The Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale was the lead-off event of the 2016 Illinois Beef Expo held on Feb. 25 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. The sale had the second highest overall average in the 48 year history at $4,109 on 45 lots.
“This sale continues to be one of the best sources for total performance genetics in the Midwest,” said Travis Meteer, IPT sale manager. “During the past 48 years, the sale has sold 4,673 bulls valued at over 8.3 million dollars.”
There were three breeds represented in the 2016 sale: Angus, Simmental, and Polled Hereford. Meteer said a yearling Angus bull was the top seller, selling for $7,250. The bull, Hobbs Granite 47Y-9C, was sold by Hobbs Angus, Good Hope, IL, to University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, IL.
Hobbs and Patrick Holland consigned Lot 53, Hobbs I D 21Z-64C that sold for $7,000 to Dr. Jim Smart, LaHarpe, KS. Bruce Betzold consigned the high-indexing Angus bull that was the third high selling Angus bull selling at $6,900. He was Betzold Denver B521 and sold to Darrell Johnson, Oconee, IL.
The top selling Simmental bull was consigned by Murphy Angus and Graff Land and Livestock. He sold for $7,000 to David Swartz, Pittsfield, IL. Lot 4 consigned by Osborne & Washburn Simmentals was the second high selling Simmental at $6,000 and went to Glenn Wright, Saybrook, IL.
Sturdy Herefords consigned lot 59 who ended up being top selling Hereford bull at $5,300. Arlyn Rabideau consigned the second and third high selling Hereford bulls. Rabideau’s lot 58 brought $5,000 and lot 61 brought $4,800. Harold Ward, Rushville selected lot 59 and 61. Jack Kirk of Griggsville took home lot 58.
The University of Illinois (U of I) Extension, U of I Department of Animal Sciences, and consigning breeders sponsored the sale. Also, Vita-Ferm, ABS, Merial, Zoetis 50K, Illinois Angus Association, and Illinois Simmental Association provided industry support, Meteer said.
Producers interested in viewing a breakdown of all the prices can visit the IPT Bull Sale website at www.IPTBullSale.com. Also included on this site are the individual bull prices from the 2016 sale and the numbers and averages from the previous 47 sales.
Seed-stock breeders interested in consigning to the 2017 IPT Bull Sale should contact Travis Meteer at 217-430-7030 or wmeteer2@illinois.edu to request a copy of the rules and regulation and nomination form. Nominations need to be made by Dec.15, 2016, for the 2017 sale.