70th annual bull sale set for Oct. 14

A bull is auctioned off by auctioneer Chad “Cracker” Johnson, left, as Garrett Peebles leads it in the sales ring during the 69th-annual Ocala Graded Bull Sale on Oct. 29, 2024. This year’s event is set for Oct. 14. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]

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Posted October 6, 2025 | By Susan Smiley-Height, [email protected]

The 70^th annual Ocala Graded Bull Sale is coming up on Oct. 14 at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion. The event is hosted by the Marion County Cattlemen’s Association and brings in buyers and sellers from around the country. The sale has the distinction of being the oldest continuous graded bull sale in the nation.

Local businessman and cattleman Hugh Dailey, who has been involved in the sale for more than 40 years, said this year’s event has more than 70 bulls registered already.

“And, for the first time in our 70 years, the sale will take place in the outside arena because the indoor arena is being renovated. I think that will be a good thing,” he said.

The bulls that go on the auction block will be pre-graded on Oct. 13. There will be several breeds of bulls, typically ranging from Angus, Charolais and Hereford, to Brangus, Brahman and Simmental, which are offered by consignors locally and nationally from areas including Georgia, Tennessee and Missouri.

The bulls up for auction have been deemed sound by a veterinarian through an exam, sifted through the grading process, and many of them have EPD, or expected progeny differences, data available in the sale catalog.  This data allows buyers to assess the genetic merit of the bull.

The cattlemen’s association Facebook page notes that “Longtime consigner MO Brangus has a trailer full of Brangus bulls coming to our sale” and offers a “sneak peak of some Barnett Angus bulls headed to our sale soon.” One entry says, “Check out these handsome fellas consigned by Little W Farm,” which is a purveyor of Charolais cattle.

Average sale prices have been trending up for the Ocala Bull Sale the past few years. This is due to the cattle market doing well overall, which indicates bull prices will also be higher, as well as quality bulls being sold each year. Better bulls tend to bring better money. This sale is multi-breed and there is an opportunity for any buyer to find a bull to meet their needs, according to Caitlin Justesen, a livestock agent with UF/IFAS Extension, Marion County.

The event also will include a cake auction by the Marion County Cattlewomen’s Association. Last year’s auction raised more than $2,800 for scholarships.

The livestock pavilion is located at 2232 Jacksonville Road, Ocala. Bulls will be available for viewing on Oct. 13 during and after the grading. The sale will begin at 1 p.m. Oct. 14.

To learn more, go to ocalabullsale.com and fb.com/marioncountycattlemens