While it might be a bit late for some, others are in peak insemination time for their pedigree herd. With so much to choose from on the market with regards AI straws, this may be a daunting task for many.

I’ve gone through the autumn society sales throughout the last three years elsewhere, focusing on averages and clearances.

But what makes a bull be above the average? We look at the 2016 autumn society sales in a bid to pick out the most consistent highest-grossing bulls in each breed.

AI progeny

While this is a bit harder with the more traditional breeds such as the Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn, which use a large proportion of stock bulls, many of the continental breeds see the large majority of stock at their sales dominated by AI progeny.

Each of the bulls named across all breeds have bred at least one animal which sold for the sale average or more at a society sale over the last four months.

From the data we can see a small number of bulls which continue to produce numerous high sellers at society sales.

In many cases, these AI sires have a proven pedigree of consistently producing quality stock, but, of course, the animal these bulls are used on is half the potential of the calf and needs to be looked at also.