expect a big price tag at the ranch’s annual sale.

“At that point in time, we were confident we had something special in that calf that set him apart from the other cattle,” said Colyer, who manages the ranch with his father Guy. “There was more interest in that one individual than any other animals we’ve had overall.”

So what is it that makes a bull worth such a record price? Colyer describes the bull as the product of what the industry wants today in genetic makeup and high-demand phenotypes.

“If he was born 15 years ago, I doubt he’d be very popular,” Colyer said. “But today he has all the pieces and genetic profile that’s part of it.

He’s a bit more moderate in his framework, but not too small. He’s got a tremendous amount of muscle shape and depth of rib. He’s also really sound and nice-fronted. He has a real presence about him now. “

Colyer, who graduated from Kansas State, told his old livestock judging team coach Scott Schaake that he had named the bull after Schaake’s mentor – Dr. Miles McKee.

McKee, a renowned instructor at K-State, was influential in building the Hereford base as the university’s beef cattle herdsman.

“We thought this would be a good idea to name this bull Miles McKee,” Colyer said. “We just wanted to make sure it was the right one.

Sometimes you name a bull and they’re popular for a while. But then you realize everybody forgets about him.

“We wanted to wait to find a bull where it was going to stick and a bull that was going to make it’s mark.”s
Colyer said the family’s annual bull sale had similar attendance to sales in the past.

But with Internet, video and mobile phone accessibility in most producers’ hands, Colyer said the interest in C Miles McKee exceeded his expectations.

One of those watching remotely was Dr. McKee himself. Colyer told Schaake he expected the bull’s sale to be a good one – he estimated as high as $80,000.

So Schaake linked up to the sale on the Internet, and with McKee and a crowd of over 400 K-State students and faculty in the room, C Miles McKee went up for the highest bidder.

When the final bid rang up at $600,000 the thrill was felt from Bruneau, Idaho to 1,200 miles away in Manhattan, Kansas.

“It was an exciting to see,” said Schaake. “Dr. McKee was very pleased, and very humble about it. Everyone in the room was amazed to see a bid go that high.”

As for those who may view the sale skeptically, doubting whether a bid that high isn’t under the table, or a pre-arranged bargain – Colyer says he understands the doubters.

“If I was on the other side of the question, I’d say the same thing. That can’t be right,” Colyer said. “My response is if you were here that day, you’d only have to see and know it was real.

“People made the comment, ‘Being at that bull sale was neat, but watching you and your dad’s face was the best thing about it.’ Because it was as much a surprise to us as anyone.”

The bull, whose sire was NJW Ribeye 88 X, also had a prize-winning mother in C Notice Me, an overall grand champion female at the 2004 National Western.

“That female has been primarily the ornerstone of all our ET work and all the calves when it comes down to it the last eight to 10 years, her calves are the ones that come to the top.”

Going into the sale he told interested parties that the Colyers would keep a quarter interest and sell three-quarters. “If we were selling only half it limits things, the way I looked at it.

There’s only so many people that can get involved. We let the owners and people decide how much they wanted to spend and how they wanted to be involved, and with whom.

As for the future of C Miles McKee, Colyer said the two-party syndicate doesn’t want to sell semen on their own, but rather aims to build their own herds with the genetics.

“They are totally 100 percent confident in what they bought, and want to use it for own herd genetics.”

The Colyer ranch is now in its third generation of management. Kyle Colyer’s grandparents started the operation with 400 commercial Hereford cattle, before wanting to turn to purebred operations.

Colyer said that foundation and the pursuit of good business connections with sound genetics has built strong ties, making such a record-setting sale possible.

“A lot of that too comes down to people being in business with those who are honest,” he said. “The bull is what it is, and that’s what makes a difference and try to trust the customers and treat them right, guarantee the cattle. That’s what makes a difference.” 

PHOTO
C Miles McKee, a horned Hereford from Colyer Herefords & Angus of Bruneau, Idaho, went to a two-party syndicate for $600,000 at three-quarters interest. Photo courtesy of Colyer Herefords & Angus.