CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) – The Southern Illinois University Agricultural Sciences Program bull performance test and sale is back after a five-year hiatus.

Students again have the opportunity to learn how to manage large animals and their health.

The SIU Bull Test and Sale returns to campus after a five-year hiatus due to the lack of an academic advisor and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Samantha Wuest is Assistant Director of SIU Farms. She says thanks to a grant, the program is also making some big technological advances.

“We also have a new feeding system where the feed is weighed every day. We know what bull is fed every day. We have a lot of technological advancements this year and it’s really exciting,” said Wuest.

SIU started receiving young bulls for testing back in October. Over the next four and a half months, the students will prepare them for sale.

This includes testing and measuring all growth and performance standards along the way.

“There are a lot of bull sales going on in the state. But having a facility like this here in southern Illinois helps the shippers, the producers, as well as the students to have the experience of looking at what we’re looking for, feeding to get rations, handling the bulls, things like that. the industry. Because everything in this part of the cattle industry needs to be as efficient as possible,” Wuest said.

SIU senior Hanna Bendler says it’s great to see the big picture when it comes to handling and learning about animals.

“Before I worked with cattle, there was this stigma that I was only here to get on someone’s plate. But when you work with them and take care of them every day and see what they can do for the industry and see what they do long-term with local farmers, you see the bigger picture and I think that’s really cool. Bendler said.

To be eligible for testing and sale, bulls must be registered with a recognized national breed association and come to the facility in good health.

The test period ends on January 31, before they go up for auction in March 2025.

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