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ST. ANTHONY, N.D. — Kelly Schaff had high expectations for SAV America 8018. But he had no idea the bull would end up being the record highest-selling beef bull of all time, nearly doubling the price of the previous high-selling bull.

Schaff Angus Valley on Saturday, Feb. 9, sold SAV America 8018 to Herbster Angus Farms of Falls City, Nebraska, for $1.51 million.

Auctioneer Joe Goggins of Billings introduced America, the first bull into the ring during Schaff Angus Valley’s annual production sale, saying he “might be as good of bull as we’ve ever had walk into this ring.” Goggins started bidding off in earnest at $10,000. But the asking price quickly climbed into the hundreds of thousands. As the price topped $1.3 million, Goggins had to pause for a moment, pointing out he was dealing with “figures I’m not really used to.”

This was the third year in a row that Schaff Angus Valley has broken its own record for highest-selling bull. Last year, Schaff Angus Valley’s SAV Elation 7899 set the record at $800,000. In 2017, SAV President 6847 — SAV America 8018’s sire — had been the top-selling bull, at $750,000.