2025 Florida Bull Test Sale Sets Average Price Record

Nicolas DiLorenzo and Tessa Hallford, UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center-Marianna

 

The Impact of The Bull Test in The Region

The Florida Bull Test is designed to provide performance-tested bulls for the Southern U.S., with the overall goal of improving the genetics of beef cattle in the region. Since its inception 25 years ago, the Florida Bull Test has tested a total of 2,576 bulls from at least 10 different breeds, and from those, a total of 1,478 bulls have been sold in the Florida Bull Test Sale. In a survey conducted in the 2020 Florida Bull Test Sale, buyers indicated that calves sired from bulls purchased from the Florida Bull Test have a perceived increased value of $67/head or more.  When considering the number of bulls sold, the average productive life of a bull and the potential number of cows sired, the estimated economic impact of the Florida Bull Test provides the region is $6.7 million in increased calf value. All these calculations were done in “normal” (if there is such thing anymore) years in terms of cattle prices. If we consider where we are today in the beef cattle market, that economic impact may be much greater.

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Overall Performance and Bull Test Winners

The 25th edition of the Florida Bull Test was completed successfully on December 4, 2024, after 112 days on test. A total of 142 bulls from 26 consignors were tested, with an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.64 lb/d and an average feed conversion (feed to gain ratio) of 7.37, measured on the first 56 days of the test while in the Feed Efficiency Facility.  Figure 1 below, shows a summary of the top performing bulls in each of the breed categories. The overall top indexing bull was HBR Value 739 (Charolais), consigned by Rogers Bar HR. The index used to rank bulls is calculated as the sum of average daily gain (ADG) and weight per day of age (WDA).  The Top Feed Efficiency bull, based on the lowest value of residual feed intake (RFI), was the Angus bull Boyett Fireball 371, consigned by Boyett Farms.

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The 2025 Sale

The Florida Bull Test Sale was held at the North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna, FL on January 18, 2025.  Despite the light morning rain, a great crowd gathered for this event, which featured an excellent quality of bulls and registered a record sale price. Several changes were implemented this year in Bull Test Sale, including a new platform for online bidding and bull videos (DVAuction, Inc.), and a brand-new catalog developed in collaboration with the Angus Association to provide as much data as possible to buyers and consignors. The sale featured 48 bulls which grossed $265,500, with an average of $5,531 per lot, and similarly to previous years, an online bidding system was provided. Figure 1 above, shows the details of the sale prices by breed. Angus bulls averaged $5,425 on 20 lots, while SimAngus bulls averaged $5,891 on 16 lots. Simmental bulls averaged $5,125 on 10 lots. Breeds with only one bull in the sale were Red Brangus and Charolais, which were sold for $5,250, and $6,250, respectively. The highest-selling bulls were lot 10 (Angus), LHH Home Free 5950 G26 L14, consigned by Mr. Hubert Hightower, and lot 57 (Angus), Cur PL1 Lefty 236, consigned by Currid Family Farm, selling for $7,250 each.

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Test Rules and Additional Information

To qualify for the 2024-25 Test, bulls had to be born between August 15 and December 31 of 2023. For the complete set of rules to enroll bulls in the Florida Bull Test, and to access the results from past tests, visit the webpage of the Florida Bull Test: https://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/florida-bull-test/. Nominations for the 2025-26 version of the test will open around May 1, 2025. Stay tuned for more information to be posted on the Florida Bull Test page, or call 850-526-1611 for additional information.

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