The Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale was the lead-off event of the 2017 Illinois Beef Expo held on Feb. 23 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. The sale averaged $3,400 on 54 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 49 years, the sale has sold 4,717 bulls valued at over 8.4 million dollars."

There were three breeds represented in the 2017 sale: Angus, Simmental, and Polled Hereford. Meteer said a senior Simmental bull was the top seller, selling for $6,500. The bull, DAF Cadillac Style C4, was sold by Diamond A Farms, Altamont, IL, to Lukach Cattle, Grand Ridge IL.

The top selling Angus bull was consigned by Kramer Farms, Keith and Brady Kramer. He was the high-indexing Angus bull in the sale. He sold for $5,500 to Chris Bruns, Carthage, IL. Other high sellers included Lot 43 consigned by Osborne Simmentals who sold for $5,300 to Eugene Stufflebeam of Lewistown.

Three Angus bulls tied for the second-high selling Angus bull at $4,700. Lot14 and Lot 18 were consigned by Murphy's Angus LLP and were selected by Charles Hunt, Oakford, and Lukach Cattle, Grand Ridge, respectively. Evans Angus consigned Lot 31, who also sold for $4,700 to Dusty Farms, Rushville.

Arlyn Rabideau consigned the two high selling, and also high-indexing, Hereford bulls. Rabideau's lot 66 brought $3,000 and lot 63 brought $3,000 as well. Travis Hagen selected lot 66. Triple J Farms, Shumway, took home lot 63.

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 2017 sale and the numbers and averages from the previous 48 sales.

Seed-stock breeders interested in consigning to the 2018 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, 2017, for the 2018 sale.