Bid on Trusted Genetics to Strengthen Cattle Herds at Annual Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale

Jan 28, 2026

By Travis Meteer

Enhancing cattle herds with trusted genetics can strengthen beef operations. Get started by attending the annual Illinois Performance Tested Bull Sale at 11 a.m. on Feb. 19 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. The sale helps kick off the 2026 Illinois Beef Expo, where families, including many Illinois 4-H members, spend the week showing their cattle.

“The sale is a yearly staple for many to attend as well as a reputable source for producers to add high-quality genetics to their herds,” says Travis Meteer, sale manager, commercial agriculture educator, and beef cattle specialist at University of Illinois Extension.

Over the past 57 years, more than 5,000 bulls have been sold for over $10 million through the IPT bull sale. As a leader in proven genetics and the latest evaluation technologies and practices, dedicated breeders and commercial cow-calf producers mark their calendars.

“Every year we get to put together another strong set of bulls for Illinois cattle producers, we know we are impacting success for the beef industry,” says Meteer.

The sale format includes the opportunity to view all bulls while they are on display for buyer inspection before the sale. The sale will take place in the Artisans Building, where attendees will view videos of bulls shown during the live auction. Halter-broke, as well as docile, non-halter-broke bulls are eligible. All non-haltered cattle will be screened for disposition before the sale.

Source : illinois.edu

Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.