The 62nd test of the Indiana Beef Evaluation Program finished September 22, 2008. A total of 120 bulls from six breeds completed the test. The bulls were entered by 43 seedstock producers from Indiana, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Bulls were fed a moderate-energy ration during the 125-day test and daily gain for the entire group was 4.06 lbs. The bulls are in ideal body condition for use this fall or to continue their growth and development for use next spring.

Angus bull #50 from Alcoa Land, Grandview, IN is the top sale indexing bull and will lead off the sale. To lead off the sale, #50 had to excel in eight economically important traits. Number 50’s Performance Index was 109.3 along with an outstanding Carcass Merit Index of 111.2. In addition, his EPD’s for Birth Weight, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight, Maternal Milk, and Direct Calving Ease are in the top 1-20% of the breed. He also has excellent Carcass EPD’s for Weight, Marbling, and Ribeye Area, along with $ Indexes for $ Weaning, $ Feedlot, $ Grid, $ Quality Grade, and $ Beef. Number 50 is sired by LCC New Standard. Alcoa Land has a total of four bulls in the sale.

Second in sale order is Angus #90 from Rural Venture Farm, Lawrenceburg, KY. Number 90 excelled in performance with an index of 113.7 along with excellent EPD’s for Birth Weight, Maternal Milk, Maternal Calving Ease, and $ Index for $ Weaning. Number 90 was a member of the top indexing get-of-sire group, sired by Dalebanks Alliance 0872, along with #89, 91, and 92. The get had an index of 110.5, topping the 14 get-of-sire groups in the test, and all four bulls are in the sale.

Other excellent bulls selling early in the sale include Angus #95 sired by SS Objective T510 0T26 from Green Acres Angus, Walkerton, IN; SimAngus #6 sired by Sitz New Design 349M, and Angus #9 sired by Riverbend Mile High 3718, both from Bill Washburn, Olney, IL; Angus #233 sired by MA Freedom 475-492 from Betzold Farms, Nokomis, IL; Angus #20 sired by GAR Center Pivot of CLA from Von Leer Farm/Mitchell, IN, Santa Monica, CA; and Angus #81 sired by SS Objective T510 0T26 from Powell Farms, Worthington, IN. Powell Farms also have four bulls in the sale.

Cattle producers looking to enhance the genetic potential of both the female and sire sides of their herds will not want to miss these sales on Saturday, October 18, 2008, at the Springville Feeder Auction, Springville, IN. Bred heifers will sell at 2:00 p.m. and bulls sell immediately following the heifers. In addition, the sale will be broadcast live over the internet through DVAuction Services. Users with high speed internet access and interested in buying or just viewing the sale need to visit the DVAuction web site at www.dvauction.com.

A total of 59 bulls will be offered for sale (47 Angus, 1 Charolais, 1 Gelbvieh Balancer, 4 Simmental, and 6 SimAngus). These 59 bulls were the top indexing bulls of their breed and have passed a rigorous inspection for breeding and structural soundness. Also, all bulls have been measured by ultrasound for ribeye area, backfat and percent intramuscular fat (marbling). In addition, EPD data for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, maternal milk, calving ease, carcass traits, and $ indexes are available to assist producers in bull selection.

Bulls may be seen at the Test Station, located at the Feldun-Purdue Ag. Center, 3 miles northwest of Bedford on SR 158 and 458, or after 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 at the Springville Feeder Auction.

For additional information, contact your County Extension Educator, or Donna Lofgren, 765-494-6439; Barbara Probasco, 765-494-4843; Kern Hendrix, 765-427-9076; or Richard Huntrods, Station Manager, 812-279-8554. Also, complete performance data and photos of sale bulls can be viewed at the Web Site: http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/ibep/. The sale catalog is online, and includes a feature which allows users to search for bulls which meet their criteria.