The Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale was the lead-off event of the 2018 Illinois Beef Expo held on Feb. 22 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield, Ill. The sale averaged $3,875 on 50 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 50 years, the sale has sold 4,740 bulls valued at over 8.7 million dollars."
There were three breeds represented in the 2018 sale: Angus, Simmental, and Polled Hereford. Meteer said a yearling Angus bull was the top seller, selling for $9,000. The bull, MG Leupold 11E, was sold by Murphy Angus LLP, Illiopolis, to John Brunner, Springfield. Murphy Angus LLP also had the second-high selling bull. He was lot 9 and sold for $6,000.
The top selling Simmental bull was consigned by Rincker Cattle Company. He sold for $5,800 to Dean Nelson, Oneida. The second-high selling Simmental bull, and highest indexing Simmental bull, was consigned by Rincker Simmentals and he sold for $5,300 to Thomas Lave, Effingham, IL
The top selling Polled Hereford bull was consigned by Sturdy Herefords, Rochester. He sold for $4,300 to Melvin Smith, Effingham. Travis Hagen, Hamburg, took home lot 62 for $4,000. Lot 62 was the high-indexing Hereford bull consigned by Rabideau Polled Herefords.
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, Boehringer-Ingelheim, 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 2018 sale and the numbers and averages from the previous 49 sales.
Seed-stock breeders interested in consigning to the 2019 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 2019 sale.