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Changes Adopted for 2008-09 Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test Station Program
Livestock Update, July 2008
Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech
The Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association has initiated its 51st year of sponsoring the Virginia’s Central Bull Test Station Program. Rules and regulations for the 2008-09 test and sale season are now available through Virginia BCIA. A total of four test groups of bulls will be developed and sold from the two stations located at Culpeper and in Southwest Virgnia.
The Culpeper tests are conducted at Glenmary Farm in Rapidan, VA owned and operated by Tom and Kim Nixon. The Southwest Bull Test Station is located at Hillwinds Farm owned by Tim Sutphin of Dublin, Virginia. At both stations, a set of fall-born Senior bulls, as well as spring-born Junior bulls will be developed. In addition to the traditional tests, the opportunity exists for breeders to custom feed bulls through the BCIA program so that contemporary groups may be maintained. Additionally, provisions to the program allow breeders flexibility in developing both sale-eligible and custom tests bulls. The following table provides details of age requirements, entry deadlines, and the test and sale schedule for each group of bulls.
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CULPEPER SENIOR BULLS |
CULPEPER JUNIOR BULLS |
Birth Dates |
August 15 – November 30, 2007 |
Dec. 1, 2007 – March 31, 2008 |
Entry Deadline |
June 17, 2008 |
September 30, 2008 |
Delivery of Bulls |
July 1, 2008 |
November 3, 2008 |
Start Test |
July 14 & 15, 2008 |
November 17 & 18, 2008 |
Finish Test |
November 3 & 4, 2008 |
March 9 & 10, 2009 |
Sale |
Saturday, December 13, 2008 |
Friday, April 3, 2009 |
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SOUTHWEST SENIOR BULLS |
SOUTHWEST JUNIOR BULLS |
Birth Dates |
September 15 – December 31, 2007 |
January 1 - March 31, 2008 |
Entry Deadline |
September 2, 2008 |
September 2, 2008 |
Delivery of Bulls |
October 7, 2008 |
October 7, 2008 |
Start Test |
October 20 & 21, 2008 |
October 20 & 21, 2008 |
Finish Test |
February 9 & 10, 2009 |
March 2 & 3, 2009 |
Sale |
Saturday, March 28, 2009 |
Saturday, March 28, 2009 |
In response to customer feedback, several changes for the coming year have been made. These include a new sale format for the Culpeper Junior bulls. These bulls will be marketed through an open house sale format, rather than the public auction format which has been utilized for several years. Sale data will remain the same for the Culpeper Junior bulls (first Friday in April). Additionally, BCIA has enhanced its bull guarantee which covers fertility, structural soundness problems (including foot soundness), and other issues on all bulls sold through the program. To compliment this good-faith guarantee, fall-born senior bulls will be subject to a semen evaluation as part of breeding soundness exam required for sale eligibility. Finally, volume discounts will be available to bull buyers purchasing three or more bulls at a BCIA bull sale.
Registered bulls of any recognized beef breed, or recorded percentage bulls of breeds which have an open herd book are eligible for the central tests. All bulls must be recorded in their respective breed association, and have a complete performance record (including EPDs). Bulls must also meet breed-specific minimum YW EPD requirements, individual performance specifications, as well as pre-delivery health and management protocol to be eligible for the tests.
Breeders in Virginia and bordering states who are members of Virginia BCIA are eligible to consign bulls. For details and copies of the rules and regulations as well as entry information regarding the central bull tests, contact the Virginia BCIA office at 540-231-9163 or visit http://bcia.apsc.vt.edu.