Factors Influencing Bull Price: Evidence from Missouri Auction Data

Though bull purchases greatly influence beef herd genetics and value-based pricing provides incentives for genetic improvement, research suggests that only small portions of the value of bulls at auction is attributable to expected progeny differences. Furthermore, much of this research focuses on Angus bloodlines, providing little insight for other breeds. This study revisits these issues using auction data on multiple breeds of bulls. Even after adjusting expected progeny differences for all breeds to Angus equivalents, across-breed differences in their valuations persist, which may reflect relative needs for improvement in birth weight, milking ability, and growth across breeds