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Start Selecting 2012 Illinois Performance Tested Bulls

Purebred breeders should be identifying bulls they plan to consign to the 2012 Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale that will be the lead off event for the Illinois Beef Expo. The sale is scheduled for Thursday, February 23 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Livestock Center in Springfield. The sale accepts older as well as yearling bulls, with the birth date range from January 1, 2010 through March 2011.

The IPT Bull Sale Advisory Committee recently met that represents the various breeds in the 2011 sale along with staff of the Illinois Beef Association, beef industry representatives, University of Illinois Extension Beef Team, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Illinois Department of Agriculture to review the 2011 sale and formulate plans for the 2012 sale. The 2012 sale will be the 44th Annual Sale and is organized by University of Illinois Extension, University of Illinois Department of Animal Sciences, cooperating breeders and managed by Dave Seibert.

The testing of bulls for genetic recessive traits is the same as the 2011 sale to include all Angus and "Composite Bulls" being required to either be from Non-Carrier Ancestor in their pedigree or be tested free for the genetic recessive traits. For example Simmentals composite bulls must either be tested free of these traits or have proven Non-Carrier Ancestor in their background. In addition, all other breeds entered will need to be free of recessive traits.

The 2012 sale will maintain the same six trait power score with equal emphasis on EPDs for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, maternal milk, percent intramuscular fat and ribeye area. Also, the maximum power score at the time of cataloging will be 55 which are the same as used in 2011.

The age division will remain the same as found in the 2011 sale with the fall December 2010 bulls being included with the yearlings. However, the WDA for the fall December bulls will be 2.9 while all the January through March yearlings will need to meet the WDA of 3.0. The remaining junior (July through November 2010) and senior bulls (January through June 2010) being combined and selling together. Also, the senior bulls WDA will remain the same (2.3 WDA) while the junior bulls WDA will be 2.6 for the July through September 2010 and 2.8 WDA for the October and November.

Health requirements will remain the same that include the testing of all bulls for Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) using the Persistently Infected (PI) ear notch screening system and the testing of the bulls dam for Johne's. Also, all Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE) must be conducted by a veterinarian.

Angus breeders will have two options regarding the scanning of bulls for marbling and ribeye. The first choice will remain using the ultrasound body composition images collected on their bulls by field technicians certified by the Ultrasound Guidelines Council (UCG), with images processed by ultrasound technicians through an "approved centralized ultrasound processing laboratory" and processed through the American Angus Association prior to arriving at the 2012 IPT Bull Sale. However, a second choice is the use of DNA Markers or Analysis for the carcass traits of marbling and ribeye through Igenity or Pfizer. Breeders must make sure the DNA analysis is sent in sufficient time so the result are processed through the American Angus Association and results in an improved accuracy for the two traits prior to the sale.

The number of bulls that breeders are eligible to sell in the 2012 sale will be eight, with two of these bulls not requiring nomination fee. However, consignors selling more than six bulls will require that they index above the average for their breed at cataloging. Also, first time consignors are still limited to nominating two bulls.

Nomination deadline and fees are three tiered with the following dates and costs: November 15, $75, December 1, $100; and December 15, $125. A copy of the Rules and Regulations and Nomination Form along with past sale information is posted on the web at www.IPTBullSale.com The Rules and Regulation information can also be obtained by writing to Dave Seibert at 300 North St., Washington, IL 61571 or by calling 309-339-3694. Seibert can also be contacted at seibertd@comcast.net.

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Contact Dave Seibert with any IPT Bull Sale Questions.

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