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2003 Wytheville BCIA Bull Sale Report
Livestock Update, May 2003
Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef, VA Tech
The 24th Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale sponsored by Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association was held Saturday, March 22 at Wytheville. One hundred forty one bulls representing the top two-thirds of the bulls evaluated sold for an average price of $1490. Breed averages were as follows: 99 Angus averaged $1489, 27 Simmental averaged $1341, 11 Charolais at $1668, and 4 Gelbvieh averaged $2038. The 60 fall-born Senior bulls averaged $1573, and the 81 spring-born Junior bulls sold for an average price of $1428.
The top selling bull was Angus Lot 99, consigned by Echo Ridge Farm of Atkins, VA which sold to Poplar Knob Farm of Floyd, VA for $3400. This February, 2002 son of GAR Grid Maker had a test gain of 3.76, ratio 110, an adjusted yearling weight of 1373, ratio 119, and EPDs for birth weight of +1.1, weaning weight +37, milk +21, and yearling weight +75. The high-selling Senior Angus bull, Lot 4, consigned by Mountain View Farm of Independence, VA sold for $3000 to Working Horse Cattle Company of Broadway, VA. This son of Connealy Bottomline had a test gain of 4.46, ratio 130, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1249, ratio 112. Working Horse Cattle Company also took home Lot 97, another Echo Ridge Farm consignment for $2800. This son of GAR 6807 Traverler 4144 scanned with the largest ribeye in the sale- 16.1 sq. in. (ratio 128) and had a test ADG of 4.10 and adjusted yearling weight of 1302. A low BW EPD son of Leachman Dateline 8661, Lot 19, consigned by Hawkinscrest Black Angus Farm of Chilhowie, VA sold to Boothe's Longview Farm in Pulaski, VA for $2700. The bull had a test ADG of 4.11, ratio 120, and EPDs for birth weight of +0.7, weaning weight +40, milk +17, and yearling weight +71.
A strong Charolais offering was paced by Lot 304, consigned by Leo and Annette Muncy of Pipestem, WV. This November, 2001 son of WR Benefit 7418 sold to Circle M Ranch in Chilhowie, VA for $3200. He had a test gain of 3.84, ratio 120, and an adjusted yearling weight of 1213, ratio 111. His EPD for birth weight was +1.0, weaning weight +21, milk +13, and yearling weight +37. Junior Charolais Lot 322 consigned by FBG II Farms in Abingdon, VA sold for $2300 to The Duncan Farm in Chilhowie. This low birth weight EPD grandson of HCR Flash 5074 Polled had an adjusted yearling weight of 1370 to ratio 121, and test ADG of 3.12, ratio 110.
The high-indexing Gelbvieh bull was a Balancer (Angus x Gelbvieh), consigned by Stuart Land and Cattle Company in Rosedale, Virginia and sold to Shrader Farms also of Rosedale for $3000. This February, 2002 son of Bar Ext Traveler 205 has an adjusted yearling weight of 1338, ratio 119 and a test ADG of 3.53 to ratio 135. His EPD for birth weight was +1.4, weaning weight +40, milk +23, and yearling weight +81. Little Windy Hill Farm of Max Meadows, Virginia sold Gelbvieh Lot 603 for $2500 to Bryan Strader in Pearisburg, VA. This homozygous black, polled son of JBOB 2402J ET had a calving ease EPD of 108, birth weight EPD of -0.7 and scanned with a 15.5 adjusted REA.
The Simmental sale was paced by Lot 406- a homozygous black, polled son of PVF-BF BF26 Black Joker consigned by Triple L Farms of Wytheville, VA. This October, 2001 Senior bull sold to Chandler Farm of Maplesville, AL for $2100. The bull had EPDs of +4 calving ease, +2.9 birth weight, +38 weaning weight, +9 milk, and +72 yearling weight. Reasor Simmentals of Rural Retreat, VA consigned Lot 402, a homozygous black, polled son of Nichols Blk Destiny D12, which sold to Richie Farmer in Woodlawn, VA for $1800. Triple L Farms also consigned the high-sellling Junior Simmental bull, Lot 420, which sold to Sanderson Brothers Farm in Goode, VA for $1750.
All bulls in the test and sale were consigned by members of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Bulls were tested at the Southwest Bull Test Station bull test station, owned and operated by Eric D. Umberger. The sale was managed by Virginia BCIA and the Virginia Cattlemen's Association, and the auctioneer was Mike Jones.