56th Annual Southwest Missouri All-Breed Performance Tested Bull Sale - AgEBB
University Extension Center
Courthouse, P.O. Box 388
Mt. Vernon, MO 65712
(417) 466-3102
For Further Information Contact
Eldon Cole at the above Address
October 31, 2000

STRONG PRICES FOR TOP BULLS

The 56th all-breed tested bull sale at Mt. Vernon, October 30 saw 43 bulls walk through the ring at a $1843 average. The bidding was especially active on the 7 Charolais bulls as they led the averages at $2550. The top Charolais bull was entered by Denver Alsup, Fair Grove and sold to Rob Creasey, Macomb, Illinois for $3500.

As has been the case in recent sales there was strong interest in the Angus offering. The 29 Angus bulls had a $1776 average and had four bulls all with a $2400 price tag placed on them by the bidders. The sellers and buyers were: Fred Swartzentruber, Halfway to John & Janet Massey, Aurora; Davies Cattle Co., Buffalo to Jerry Duff, Tunas; Carrier Farms, Lockwood to Lost Creek Cattle Co., Grove, OK; Bridges and Clear Creek Angus, Springfield to Charles & Sharon Whisman, Shell Knob.

The three Simmental bulls sold for a $1517 average with a $1700 top. The top bull was from Vestlane Farms, Polk. The buyer was Sunny Acres Inc., Cassville. The four Polled Herefords averaged $1338. The leader of that breed was an entry from Biglieni Farms, Republic that sold for $1500 to Lichti Farms, Huntsville, Arkansas.

Eldon Cole, livestock specialist for University Outreach and Extension, Mt. Vernon says each sale shows stronger buyer respect for the expected progeny difference (EPD) information that is provided on all bulls. To illustrate the point, he referred to the EPD, within breed rankings of the four top-selling Angus bulls. The average birth weight rank of the four placed them in the top 32 percent of Angus of comparable age. As for the weaning and yearling growth EPDs, they ranked 12th and 9th in the breed. As far as milk producing ability of their daughters they come in with a 27 percentile rank. This method of evaluating genetic differences really works over the long haul the specialist stresses.

Sponsors of the tested sale are the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association in cooperation with University Outreach and Extension. Breeders wishing to qualify bulls for future sales should contact their local center and livestock specialist.

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