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35th Annual Southeast Colorado Bull Test completes 77 daysColorado The 44 bulls in the 35th Annual Southeast Colorado Bull Test were weighed Feb. 3. This completes 77 days of the 112 day test. Overall, the bulls have gained 2.65 pounds per day on test and they have an average weight per day of age of 2.53 pounds with a average age of 340 days. An SAV 8180 Traveler 004 bull owned by Cameron and Ashley Burk from Aguilar, Colo., has gained 4.01 pounds per day on test for the highest average daily gain. Second place goes to a RW Smoky 2106 5171 Polled Hereford bull owned by Bruce and Joyce Leach from Lindon, Colo., gaining 3.45 pounds per day. In the Weight per Day of Age category, one of Taylor Livestock, Karval, Colo., DB Future Direction 496 Angus bulls has gained 3.10 pounds per 297 days of age. Second in this category is bull number 48 owned by T.J Verquer, Trinidad, Colo. T.J.'s TG Spirit 54 Angus bull is 312 days old and has gained 3.03 pounds per day of age. Due to some problems with the original rations, the bulls this year do not show the gains achieved in prior years. We are now on our third ration and are currently feeding a ration similar to what was fed at previous tests. This ration consists of primarily ground alfalfa with some corn silage and dry corn grain. Although it is not indicated on the report, the gains are back where they have been in past years. The reason the report gains are still slightly lower is due to the fact that these gains are calculated on the whole feeding period, not just the last 35 days. Overall, the actual weight of the bulls is comparable to previous years and several of the bulls will be in the 1,100 to 1,200 pound range by the end of the test. Feed conversions range from 6.15 pounds to 7.34 pounds of feed to achieve a pound of body weight gain per animal. It has been pointed out that on previous reports we failed to change the sale date from the 2008 date. Please note that the sale will be held at noon on April 14 at Winter Livestock Commission Company in La Junta, Colo. Final weights on the bulls will be taken on March 9 and 10 along with ultrasound measurements, breeding soundness exams, and trichomoniasis testing. Previous reports may be viewed on the Internet at: http://kiowacounty.colostate.edu under "Agriculture Programs." If you have further questions about a specific bull or the testing procedures, please call the CSU Extension Office in Kiowa County at 719-438-5321.
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