SimAngus, left, Simmental (top photo) and Angus bulls are among the breeds of cattle in the 44th annual Bull Performance Test and Sale at SIU Carbondale. Undergraduate students in the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Science who are part of bull performance testing are, from left: RJ Hunt, Alayna Menees, Cecilia Castillo, Jorri VanDyke, Alexandra Mero and Lacey Bourn. (Top photo by Russell Bailey, bottom photo provided)
March 03, 2026
SIU’s Bull Performance and Test Sale is March 6
CARBONDALE, Ill. — A months-long evaluation process will come to fruition on Friday, March 6, as 100 to 150 beef producers are expected to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 44th annual Bull Performance Test and Sale at the SIU Beef Evaluation Center.
The sale begins at 6 p.m. at the university’s Beef Evaluation Center (Bull Test Center), 628 Rowden Road. The auction includes 30 bulls and between 10 and 15 heifers/cows, said Jay Nair, assistant professor in the School of Agricultural Sciences in the College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences.
The bulls arrived in October and the actual bull test spans over 84 days. SIU faculty, staff and students at the center weigh the bulls every 28 days, monitoring feed intake, body condition and skeletal structure, and use ultrasound to evaluate back fat, intramuscular fat, and the “ribeye” area (between the 12th and 13th ribs). The bulls are assessed for desirable growth performance, carcass and genetic traits that can be passed down to offspring.
This year’s breeds include Angus, Simmental and SimAngus. Nair said high beef prices and steady beef market indicators project all-time high sale prices this year. The proceeds will go back to the consigners after accounting for the charges associated with the test and sale, including feed and veterinary care.
Media availability
Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the bull sale, which begins at 6 p.m. Friday, March 6, and talk with SIU College of Agricultural, Life, and Physical Sciences faculty and students who are involved with the Bull Performance and Test sale. For more information and to arrange interviews, contact Jay Nair, assistant professor in the School of Agricultural Sciences, at 618-453-7105 or jay.nair@siu.edu
The bull test “has been an incredibly fun and educational experience for the students involved”, said Cecilia Castillo, an undergraduate third-year student in zoology.
“It has been a great experience learning the processes of important livestock husbandries and managements,” Castillo said. The project “has given everyone a great opportunity to understand cattle care and watch young bulls grow expeditiously throughout the testing season.
“Students are introduced to a comprehensive set of skills covering all aspects of husbandry, including feeding, veterinary care, treatment and prophylaxis, handling bulls through chutes, observing the ribeye ultrasound procedure, understanding semen collection techniques, and studying factors that contribute to genetic efficiency in bulls,” she said.
Nair noted that SIU’s Beef Evaluation Center is one example of what makes SIU Carbondale rare among Research 1 universities in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions for Higher Education. Nair’s co-investigators, Karen Jones and Eduardo Gastal, professors in the School of Agricultural Sciences, along with SIU Beef Center staff are assisting with the test and sale.
(Editors note: Jay Nair’s full name is Jayakrishnannair Puthenpurayil Sasidharannair; Jay Nair is acceptable on all references.)