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Western Illinois University's beef evaluation station will hold its 37th annual performance tested bull sale at 7 p.m. Friday, March 20 at the WIU Livestock Center.
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Bull at WIU's beef evaluation station , one mile west of Highway 67 on Tower Road in Macomb.
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WIU Performance Tested Bull Sale March 20

March 3, 2009

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MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's beef evaluation station will hold its 37th annual performance tested bull sale at 7 p.m. Friday, March 20 at the WIU Livestock Center, located one mile west of Highway 67 on Tower Road in Macomb.

"With the recent increase in feed prices, feed efficiency becomes even more important than in the past," said Ken Nimrick, associate professor in WIU's agriculture department. "The WIU test sale is one of the few places where all bulls have individual feed efficiency data."

Breeds represented are Angus, Charolais-Angus hybrids, Simmental and Simmental-Angus, Red Angus, Gelbvieh and Gelbvieh-Angus and Limousin-Angus hybrids. All bulls came on test Merial SureHealthTM certified and tested free of Johnes. Once again this year, all bulls were tested free of persistently infected BVD (Bovine virus diarrhea).

"At WIU, all bulls are tested under identical conditions so we can see how bulls from different breeders compare when fed and managed the same," explained Bruce Engnell, coordinator of the ag department's University farm. "Our computer feeding system determines how much each bull eats per day so we can measure the amount of feed it takes to put on a pound of gain. The emphasis in the beef industry today is on reducing input costs, and producers can cut costs quickly through greater efficiency of feed usage, using the information the test station provides," he added.

Extensive production information is available about these bulls to help breeders improve their herds through known genetic information. In addition to average daily gain and feed efficiency, data will also be provided on ribeye area, 12th rib fat, marbling, scrotal circumference, pelvic area, frame score and birthweight, plus EPD (Eukaryotic Promoter Database) data from the respective breed associations.

"The WIU Bull Test provides breeders and potential buyers with more performance information than any other Performance Tested Bull Sale," Engnell noted. "All bulls offered for sale have completed a breeding soundness exam and are ready for the upcoming breeding season."

Lowderman Auction Service will auctioneer the sale.

The WIU bull testing station is open daily for those interested in viewing the bulls prior to the sale. Catalogs will go out to the regular mailing list early this month.

For more information, to request a sale catalog or to schedule a viewing, contact Nimrick at (309) 298-1288, Bruce Engnell at (309) 298-2233 or the WIU agriculture department at (309) 298-1080. The sale catalog and additional information about the bulls is also available at wiu.edu/bulltest.

Posted By: Teresa Koltzenburg (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing