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Record-high results for 2025 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale

Two people sitting behind a table taking notes and bids at an auction.

URBANA, Ill. — Strong tradition leads to strong results at the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The sale held during the Illinois Beef Expo averaged $7,096 on 33 lots, reaching an all-time record-high average for the sale.

"This sale continues to be one of the best sources for total performance genetics in the Midwest," says Travis Meteer, IPT sale manager, commercial agriculture educator, and beef cattle specialist at University of Illinois Extension. “During the past 57 years, the sale has sold 5,030 bulls valued at over $10 million." 

The IPT Bull Sale is a multi-breed sale offering both older age-advantaged bulls and yearlings. Meteer said the high-selling bull was a yearling Angus bull, selling for $13,500. The bull, Kramer Farms Goalkeeper 2348, was sold by Keith and Brady Kramer, Farina, Ill., to Crosby Farms, Roachdale, Ind. The high-selling senior Simmental bull consigned by Haven Hill Simmentals, Milan, Ill., was sold for $11,000 to Kevin Hildebrand, Ohio, Ill. The high-selling senior Angus bull, consigned by Joe Curtin Cattle Company, Stonington, Ill., sold for $9,000. The high-selling yearling Simmental bull, consigned by Rincker Simmentals, Shelbyville, Ill., sold for $10,500. The high-selling Polled Hereford bull, consigned by Lowderman Cattle Company, sold for $6,500.

Sale sponsors include University of Illinois Extension, the Department of Animal Sciences at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and consigning breeders. Industry support included Axiota, Vita-Ferm, ABS, Zoetis, Dearwester Grain, FerAppease, Illinois Angus Association, and Illinois Simmental Association.

Producers interested in viewing a breakdown of all the prices can visit the IPT Bull Sale website at IPTBullSale.com. The site also includes individual bull prices from the 2025 sale and the numbers and averages from previous sale years.

Seedstock breeders interested in consigning to the 2026 IPT Bull Sale should contact Travis Meteer at 217-430-7030 or wmeteer2@illinois.edu to request a copy of the rules and regulations and nomination form. Nominations need to be made by Nov. 15.

For more information, visit Illinois Extension’s beef cattle site at go.illinois.edu/BeefCattle and featured articles from The Cattle Connection blog. 

SOURCE/WRITER: Travis Meteer, commercial agriculture educator and beef cattle specialist, Illinois Extension

EDITORJenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension

About Extension

University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.