URBANA, Ill. — Seedstock breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale. The IPT Bull Sale is the leadoff event for the annual Illinois Beef Expo in Springfield. The sale is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, in the Artisans Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The sale accepts older as well as younger bulls, with a birth date range from Jan. 1, 2024, through March 2025.
The nomination deadline is Dec. 1, 2025, with a nomination fee of $100 per bull. A copy of the Rules, Regulations, and Nomination Form, along with the past sale information, is posted on the web at IPTBullSale.com.
Qualifications and Requirements
Multi-trait economic selection indexes will be the foundation for determining qualification and sale order. The sale order will be based on the % Rank for a maternal and a terminal Dollar Value Index in each breed. The two indexes used have been included in the IPT Bull Sale catalog for several years, and the respective breeds include:
- Angus: $Combined ($C), which consists of $Beef ($B) and $Maternal ($M),
- Simmental: All Purpose Index (API), Terminal Index (TI)
- Hereford: Baldy Maternal Index (BMI); Certified Hereford: Beef index (CHB)
Bulls are required to have a calving ease EPD in the top 85th percentile. Halter-broke and docile, as well as non-halter-broke bulls, are allowed to be nominated. Non-halter broke cattle will be strictly screened for disposition. Bulls will need to have a high-quality picture and video taken prior to the sale to participate in the sale. All bulls will be processed in Springfield and on display for buyer inspection.
The sale policy regarding genetic conditions is the same as in past years. The most up-to-date policy on genetic recessive traits can be found within the Rules, Regulations, and Nomination form list on the IPT Bull Sale website.
Health requirements continue to be the focus of the sale. Requirements remaining the same as the previous sale include:
- Testing of all bulls for Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) using the Persistently Infected (PI) ear notch screening system.
- Johne’s testing must occur on the bull’s dam or recipient dam or come from a herd that is Level 1 or higher for the Voluntary Johne’s Certification Program.
- All breeding soundness exams must be conducted by a veterinarian.
- All bulls over 24 months of age and bulls that have been exposed to cows will be required to be tested for trich.
- Virgin bulls under 24 months of age will need a certificate or written statement endorsed by the bull owner indicating that he has not been exposed.
The number of bulls that breeders are eligible to sell in the 2026 sale will be eight, with two of the bulls not requiring a nomination fee. However, consignors selling more than six bulls will require that they index above the average for their breed at cataloging. Also, first-time consignors are limited to nominating four bulls.
All bulls consigned to the 2026 sale will be required to have genomic-enhanced EPDs. This is easily accomplished by sending a tissue, blood, or hair sample to the breed-approved genetic testing lab. The sale will accept both low- and high-density tests to meet the requirement.
The IPT Bull Sale is known for giving the bull buyer all the necessary information to make positive herd progress. Genomic-enhanced EPDs are more accurate and predictable EPDs.
“We are reducing the risk on these bulls," says Travis Meteer, sale manager, commercial agriculture educator, and beef cattle specialist with University of Illinois Extension. "The bulls selling can be trusted more now than ever to sire true to their values."
For form requests, IPT sale questions, or if you will need a reasonable accommodation to participate, contact Travis Meteer at wmeteer2@illinois.edu or by phone at 217-430-7030. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
SOURCE/WRITER: Travis Meteer, commercial agriculture educator and beef cattle specialist, Illinois Extension
EDITOR: Jenna Braasch, media communications coordinator, Illinois 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.