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Western Illinois University's beef evaluation station will hold the 39th annual performance tested bull sale beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, March 18 at the WIU Livestock Center. According to Ken Nimrick, associate professor in Western's School of Agriculture, 50 bulls are for sale this year.
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According to WIU School of Agriculture Associate Professor Ken Nimrick, the emphasis in the beef industry today is on reducing input costs. Using the information the WIU beef evaluation test station provides, producers can cut costs quickly through greater efficiency of feed usage, he noted.
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50 Performance Tested Bulls for Sale March 18 via WIU Beef Evaluation Station

February 25, 2011

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MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's beef evaluation station will hold the 39th annual performance tested bull sale beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, March 18 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, Charolais, Charolais-Angus hybrids, Red Angus, Simmental and Simmental-Angus hybrids. All bulls are Merial SureHealth™ 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.

"With the recent increase in feed prices, feed efficiency becomes even more important than in the past. The WIU test sale is one of the few places where all bulls have individual feed efficiency data. Balanced rations and good management can affect feed efficiency and cost of production; however, studies show that approximately 40 percent of the differences in feed efficiency are accounted for by genetics. Reduced feed usage means higher profits from your next calf crop," Nimrick said. "What does this mean in dollars and cents? A bull requiring two pounds less feed per pound of gain than another bull will sire calves that will require $30-50 less feed. If that bull sires 100 calves over his lifetime, he will put $3,000 or more in your bank account compared to the other bull. Can you afford not to use a bull with documented feed efficiency? Remember, the benefits will continue to compound down the road as you save replacement females. You can inherit the difference in your herd," he added.

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 Saturday, March 5.

For more information and/or to request 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/. Learn more about WIU's School of Agriculture at www.wiu.edu/ag/.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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