The 74th sale of bulls at the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association's sale on Oct. 26 ran both "hot and cold" according to Eldon Cole, a University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist.
The high points of the sale were 10 bulls brought $2,300 or more. The low points in the sale were three no sales or bulls that didn't receive a single bid and six bulls only that brought the $1,500 floor price.
"It's always a challenge to look at a sale and try to figure out what the buyers are looking for," said Cole. "When you look at the information from the sale it appears that breed and breeder were big factors."
"Angus again topped the sale with a $2112 average on 21 head sold.
"The top 10 bulls were Angus and came from breeders who have been regular consignors to this sale for many years, so reputation appears to have played a part," said Cole.
The top-price bulls averaged about one month older, were larger framed and the EPDs (expected progeny difference) indicated a trend to better calving ease, more yearling weight and a greater potential for milking ability in their daughters.
Leading the price parade was an Angus consigned by Brett Naylor, Buffalo. He sold to a consistent buyer at the sale, Brackenridge Brothers, Eldorado Springs. The August 2008 son of TC Rito 416 had an impressive set of EPDs for weaning weight 62 lbs., yearling weight 108 lbs., milk 26 lbs. and $Beef, 58.58. These values all place the bull in at least the top 15 percentile ranking for young Angus bulls.
The next sale of bulls will be March 29, 2010. The birth date range for those bulls will be from May 1, 2008 to Feb. 28, 2009. The sales are held at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center.
Breeders who wish to participate in the bull sale should contact the nearest University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist: Eldon Cole in Mt. Vernon, (417) 466-3102; Gary Naylor in Dallas County, (417) 345-7551; and Dona Goede in Cedar County, (417) 276-3313.
David Burton
Civic Communications Specialist
833 Boonville
Springfield, MO 65802
417-862-9284
burtond@missouri.edu