Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test Station Program Details 2006-07

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For the 49th consecutive year, the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association will be developing bulls through the Central Bull Test Stations in Virginia. Rules and regulations for the 2006-07 test and sale season are now available through Virginia BCIA. A total of four test groups of bulls will be developed and sold from the two stations located at Culpeper and in Southwest Virginia.

The Culpeper tests are conducted at Glenmary Farm in Rapidan, VA owned and operated by Tom and Kim Nixon. The Southwest Bull Test Station is located at Hillwinds Farm owned by Tim Sutphin of Dublin, Virginia. At both stations, a set of fall-born Senior bulls, as well as spring-born Junior bulls will be developed. In addition to the traditional tests, the opportunity exists for breeders to custom feed bulls through the BCIA program so that contemporary groups may be maintained. Additionally, provisions to the program allow breeders flexibility in developing both sale-eligible and custom tests bulls. The following table provides details of age requirements, entry deadlines, and the test and sale schedule for each group of bulls.

	CULPEPER SENIOR BULLS	CULPEPER JUNIOR BULLS
Birth Dates	August 15 – November 30, 2005	December 1, 2005 – March 31, 2006
Entry Deadline	June 16, 2006	October 13, 2006
Delivery of Bulls	July 11, 2006	November 7, 2006
Start Test	July 24 & 25, 2006	November 20 & 21, 2006
Finish Test	November 13 & 14, 2006 (112 days)	March 12 & 13, 2007 (112 days)
Sale	Saturday, December 9, 2006	Friday or Saturday, April 6 or 7, 2007

	SOUTHWEST SENIOR BULLS	SOUTHWEST JUNIOR BULLS
Birth Dates	October 1 – December 31, 2005	January 1 - March 31, 2006
Entry Deadline	September 8, 2006	September 8, 2006
Delivery of Bulls	October 3, 2006	October 3, 2006
Start Test	October 16 & 17, 2006	October 16 & 17, 2006
Finish Test	February 5 & 6, 2007 (112 days)	February 26 & 27, 2007 (133 days)
Sale	Saturday, March 24, 2007	Saturday, March 24, 2007

Registered bulls of any recognized beef breed, or recorded percentage bulls of breeds which have an open herd book are eligible for the central tests. All bulls must be recorded in their respective breed association, and have a complete performance record (including EPDs). Bulls must also meet breed-specific minimum YW EPD requirements, individual performance specifications, as well as pre-delivery health and management protocol to be eligible for the tests.

In 2005-06 a total of 441 bulls were developed through the Virginia BCIA Central Bull Test program. The qualifying 266 bulls that sold averaged $2492 across the three sales. Average total cost including all test and sale expenses was $779 per bull sold (feed, vet, entry fees, sale expenses, etc.), for a return of $1713 per bull to the consignor.

Breeders in Virginia and bordering states who are members of Virginia BCIA are eligible to consign bulls. For details and copies of the rules and regulations as well as entry information regarding the central bull tests, contact the Virginia BCIA office at 540-231-9163 or visit http://bcia.apsc.vt.edu.