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Virginia Cooperative Extension -
 Knowledge for the CommonWealth

Beef Update

Livestock Update, May 2001

Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech

2001 Wytheville BCIA Bull Sale Report

The 22nd Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale sponsored by Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association was held Saturday, March 24 at Wytheville. One hundred twenty eight bulls representing the top two-thirds of the bulls tested sold for a record average price of $2118. Breed averages were as follows: 92 Angus averaged $2031, 21 Simmental averaged $2524, 11 Charolais at $2173, 3 Gelbvieh at $1633, and 1 Limousin sold for $2400. The 51 Senior (fall-born) bulls averaged $2329, and the 77 Junior (spring-born) bulls sold for an average price of $1977.

The top selling lot was an Angus bull, Lot 46, consigned by Vance Farms of Keyser, WV. This December, 1999 son of Gardens Prime Time sold to Miller Farms of Ghent, WV for $6000. He had a test gain of 4.55, ratio 118, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1287, ratio 110. His expected progeny difference for birth weight was +0.8, weaning weight +36, milk +24, and yearling weight +76. Echo Ridge Farm of Atkins, VA consigned Lot 81, a March, 2000 son of B/R New Design 036 which sold to RAJ Farms of Draper, VA for $3200. This bull had a test gain of 3.72, an adjusted yearling weight of 1333, and EPDs for birth weight of +1.8, weaning weight +41, milk +26, and yearling weight +80. Angus Lot 42, consigned by Green Acres Farm of Rocky Mount, VA sold for $3100 to Terry Felts of Fancy Gap, VA. This son of Westwind Rito 8503 DJH 019 had a test gain of 4.02, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1324, ratio 113. Another Echo Ridge Farm consignment, Lot 8, went to Sult's Farm in Wytheville, VA for $3000. This calving-ease son of GAR 6807 Traveler 4144 had EPDs of birth weight +1.5, weaning weight +47, milk +21, and yearling weight +89. Mountain View Farm of Independence, VA sold Lot 28 to Idlewild Wasprock Farm of Buchanan, VA. This low birth weight EPD son of Whitestone Fly Traveler 3006 also brought $3000.

A very strong Simmental sale was paced by a pair of homozygous black, polled bulls. Tom Clark of Wytheville, VA consigned Lot 414- a son of Nichols Black Destiny which sold to Sunny Heights Simmentals of Callaway, VA for $3800. The bull had EPDs of +7 calving ease, -1 birth weight, +28 weaning weight, +11 milk, and +53 yearling weight along with a 1265 pound adjusted yearling weight and test gain of 4.06. Lot 411, consigned by Hounshell Farms of Wytheville, VA also brought $3800 selling to Bland Correctional Center in Bland, VA. He was a October, 1999 son of PTL Cutting Edge D209. Lot 410, another homozygous black, polled bull consigned by Hounshell Frams sold to Terry Slusher and Tim Sutphin of Floyd and Dublin, VA for $3300. This _ Angus x _ Simmental bull was a son of GAR Precision 1680 that had a test gain of 4.60, ratio 109, and adjusted yearling weight of 1630, ratio 120.

The top selling Charolais bull. Lot 310, was consigned by FBG II Farms of Abingdon, VA and sold to Martin Enterprises of Chilhowie, VA for $2700. The October, 1999 son of LDG Ali Mark T214 had EPDs of +0.3 birth weight, +15 weaning weight, +20 milk, and +28 yearling weight along with a 4.69 test gain.

Marion Welborn of Boonville, NC purchased the Limousin bull consigned by Dunbeath Farm of Berryville, VA for $2400. Little Windy Hill Farms of Max Meadows, VA consigned the high selling Gelbvieh bull which went to Phil Lineberry of Glade Spring, VA for $1900.

All bulls in the test and sale were consigned by members of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Bulls were tested at the Wytheville bull test station owned by Eric D. Umberger. Sale manager was VA Sale Services in Staunton, VA and the auctioneer was Mike Jones.

2001 Culpeper Junior BCIA Bull Sale Report

The 43rd Annual Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association Culpeper Junior Bull Sale was held Friday, April 6, 2001 at Culpeper Agricultural Enterprises in Culpeper, Virginia. Seventy-two bulls representing the sixty percent of the 122 bulls evaluated sold for an average price of $1525. Breed averages were as follows: 65 Angus at $1580, 6 Hereford at $1046, and 1 Limousin at $800.

The top selling bull in the sale was Angus Lot 125, consigned by Paradise Farm in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. The January, 2000 son of N Bar Emulation EXT sold to John Lyle of Amissville, Virginia for $3500. He had a test gain of 4.29, ratio 111, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1340, ratio 112. His expected progeny difference for weaning weight was +43, milk +18, and yearling weight +76. Skyway Hills Farm of Washington, Virginia also sold a January, 2000 son of N Bar Emulation EXT , Lot 103, which went to End of the Road Farm in Emporia, Virginia for $3300. He had a test gain of 3.95 and adjusted yearling weight of 1421, ratio 119. He had EPDs of birth weight +3.3, weaning weight +45, milk +24, and yearling weight of +82. Lot 149, consigned by Holly Tree Farm of Washington, D.C., sold a son of Rito 3X25 of 5H11 EXT to Joe Henshaw of Madison, Virginia also for $3300. This bull had a test gain of 4.45, ratio 115, and an adjusted ribeye area of 15.3. The high-indexing Angus bull was Lot 137 consigned by Echo Ridge Farm of Atkins, Virginia and sold to Kenwood Limited Partnership in Orange, Virginia for $3000. This son of GAR Commitment had a test gain of 4.71, ratio 122, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1392 to ratio 117. His EPDs read birth weight +2.3, weaning weight +39, milk +29, and yearling weight of +78.

The high selling Hereford bull was Lot 235 consigned by Rolling Hills Farm in Winchester, Virginia and sold to Willingham Farm at Remington, Virginia at $1600 for two-thirds interest and full possession. This polled son of Feltons Endurance 745 had a test average daily gain of 3.40, ratio 104, adjusted yearling weight 1127, and EPDs of birth weight +3.1, weaning weight +47, milk +20, and yearling weight +72.

All bulls in the test and sale were consigned by members of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Bulls were tested at the Culpeper bull test station operated by Glenmary Farm at Rapidan, Virginia. Sale manager was VA Sale Services in Staunton and the auctioneer was Dale Stith.

BIF Annual Convention Scheduled for July 11-15, 2001

The national Beef Improvement Federation's Annual Research Symposium and Annual Meeting will be held July 11-15, 2001 in San Antonio, Texas. The theme for this year's annual meeting is "Meeting the Challenges for the Beef Industry". The program will begin on Wednesday, July 11 with the National Association of Animal Breeders Symposium and a convention reception. Thursday and Friday, July 12-13, will be the research symposium and educational program. A variety of topics will be addressed, with focus on the use of information generated by beef industry data, as well as the genetic structure of the beef industry. Tours of Texas beef operations are planned for Saturday, July 14 to conclude the program. The Beef Improvement Federation's meetings are an annual gathering of leading beef cattle producers, allied industry personnel, and university scientists. The program focus will be very production-oriented in nature, with discussion of current technology and science and its application to beef cattle genetics today and in the future. For more information, contact Scott Greiner at 540-231-9159.



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