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1999-2000 Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test Station Summary
Livestock Update, June 2000
Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, Virginia Tech
For the 42nd consecutive year, bulls have been tested and sold at the Central Bull Test Stations operated by the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association. In the 1999-2000 test and sale year, a total of 470 bulls were tested at two test stations located in Culpeper and Wytheville. The 293 bulls which sold represented the top two-thirds of all bull tested.
This was the 42nd year for the Culpeper test station, now operated by Glenmary Farm, Tom and Kim Nixon owners, of Rapidan, Virginia. In the senior group at Culpeper (bulls born September 1 through December 15, 1998), 124 bulls were tested and had 3.99 ADG and an adjusted yearling weight of 1176. The 125 Culpeper junior bulls (born December 16, 1998 to March 31, 1999) recorded test performance of 3.50 ADG and 1141 adjusted yearling weight. The test station at Wytheville completed its 21st year, and is owned and operated by Danny Umberger. Of the 221 total bulls tested at Wytheville, 64 were senior bulls (born October 1 through December 31, 1998) and 157 juniors (born January 1 to March 31, 1999). Senior bulls at Wytheville had a test ADG of 3.66 and adjusted yearling weight of 1135, while the junior bulls recorded 3.48 ADG and 1202 adjusted yearling weight. Across the two stations and four test groups ranging in length from 112 to 140 days, the 470 total bulls averaged 3.64 ADG and 1170 adjusted yearling weight. These 470 bulls included 359 Angus, 52 Simmental, 27 Hereford, 15 Charolais, 15 Gelbvieh, and 2 Salers.
In the three sales held, the 293 bulls grossed $448,300 to average $1530. The 75 Culpeper Senior bulls averaged $1412, 73 Culpeper Junior bulls $1423, and 145 Wytheville Senior and Junior bulls $1645. Across all three sales, 223 Angus averaged $1580, 34 Simmental averaged $1457, 15 Hereford averaged $962, 11 Gelbvieh averaged $1405, 8 Charolais averaged $1844, and 2 Salers averaged $925.
A large number of breeders participated in the Central Bull Test Station program, with a total of 133 consignors. There were 111 Virginia breeders, and a total of 22 from the surrounding states of West Virginia (10), Tennessee (7), North Carolina (3), and Maryland (2). Several breeders participated in more than one test and sale. Of the 293 bulls sold, 251 were purchased by Virginia buyers and 42 went out of state.
All bulls tested and sold were consigned by breeders who are members of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Virginia BCIA was the first state beef cattle improvement association organized in 1955. For information concerning the Central Bull Test Station program for 2000-01 contact the Virginia BCIA office at (540) 231-9163.