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Western Illinois University's beef evaluation station will hold the 40th annual performance tested bull sale beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, March 16 at the WIU Livestock Center. According to Ken Nimrick, associate professor in Western's School of Agriculture, 50 bulls are for sale. Photo by Darcie Rahe (Bluffs, IL), senior, agriculture major.
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50 Performance Tested Bulls for Sale March 16 at WIU

February 29, 2012

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MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's beef evaluation station will hold the 40th annual performance tested bull sale beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, March 16 at the WIU Livestock Center, located one mile west of Highway 67 on Tower Road in Macomb. According to Ken Nimrick, associate professor in Western's School of Agriculture, 50 bulls are for sale this year.

Breeds represented are Angus, Polled Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, Simmental-Gelbvieh hybrids and Simmental-Angus hybrids. All bulls are Merial SureHealthTM certified, and they tested free of Johnes disease, PI- BVD and known genetic defects. At the sale date, they will have completed a breeding soundness exam and will be ready to go, Nimrick noted.

"Extensive production information is available to help breeders improve their herds through known genetic information," he explained. "In addition to average daily gain and feed efficiency, data will also be provided on rib eye area, 12th rib fat, marbling, scrotal circumference, pelvic area, frame score and birth weight, as well as EPD data from the respective breed associations."

According to Nimrick, 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.

"The 73 percent of repeat buyers attest to the quality of bulls available at a reasonable cost and to the success cow men and women are having with genetics from this sale," Nimrick said. "Whatever your goal, whether you are looking for a bull that will sire cow herd replacements; wanting to breed yearling heifers; wanting to produce the most pounds from your cowherd; or you are in need of a bull to improve carcass characteristics in your calves, there are bulls at the 40th annual sale that will fill the bill."

The WIU bull testing station is open daily for those who want to view the bulls prior to the sale. Catalogs will be sent via the beef evaluation station's regular mailing list around March 5. Lowderman Auction Service will auctioneer the sale.

For more information and a sale catalog, contact the WIU School of Agriculture at (309) 298-1080. The sale catalog and additional information on the bulls is also available at the test station's website at www.wiu.edu/bulltest/.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing