Elite Bulls Take Center Stage in Illinois

By Andi Anderson

The Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale is set to take place at 11 a.m. on Feb. 20 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. This annual event marks the beginning of the 2025 Illinois Beef Expo, where participants, including 4-H families, enhance their skills and showcase cattle.

For over 56 years, the IPT Bull Sale has been a trusted platform for breeders and commercial cow-calf producers, facilitating the sale of 4,997 bulls worth over $9.5 million. The event is known for offering high-quality genetics and integrating advanced evaluation methods to improve herd performance.

“We’re excited to bring another set of bulls to Springfield for cattle producers to spend the morning networking and adding elite genetics to their herds,” said Travis Meteer, sale manager, commercial agriculture educator, and beef cattle specialist at University of Illinois Extension. “Along with history and tradition, the sale has offered some of the best genetics based on performance standards utilized by the beef industry.”

Sale Format and Bull Qualifications

All bulls will be available for viewing before the auction. The sale, held in the Artisans Building, will feature video presentations instead of a live parade through the ring. Both halter-broke and docile, non-halter-broke bulls will be offered, with temperament screenings conducted before the sale.

Bulls qualify for the sale based on performance in multi-trait economic selection indexes. Sale order is determined by each breed’s ranking in maternal and terminal Dollar Value Indexes, including:

• Angus: $Combined ($C), which includes $Beef ($B) and $Maternal ($M)
• Simmental: All Purpose Index (API) and Terminal Index (TI)
• Hereford: Baldy Maternal Index (BMI) and Certified Hereford Beef Index (CHB)

Calving ease expected progeny differences (EPD) must rank within the top 85th percentile, and all bulls undergo breeding soundness exams by a veterinarian. Detailed sale policies on genetic recessive traits and health requirements are available on the IPT Bull Sale website.

Sponsors include Illinois Extension, VitaFerm, Axiota Animal Health, Illinois Angus Association, Zoetis, Illinois Simmental Association, ABS Global, and Dearwester Grain Services, Inc.

For inquiries or accommodation requests, contact Travis Meteer at wmeteer2@illinois.edu or 217-430-7030.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-pamwalker68