NCBTA completes 30th annual test
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Colorado
To kick-off the 30th annual performance tested bull sale on April 1, Dr. Tom Field, professor of animal science at Colorado State University will be speaking on "Industry Structural Change and How We Respond." Dr. Field's talk will begin at 11 a.m. Another new addition to this year's sale is a chance to win a 20X Western Hat donated by Greeley Hat Works. Anyone with a buyer's number will have a chance to win this at the beginning of the sale. The NCBTA would like to thank Greeley Hat Works for donating this hat.
The Northeast Colorado Bull Test Association completed its 30th annual test on Feb. 28 with the 87 bulls finishing the test with an average daily gain of 3.93 pounds per day and a weight per day of age of 3.24 pounds.
An Angus bull consigned by Bill Roth, Greeley, completed the 120 day test with an impressive average daily gain of 5.07 pounds and finished the test with a 112 index. This bull is sired by Bon View New Design 1407. A Red Angus bull consigned by the X 7 Ranch, Merino, achieved the highest performance index of all entries at 118. The X 7 Ranch entry, sired by Schuler No Equal 1389L posted an average daily gain (ADG) of 4.55 and a 3.70 pound weight per day of age (WDA).
The performance index is calculated by taking the average of the ADG ratio and WDA ratios. The ratios are formulated by dividing an individual bull's performance by the average ADG and WDA for their respective breed groups. Bulls that have a performance index of 95 or higher, pass a breeding soundness exam and have a yearling frame score of 4.5 or larger are eligible to sell in the NCBTA's annual sale on Saturday, April 1, 2006.
Six breed divisions were represented: Angus, Angus calving ease, Red Angus, Red Angus calving ease and Crossbred.
All calving ease bulls must have an actual birth weight of no more than 80 pounds. In addition, the Black Angus calving ease bulls must have a maximum birth weight Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) of +2.5 pounds and the Red Angus +1.5.
This year all of the bulls were tested for the Bovine Virus Diarrhea (BVD) persistently infected (PI) status and found negative. BVD is a devastating disease of all cattle. The disease reduces productivity and increases death loss. The major source of BVD infection is a persistently infected animal (PI's). PI's result from cows being exposed to the virus during pregnancy and the fetal calf becoming infected. Although frequently these calves show no signs of illness themselves they shed the virus in such great numbers that even well vaccinated animals may become infected.
Several bulls indexed high to win their division during the 120-day test. In the Angus calving ease division, a bull entered by Kimmel Angus, Stoneham, posted a final index of 113 to win the division. This son of Rito 1I2 of 2536 Rito 6I6 achieved a 4.83 ADG and a 3.85 WDA. The seventeen Angus calving ease bulls ended the test with a 4.30 ADG and a 3.39 WDA.
Jordan Cattle Co., Briggsdale, and Bill Roth, Greeley, had the top two indexing bulls in the Angus division. Jordan's entry sired by Schurrtop MC posted a final index of 113 with an ADG of 4.49 and a 3.53 WDA. Bill Roth's bull, sired by Schurrtop Global completed the test with a 4.60 ADG and a 3.39 WDA. As a group, the twenty-eight Angus bulls ended the test with an ADG of 3.80 pounds and a 3.24 WDA.
A Red Angus calving ease bull entered by Vaughn Axtell, Anton, indexed 112 and posted a 3.97 ADG with a 3.42 pound weight per day of age to lead the seven Red Angus calving ease bulls entered. This bull is a son of BJR Gambler 027. The seven Red Angus calving ease bulls ended the test with a 3.65 ADG and a 2.98 WDA.
In the Red Angus division, a bull entered by the X 7 Ranch Inc., Merino, posted a final index of 118 to win the division. This son of Schuler No Equal 1389L achieved a 4.55 ADG and a 3.70 WDA. The ten Red Angus bulls ended the test with a 3.81 ADG and a 3.19 WDA.
In the Hereford division, Bruce and Joyce Leach, Lindon, had the top indexing bull with an index of 112. This son of RPH Wayne 342 posted an ADG of 4.36 with a 3.33 WDA. The six Hereford bulls completed the test with a 3.90 ADG and a 2.97 WDA.
George Rober, Sedgwick, had the top indexing bull in the Crossbred division with a 110. Rober's entry finished the test with a 4.38 ADG and a 3.61 WDA. This bull is a purebred Simmental and was sired by Big Country. Nineteen crossbred bulls finished the test with a 3.97 ADG and a 3.30 WDA.
Sale catalogs are available for the April 1 sale. The sale will be held at the test facility located halfway between Atwood and Akron just east of Highway 63. Catalogs will include all gain information as well as adjusted yearling weights, frame scores, pelvic areas and scrotal circumferences for all bulls entered in the sale. Ultrasound data will be available the day of the sale. Pedigree information and EPD's will be included where available.
For more information or to receive a sale catalog contact David Colburn, NCBTA Test Coordinator, Logan County Cooperative Extension at 970-522-3200 ext 283. You can also visit the NCBTA Web page at www.northeastcoloradobulltest.org to view the final report.
Date: 3/23/06
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