What the Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale Is
The Illinois Performance Tested (IPT) Bull Sale is a multi-breed sale of bulls chosen on performance data, not on looks alone. It leads off the Illinois Beef Expo at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield and is run through Illinois Extension. The most recent sale was Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. in the Artisans Building. Over 58 years the sale has sold 5,067 bulls worth more than $10 million, offering both older age-advantaged bulls and yearlings.
For Buyers
Bulls are processed in Springfield and displayed for buyer inspection before the sale. During the live auction, videos of each bull are shown, and a digital catalog and bull photos are posted on the IPT Bull Sale website, IPTBullSale.com. Halter-broke bulls and docile non-halter-broke bulls are both eligible, and non-halter-broke cattle are strictly screened for disposition before the sale.
Sale order and qualification rest on multi-trait economic indexes, using each breed's percent rank for a maternal and a terminal Dollar Value Index:
- Angus: $Combined ($C), built from $Beef ($B) and $Maternal ($M)
- Simmental: All Purpose Index (API) and Terminal Index (TI)
- Hereford: Baldy Maternal Index (BMI)
- Certified Hereford: Certified Hereford Beef index (CHB)
Calving ease EPDs must be in the top 85th percentile. All breeding soundness exams must be done by a veterinarian.
For Consignors: Nominating a Bull
| Item | 2026 sale requirement |
|---|---|
| Nomination deadline | December 1, 2025 |
| Nomination fee | $100 per bull; two bulls per consignor are free |
| Bull limit | Up to eight bulls per consignor; first-time consignors up to four |
| More than six bulls | Consignor must index above the breed average at cataloging |
| Birth dates | January 1, 2024 through March 2025 |
| Genetics | Genomic-enhanced EPDs from tissue, blood or hair at a breed-approved lab; low- or high-density tests accepted |
| Media | High-quality photo and video before the sale |
Health Requirements
- BVD: every bull tested with the Persistently Infected (PI) ear notch screening system.
- Johne's disease: testing on the bull's dam or recipient dam, or the bull comes from a herd at Level 1 or higher in the Voluntary Johne's Certification Program.
- Trichomoniasis: required for bulls over 24 months of age and for bulls exposed to cows.
- Virgin bulls under 24 months need a certificate or an owner-endorsed written statement confirming no exposure.
- The recessive genetic condition policy is spelled out in the Rules and Nomination Form.
How It Works: The Timeline
- Early DecemberNominations close (December 1 for the 2026 sale; December 1, 2026 for the 2027 sale).
- Before the saleBulls are photographed, filmed and cataloged.
- Sale morningBulls are processed in Springfield and displayed for inspection.
- 11 a.m., sale dayThe live auction in the Artisans Building.
2026 Results
The 2026 sale averaged $7,284 across 37 lots, an all-time record-high average. The top seller was the yearling Angus bull Evans Bandolier 51 at $15,000, consigned by Evans Angus of Virden, Illinois, and bought by Bradshaw Brothers of Griggsville. A second Evans Angus bull sold for $14,000. High Simmental sold for $10,000 from Rincker Simmentals of Shelbyville, and high Polled Hereford sold for $10,500 from Lowderman Cattle Company.
Questions
Can I bring a bull that is not halter-broke?
Yes, if the bull is docile. Non-halter-broke bulls are screened for disposition.
How much does it cost to nominate?
$100 per bull, with two free per consignor.
When are 2027 nominations due?
December 1, 2026.
Who do I call?
For nomination forms, sale questions and accommodation requests, contact the sale manager through Illinois Extension.
Official Links
- 2026 Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale: event page
- Start selecting 2026 IPT sale bulls: nomination rules and deadlines
- Bid on trusted genetics: sale-day details
- 2026 sale results: record-high average
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- From Food to Flowers: Everything Local Conference
The 2027 From Food to Flowers: Everything Local Conference runs January 27-29 at the Bank of Springfield Center, serving Illinois specialty growers and local-food producers.
Springfield, IL | Organizer: Illinois Farm Bureau Official event details - Illinois Farm Bureau Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference
Illinois Farm Bureau members meet at the Bank of Springfield Center on February 16, 2027 for the Governmental Affairs Leadership Conference, focused on state advocacy.
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The Illinois Farmers Union annual meeting offered a day of education and policy discussion for family farmers and ranchers, with a conservation talk and a National Farmers Union address, open to non-members. Held each year; most recent date shown.
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The Illinois Beef Expo fills the Illinois State Fairgrounds with a junior show, livestock judging, a beef skill-a-thon, a cattle fitting contest and three live cattle sales. Held each year; most recent dates were February 19-22, 2026.
801 E Sangamon Ave, Springfield, IL | Organizer: Illinois Beef Association Official event details - Illinois Junior Beef Association Cattle Fitting Contest
A revived cattle fitting contest at the Illinois Beef Expo recognizes juniors' behind-the-scenes grooming work, preceded by the IJBA winter meeting at 2 p.m. Held each year; most recent date February 20, 2026.
Springfield, IL | Organizer: Illinois Junior Beef Association Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.