Beef Update

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2000 Wytheville BCIA Bull Sale Report
The 21st Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale sponsored by Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association was held Saturday, March 25 at Wytheville. One hundred forty five bulls representing the top two-thirds of the bulls tested sold for an average price of $1645. Breed averages were as follows: 95 Angus averaged $1718, 34 Simmental averaged $1457, 9 Gelbvieh at $1389, and 7 Charolais at $1893. The 42 Senior (fall-born) bulls averaged $1818, and the 103 Junior (spring-born) bulls sold for an average price of $1575.

The top selling lot was an Angus bull, consigned by Green Acres Farm, James Willis in Rocky Mount, Va. This February, 1999 son of N Bar Emulation Ext sold to Boyd Douglas Sult of Wytheville, Va., for $8500. He had a test gain of 4.46, ratio 129, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1448, ratio 121. His expected progeny difference for birth weight was +2.5, weaning weight +43, milk +22, and yearling weight +79. Justafew Angus of Austinville, Va., consigned a December, 1998 son of B/R New Design which sold to Mountain Meadow Farm of Sparta, N.C., for $6000. This bull had a test gain of 4.02, an adjusted yearling weight of 1264, and EPDs for birth weight of +2.9, weaning weight +39, milk +25, and yearling weight +76. Angus Lot 29, consigned by Rainbow Angus Farm of Piney Flats, Tenn., sold for $4200 to Donnie Baker of Galax, Va. This calving-ease son of DHD Traveler 6807 had a test gain of 4.11, ratio 110, and adjusted yearling weight of 1211, ratio 106.

Smith Reasor Simmentals of Rural Retreat, Va., consigned the top selling Simmental bull- a homozygous black, polled son of Circle S Leachman 600U which sold to Lawler and Sons Farm of Montevallo, Ala., for $2800. The bull had EPDs of +8 calving ease, +1 birth weight, +37 weaning weight, +12 milk, and +67 yearling weight along with a 1268 pound adjusted yearling weight. Another December, 1998 homozygous black, polled son of Circle S Leachman 600U consigned by Smith Reasor sold to Bear Creek Farms in Newton, Ala., for $2300. Bear Creek Farms also purchased Lot 406, a homozygous black, polled son of Black Irish Kansas consigned by Tom Clark of Wytheville, Va., for $2300.

Boothe Longview Farm of Pulaski, Va., purchased the top Gelbvieh bull at $2200, consigned by Little Windy Hill Farms of Max Meadows, Va. This 7/8 homozygous black, polled son of JRI PLD BLK Innovator 207E51 had a yearling weight of 1258, ratio 107, and a test gain of 3.29.

The top selling Charolais bull was consigned by Charles Love of Wytheville, Va., and sold to The Duncan Farm of Chilhowie, VA for $2200. The February, 1999 polled son of Lovely Sir Horizon had EPDs of +2.4 birth weight, +22 weaning weight, +12 milk, and +33 yearling weight along with a 3.50 test gain.

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 Mike Gothard, Va., Sale Services in Staunton and the auctioneer was Mike Jones.

Culpeper Junior BCIA Bull Sale Report
The 42nd Annual Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association Culpeper Junior Bull Sale was held Friday, April 7, 2000 at Culpeper Agricultural Enterprises in Culpeper, Va. Seventy-three bulls representing the top two-thirds of the 125 bulls tested sold for an average price of $1423. Breed averages were as follows: 62 Angus at $1511, 9 Hereford at $931, and 2 Salers at $925.

The top selling bull in the sale was an Angus, consigned by Lazy Lane Farms in Upperville, Va. The February, 1999 son of Sitz Traveler 8180 sold to Lucky Hill Farm in Lovettsville, Va., for $5000. He had a test gain of 4.49, ratio 122, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1425, ratio 123. His expected progeny difference for birth weight was +3.5, weaning weight +52, milk +31, and yearling weight +92. Triple J Farms in Glen Allen, Va., consigned the second high selling bull. This son of GAR Traveler 044 sold to Ellerslie Farms of Berryville, Va., for $3500. He had a test gain of 4.53, ratio 124, and adjusted yearling weight of 1319, ratio 113. He had EPDs of birth weight +3.0, weaning weight +41, milk +21, and yearling weight of +73. Quaker Hill Farm of Louisa, Va., sold a son of Stevenson Royce 741C to Kenwood Limited Partnership of Orange, Va., for $3000. This bull had a test gain of 4.19, ratio 114, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1385, ratio 119.

The high selling Hereford bull was consigned by Potts Creek Farm in Covington, Va., and sold to Rosenberger Farms at Jeffersonton, Va., for $1125. This polled son of Feltons Matthew 855 had a test average daily gain of 3.01, ratio 111, adjusted yearling weight 1141, ratio 111, and EPDs of birth weight +2.2, weaning weight +35, milk +25, and yearling weight +55.

Cloverdale Farm of Winchester, Va., sold a black, polled Salers for $1000 to Will Spillman of Brandy Station, Va. This 7/16 son of Papa Equator 2928 a test gain of 3.35 and an adjusted yearling weight of 1229.

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, Va. Sale manager was Mike Gothard, Virginia Sale Services in Staunton, and the auctioneer was Mike Jones.

Spring BCIA Meeting to be held June 6
The annual spring meeting of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association will be held Tuesday, June 6, 2000 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Staunton beginning at 9:00 am. At this meeting, plans will be made for the 2000-2001 BCIA bull test and sale season. Topics discussed will include rules and regulations, test procedures, and dates for the central bull tests and sales as well as consignment sales held in Staunton and Blackstone. Featured speaker will be Dr. Dee Whittier of the VA-MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine discussing "Evaluating Breeding Soundness in Yearling Beef Bulls." All those with an interest are welcome to attend and provide input. For more information, contact the Virginia BCIA office at (540) 231-9163.