Beef Update March 2000

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Wytheville Bull Test Open House March 12th
There will be an Open House program at the VA BCIA Southwest Virginia Bull Test Station near Wytheville, Virginia on Sunday afternoon, March 12th from 1:30 to 5:00 pm. The public is invited to the Open House to visit and view the 225 fall and spring-born bulls on test at the SW VA Bull Test Station, owned and operated by Eric D. Umberger and family.

In this year's group of senior bulls calved October 1 to December 31, 1998, there are 64 bulls on a 112 day test. They include 44 Angus, 17 Simmental, 2 Gelbvieh and 1 Charolais. There are a total of 157 junior bulls, born January 1 to March 31, 1999 which are on a 140 day test. These include 100 Angus, 35 Simmental, 11 Gelbvieh, and 11 Charolais. The top performing two-thirds of each age group will be sold at the station on Saturday, March 25th at 12:00 noon.

The SW VA Bull Test Station is located just north of Wytheville. Take exit 77 off I-81, and follow the signs located just south of the Exxon station on the access road west of the interstate.

No reservations are necessary. Light refreshments will be served. Beef cattle producers and the general public are cordially invited to attend the Open House. Activities are planned for juniors, including a stockman's contest.

For additional information on the Open House call the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association at Blacksburg, 540/231-9163.

Wytheville Bulls Sell March 25th
The 21st annual sale of VA BCIA Wytheville bulls will be Saturday, March 25th at 12:00 noon at the Southwest Virginia Bull Test Station located just north of Wytheville. The sale will include 150 bulls representing the top performing two-thirds of the 225 bulls on test. Both fall-born senior and spring-born junior bulls will be offered. Selling will be 99 Angus, 35 Simmental, 9 Gelbvieh, and 8 Charolais. These bulls are being gain tested and complete performance information will be available.

Beef producers and others who are interested are cordially invited to visit the test station at any time and are especially invited to the Sunday afternoon Open House on March 12th, 1:30 to 5:00 pm. The SW VA Bull Test Station is located just north of Wytheville (take exit 77 off I-81, and follow the signs located just south of the Exxon station on the access road west of the interstate).

For additional information on the Wytheville bulls, contact the VA BCIA, Dept. Of Animal & Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, 24061, 540/231-9163. For sale catalogs, contact sale manager VA Sale Services, Mike Gothard manager, Rt. 2, Box 446, Staunton, VA, 24401, 540/337-3001.

Virginia BCIA Announces Premier Breeder Awards
The Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association presented its Premier Breeder Awards at the 2000 Virginia Cattle Industry Convention at Hot Springs on February 19. Three breeders were received the award based on outstanding performance of their entire consignment at Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test Stations in the test year 1998-99. These awards were as follows: Angus- Ann Ogle, Justafew Angus Farm, of Austinville, VA. Bulls were tested at Wytheville. Simmental- Darrel Layne, Triple L Farms, at Wythville, VA. Bulls tested at Wytheville. Hereford- Jasper Persinger, Potts Creek Farm, of Covington, VA for bulls tested at Culpeper.

Pratt Named Virginia BCIA President
C.W. Pratt of Atkins, Virginia was recently elected president of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Pratt owns Echo Ridge Farm a registered Angus operation.

Other officers elected at the 2000 Virginia Beef Industry Convention February 19 include Vice President Paul Bennett, of Knoll Crest Farm- a registered Gelbvieh and Angus operation from Red House and Secretary/Treasurer Sid Rogers, a Hereford breeder from Winchester.

During the annual meeting of Virginia BCIA, directors elected for a three year term included Tom Clark of Wytheville, Smith Reasor of Rural Retreat, and Bill Tucker of Amherst. Other members of the BCIA board of directors include Victor Drewry of Harrisonburg, Ernie Reeves of Mt. Solon, Sid Rogers of Winchester, and Jim Wylie of Upperville. John Mitchell of Hot Springs will remain on the board as Past President.

The technical directors of the association are Norm Vincel, VA-NC Select Sires, Rocky Mount, Virginia and Bill Beal, Virginia Tech Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences. The educational advisor is Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist at Virginia Tech.