Illinois Beef Expo Hosts 2021 Seedstock Sales

Seedstock breeders consigned cattle to two different sales during the Illinois Beef Expo Feb. 25-26 at Lowderman Auction Company in Macomb. Cattle enthusiasts from throughout the Midwest had the opportunity to purchase leading genetics from some of Illinois’ most accomplished breeders.

IPT Bull Sale

Intense demand and high-caliber performance genetics pushed the 2021 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale to its second-highest average in 53 years, with 34 lots of Angus, Simmental, and Polled Hereford bulls averaging $4,396. The sale, managed by Travis Meteer, University of Illinois Extension commercial ag educator, was held Feb. 25 at the Lowderman Auction Facility near Macomb.

Kramer Angus of Farina sold the highest-indexing and top-selling bull of the sale. The bull, Kramers G Fund 008, sold for $9,100 to Graham Angus of Pearl.

Rincker Simmentals of Shelbyville sold the second-highest bull, a Simmental, for $8,000 to Witley McKinney of Neoga. Murphy Genetics of Illiopolis sold an Angus yearling bull for $6,000 to Dean Nelson, Oneida. The top-selling senior Simmental bull was offered by Rhode Brothers and sold $6,000 to Thomas Farms of Pittsfield.

“This sale continues to be one of the best sources for total performance genetics in the Midwest,” says Meteer. “During the past 53 years, the sale has sold 4,859 bulls valued at over 9 million dollars.”

Producers interested in viewing a breakdown of all the prices may visit the IPT Bull Sale website at www. IPTBullSale.com. Seedstock breeders interested in consigning to the 2022 sale may contact Travis Meteer at 217-430-7030 or email wmeteer2@illinois.edu to request a copy of the rules and regulation and nomination form. Nominations need to be made by Dec.15, 2021, for the 2022 sale.

Sponsorship for the sale is provided by Illinois Extension, Illinois Department of Animal Sciences, and the consigning breeders, with additional industry support from Vita-Ferm, ABS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Zoetis 50K, Dearwester Grain, Illinois Angus Association, and Illinois Simmental Association.

Mid America Simmental Sale

Cattlemen and women from across the state gathered in Macomb for the 2021 MidAmerica Simmental Sale. The sale totaled 41 lots from 23 consignors selling to 10 different states. The sale, managed by DP Sales Management, LLC and hosted by the Illinois Simmental Association, was held Feb. 26 at Lowderman Auction Facility in Macomb.

The top selling lot was three sexed heifer embryos from Richie Farms and Johnson Cattle Co. The embryos, K-Ler/ RC Miss Hoya Saxa, sold for $6,900 to Adkins Show Cattle in Illinois.

“The enthusiasm of the consignors and all involved was maybe at all-time high,” said Doug Parke of DP Sales Management, LLC. “The challenges we have all endured over the past year have made us all come together as a team and we all realize how blessed we are in the beef industry and agriculture.”

Breezeway and Boyer Simmentals sold the highest bred female for $5,750 to Cedar Lane Cattle of Tennessee. Loschen Farms sold the top-selling pregnant female for $5,100 to Healy Simmentals of South Dakota. The highest open female was from Bar QH Simmentals and sold for $4,000 to Joseph Wadlow of Illinois. The top-selling bull was from Schick Haefner Cattle Co. and sold for $4,000 to Roger Smith of Illinois.

“The Simmental breed continues to flourish in many ways providing show prospects to juniors, raising seedstock or producing bulls for our commercial customers,” said Parke. “We know in the end our business is providing beef for the consumers. The future looks bright for the Simmental breed and all segments of the beef industry.”

Producers interested in viewing the sale report may visit the DP Sales Management, LLC website at www. parkelivestock.com. Seedstock breeders interested in consigning to the 2022 sale may contact Doug and Debbie Parke at 859-987-5758 or email office@dpsalesllc.com.