SW Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale Will Be March 25 In Springfield

PATRICK DAVIS

STOCKTON, MISSOURI

“The 103rd Southwest Missouri All Breeds Performance Tested Bull Sale is scheduled for March 25,” says Patrick Davis, University of Missouri Extension livestock field specialist. The offering consists of 30 bulls and the breed breakdown includes two Red Angus bulls, five Hereford bulls and 23 Angus bulls. This longtime running sale put on by the Southwest Missouri Beef Cattle Improvement Association will be held at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center in Springfield at 7 p.m.

“This sale pays close attention to genomics and performance measurements when developing the offering of bulls,” says Davis. An expected progeny difference (EPD) is a representation of how the bull’s progeny will perform, which represents genetic merit of that bull. Bulls that are consigned to this sale meet performance and EPD standards. Sale bulls must have EPDs that are above average for their breed in three of six categories. The six categories include calving ease direct, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk, marbling and ribeye area. Furthermore, these bulls are required to be genomic tested, which improves the confidence in their genetic merit. Davis suggests that based on the screening process of these bulls, buyers can be confident that they are buying bulls that excel in performance and genetic merit which is important when selecting the next herd sire.

“MU Extension plans to have an educational session and answer questions related to using EPDs when buying bulls,” says Davis. This session titled “Buying Bulls by the Numbers” will take place prior to the sale at 5:30 p. m. in the sale arena.

For more information on the sale and online bidding, visit https://livewireauction.com or contact sale manager Phoebe Wiles at 417-293-8002 or livewireauction@gmail.com. ∆