What the Ocala Bull Sale Is
The Ocala Graded Multi-Breed Bull Sale is run by the Marion County Cattlemen's Association and bills itself as "The Nation's Oldest Continuous Graded Bull Sale." The 71st annual sale was held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion in Ocala. It brings together consignors and commercial cattle buyers from across the Southeast. In 2025, consignors came from places such as Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri, and breeds typically range from Angus, Charolais and Hereford to Brangus, Brahman and Simmental.
What sets it apart is the grading. Every bull is inspected by a committee before it reaches the ring, and bulls that do not make the grade never sell.
How Grading Works
- A committee of four commercial cattlemen and a University of Florida beef cattle specialist grades the bulls on the qualities commercial Florida producers want most.
- Grades run A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+ and C. Bulls below C are sifted, and sifted bulls are not sold. Bulls with poor feet or any physical defect that would hinder breeding in a commercial herd are sifted.
- Grades are final and a permanent record is kept.
- Every bull must pass a breeding soundness exam within 30 days of the sale and be a Satisfactory Potential Breeder.
Who Can Consign and What Bulls Qualify
- Bulls must be at least 15 and no more than 48 months old on sale day.
- Minimum weights: 1,000 lbs. for bulls 15 to 19 months, and 1,200 lbs. for bulls 20 to 48 months.
- Bulls need not be halter broken but should be gentle enough to handle.
- Every bull needs a health certificate from an accredited veterinarian, negative PI-BVD and trichomoniasis tests, a negative vibriosis test if exposed to females, and tuberculosis and brucellosis status as the rules require. Trucks must be cleaned and disinfected.
- Ear tags must be clean and legible with the lot number.
Key Dates: The Consignor Timeline
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| May 15, 2026 | Consignor packets mailed and posted online |
| August 7, 2026 | Entries due; those postmarked later are returned |
| August 31, 2026 | Photos, ranch biography and bull descriptions due |
| September 11, 2026 | Catalog finalized |
| September 15-17, 2026 | Lot numbers issued |
| October 11, 2026 | Bulls in the barn by 5:00 p.m.; check-in noon to 3:00 p.m. |
| October 12, 2026 | Grading begins at 8:00 a.m.; sale order set by 2:00 p.m. |
| October 13, 2026 | Sale at 1:00 p.m. |
Fees
A non-refundable catalog fee of $100 per bull accompanies each entry. The total commission is 6 percent of the sale price, in addition to the catalog fee. Checks are payable to the Marion County Cattlemen's Association. Performance records are provided to buyers, and entries must include a short ranch description of 75 words or less for the catalog.
For Buyers
Each lot sells separately to the highest bidder, and terms are cash, due at the end of the sale. Animals are not delivered until settlement is made. Changes to catalog information are announced from the auction block and take precedence. Many bulls come with EPD data in the sale catalog, which lets buyers judge genetic merit. Bulls are at the seller's risk until sold and the purchaser's risk afterward.
How the last sale went
At the 70th sale in 2025, 56 bulls sold for $410,450, an average of $7,329, with two Angus bulls from Barnett Angus Ranches topping the sale at over $15,000 each. The Marion County Cattlewomen's Association also holds a cake auction for student scholarships; the 2024 cake auction raised more than $2,800.
Where
Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2232 Jacksonville Road, Ocala, Florida. Entries are mailed to the Marion County Cattlemen's Association, P.O. Box 6696, Ocala, FL 34478.
Questions
Can I bring any bull?
No. Bulls must meet the age, weight, health and breeding soundness rules and earn at least a C in grading.
Who do I call?
For consignor check-in questions, call UF/IFAS Extension Marion County livestock agent Caitlin Justesen at (352) 293-1287.
Official Links
- Ocala Bull Sale website
- 2026 sale rules (PDF)
- Consignor timeline (PDF)
- Check-in reminders (PDF)
- Entry form (PDF)
- Ocala Gazette: 70th sale results
- Ocala Gazette: 70th sale preview
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
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Field day with Beef Quality Assurance training for junior cattlemen, held in Ocala. Held each year; the most recent date was November 14, 2026.
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