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Beef Update
Livestock Update, October 1999
Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef,, Virginia Tech
Virginia BCIA Bull Test Update
The Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test Program has began the 1999-2000 season. Culpeper Senior Test bulls (born September 1 to December 15, 1998) were delivered to Glenmary Farm in Rapidan, Va., on July 20 and started the 112-day test period on August 2. One hundred twenty-eight bulls were consigned to the Culpeper Senior Test and the top two-thirds of the bulls will be sold in the 42nd Annual sale December 11.
The Culpeper Custom Senior Test enters its second year of existence. This test is designed to serve as a bull development option for breeders who planned to take bulls home for use after the test, or consign them to sales such as the Virginia BCIA All-Breed Performance Tested Bull Sales at Staunton and Blackstone. Twenty-six custom bulls are being fed in this custom test this fall.
Both senior (bulls born October 1 to December 31, 1998) and junior (bulls born January 1 to March 31, 1999) bulls will be delivered to the Southwest Bull Test Station in Wytheville on October 5. Senior bulls will be evaluated on a 112-day test and junior bulls on a 140-day test. Eligible bulls will be sold at the station in the 22nd Annual Sale on Saturday, March 25, 2000.
Culpeper Junior bulls (born December 15, 1998, to March 31, 1999) will start a 140-day test on November 9. Entry deadline for consignments is October 18. These bulls will be offered for sale on Friday, April 7, 2000.
To be eligible for sale, bulls in all stations will be subjected to minimum performance, reproductive soundness, and body-type guidelines. Bulls will be evaluated for general type/conformation, structural soundness, and frame size at the conclusion of each test. Breeding soundness evaluations will be conducted on individual bulls. The top two-thirds of bulls in each test group will sell based on test gain and adjusted yearling weight. Complete performance information will be made available, including ultrasound evaluation of carcass traits.
Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test consignors will have a strong set of bulls to offer for sale in the 1999-2000 season. The information gathered during the tests are of great benefit to producers seeking genetics to improve the performance of their herds. Questions related to the Virginia BCIA bull test program can be directed to Scott Greiner, BCIA Educational Advisor, phone (540) 231-9163.
Fall 1999 Virginia BCIA All-Breed Performance Tested Bull and Commercial Replacement Heifer Sales
Dates for this year's Virginia BCIA All-Breed Performance Tested Bull and Commercial Replacement Heifer Sales are set for November 19 at Blackstone and December 4 at Staunton. Bulls calved September 1, 1997, to October 31, 1998, that have been performance tested are eligible. This year, only open heifers (born March 1 to October 31, 1998) will be sold at Blackstone, and only bred heifers (born September 1, 1997, to April 30, 1998) will be sold at Staunton. Deadline for consignments is October 1. If you are interested in consigning to these sales, please contact Jim Johnson, Sale Manager, Virginia Cattlemen's Association, phone (540) 992-1009; or the Virginia BCIA office, phone (540) 231-9163.