By Andi Anderson
The Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale, a prestigious annual event, will be held on February 20, 2025, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds, Artisans Building. Running from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, this sale is a key opportunity for cattle producers to acquire trusted genetics to enhance herd performance and profitability.
Known for its leadership in advancing genetic evaluation technologies, this event has connected Illinois seedstock breeders and cow-calf producers with cutting-edge practices for over 56 years. To date, nearly 5,000 bulls have been sold for over $9.5 million, showcasing its legacy of quality and trustworthiness.
All bulls featured in the sale undergo genomic-enhanced Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), ensuring accuracy and predictability in genetic performance. This reduces risks for buyers, making these bulls highly reliable for achieving desired traits in offspring.
The auction format will display videos of the bulls instead of running them through the sale ring. Buyers can inspect the bulls in person, with halter-broke and docile non-haltered bulls eligible for sale.
Bulls are evaluated based on performance in multi-trait economic selection indexes. These include:
Angus: $Combined Index, covering $Beef and $Maternal traits
Simmental: All-Purpose Index (API) and Terminal Index (TI)
Hereford: Baldy Maternal Index (BMI) and Certified Hereford Beef (CHB)
Genetic testing ensures bulls are free of common recessive traits, and health checks include BVD, Johne’s disease, and trich testing based on age and exposure status.
The Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale continues to set the standard in advancing cattle genetics, offering producers a trusted source for building stronger herds.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-steveoehlenschlager
Categories: Illinois, Livestock