18 July 2013

4 minute read

North America

The 46th annual sale will act as the lead-off event at the annual Illinois Beef Expo in February at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. The sale accepts bulls with a birthdate range of Jan. 1, 2012, through March 31, 2013.

The IPT Bull Sale advisory committee, along with Illinois Beef Association staff, beef industry representatives, University of Illinois Extension, and U of I College of Veterinary Medicine, recently met to review the 2013 sale and to formulate plans for the 2014 sale. The 2014 sale will be organized by U of I Extension, U of I Department of Animal Sciences, cooperating breeders, and industry representatives.

Multi-trait economic selection indexes will be the foundation for determining sale order, Meteer explained. The sale order will be based off the “Percentile Rank” for a maternal and a terminal Dollar Value Index in each breed. The indexes used, for respective breeds, are: Angus-$Wean ($W), $Beef ($B); Simmental-All Purpose Index (API), Terminal Index (TI); Hereford-Baldy Maternal Index (BMI), Certified Hereford Beef index (CHB).

“These indexes are the most reliable predictor of improving profit if calves are marketed at weaning or as fed cattle,” Meteer said. “The use of Dollar Value Indexes is a step in the right direction toward helping a producer select cattle that have a true positive impact on the bottom line” he added.

With a significant increase in cattle movement in recent years due to drought, diseases such as trichomoniasis, which has traditionally been localized to the western regions of the United States, have expanded to many parts of the country. As a result some states have implemented rules that require testing certain aged bulls before they are allowed entry. All bulls over 24 months of age and bulls that have been exposed to other cows will be required to be tested for trichomoniasis. Virgin bulls under 24 months of age will need a certificate or written statement endorsed by the bull owner indicating he has not been exposed, Meteer said.

Other health requirements remaining the same as those in previous sale years include the testing of all bulls for bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) using the persistently infected (PI) ear notch screening system. Johne’s testing must occur on the bull’s dam or recipient dam or the bull must come from a herd that is Level 1 or higher for the Voluntary Johne’s Certification Program. All breeding soundness exams must be conducted by a veterinarian.

Bulls of all breeds and composite bulls will again be required to be free of all genetic recessive traits. They will need to be from non-carrier ancestors and thus “clean by pedigree” or be tested free of genetic recessive traits.

Age divisions will remain the same as in the previous sale, with December 2012 bulls included in the yearlings. The weight per day of age (WDA) for the fall December bulls will be 2.9 pounds per day, whereas the January through March yearlings will need to meet the WDA of 3.0 pounds per day. The remaining junior (July through November 2012) and senior bulls (January through June 2012) will be combined and sold together. Senior bulls will need to meet a 2.3 pounds-per-day WDA while the junior bulls will need to meet 2.6 pounds per day for July through September and 2.8 pounds per day for October and November.

Angus breeders will have two options regarding meeting the carcass data requirement. The first is to have ultrasound body composition images taken by field technicians certified by the Ultrasound Guidelines Council (UCG), with images processed through the American Angus Association prior to arriving at the 2014 sale. The second option is to use DNA marker analysis for the carcass traits available through Igenity or Pfizer. “Breeders must make sure the DNA analysis is sent in sufficient time so the results are processed through the American Angus Association and results in an improved accuracy for the traits prior to the sale,” Meteer said.

Breeders will be eligible to sell 8 bulls in the 2014 sale, with two not requiring a nomination fee. However, consignors selling more than six bulls will be required to index above the average for their breed at cataloging. Also, first-time consignors are limited to nominating two bulls.

Nomination deadline and fees are three-tiered with the following dates and costs: Nov. 15, $75; Dec. 1, $100; and Dec. 15, $125. A copy of the rules and regulations and nomination form along with the past sale information is posted online at www.iptbullsale.com. The rules and regulation information can also be obtained by contacting Meteer at 217-823-1340 or [email protected].