Platteville bulls sell for record average

PLATTEVILLE - Fifty-seven bulls sold for a record-high average April 4 at the Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association bull sale at Pioneer Farm.

The bulls averaged $2,155, the highest in the 52-year history of the test. The previous record was set in 2007, when the bulls averaged $2,100.

Fifty-seven bulls sold at Saturday's sale, two less than last year.

The top-selling bull was an Angus consigned by Hermann Wolters of Cuba City. The bull sold for $4,200 to Biddick of Livingston. The second-highest-selling Angus, consigned by Travis Crist of Darlington, sold for $4,000 to Randy Magg of Spirit Lake, Iowa.

The 36 Angus bulls sold for an average of $2,260.

Timber Springs Farm, owned by Bruce and Jeanne Pope of Richland Center, consigned the top-selling Simmental bull. It sold for $4,000 to Kevin Chitwood of Muscoda. The second-highest-selling Simmental was consigned by Bob and Mary Roenneburg of Blue Mounds, and sold for $3,100 to Brett Broadwater of Preston, Minn.

The 10 Simmentals sold for an average of $2,115.

Seven Red Angus bulls sold for an average of $1,985. The top-selling Red Angus, consigned by UW-Platteville, sold for $3,100 to Travis and Becky Kramer of Wauzeka. The second-highest-selling Red Angus, consigned by Tom and Tweed Shuman of Hayward, sold for $1,900 to Kevin Walleser of DeSoto.

Kapinus Farms of Prairie du Chien consigned the two top-selling Angus-Gelbvieh crossbred bulls. Larry Kapinus Jr. purchased the top-selling Angus-Gelbvieh for $1,850, while the second highest-selling bull sold for $1,600 to David Chrislaw of Shullsburg.

The three Angus- Gelbvieh composites averaged $1,650.

A new breed at this year's test station was South Devon. The only South Devon bull at the sale, consigned by Jane Homan of Hillpoint, sold for $1,500 to Walter Smith of Portage.

Bulls from this year's sale are going to buyers in Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Minnesota.

By Jim Massey - The Country Today