2009 Virginia BCIA Southwest Bull Test & BCIA-Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale Report

Livestock Update, May 2009

Dr. Scott P. Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, VA Tech

The 30^th Annual Southwest Virginia Performance Tested Bull Sale sponsored by the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association was held Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Wytheville. The 133 bulls sold commanded an average price of $2125 per head. Breed averages were as follows: 87 Angus averaged $2134, 19 purebred Simmental averaged $2311, 13 Simmental Hybrids $2254, 2 purebred Gelbvieh $3500, 5 Gelbvieh Balancers $1370, 6 Charolais $1400, and 1 Polled Hereford at $1500. The BCIA-Influenced Virginia Premium Assured Plus Bred Heifer Sale held in conjunction with the bull sale sold 47 heifers for an average price of $1036 per head.

The high indexing Junior Simmental, Lot 428, consigned by Virginia Tech topped the sale at $8000 selling to Marshall Cattle Company, Burlington, CO, Double N Farms, Floyd, VA and Joines Cattle Company, Blacksburg, VA. This homozygous black, polled purebred son of Triple C Invasion posted test ADG and yearling ratios of 116 and 111, along with EPDs of +9.5 CED, +71 YW, +0.35 MB, +0.33 REA, and +121 API all ranking in the top 25% of the breed. The solid Simmental sale also featured Lot 407, bred by J & M Windy Acres of Maryville, TN and selling to Diana Billips of Ceres, VA for $3300. This homozygous black, December 2007 son of Hooks Majestic 31M posted a CED EPD +12.5, YW EPD +89, along with yearling ratio of 120. J&M Windy Acres also consigned the top indexing Senior purebred Simmental, Lot 405, which sold to Teter Farms of Beverly, WV for $3000. A son of Triple C Invasion, this bull posted a strong carcass record, along with calving ease and high growth. Another high-selling purebred Simmental was Lot 432 consigned by Huckleberry Hill of Rural Retreat which went to Bear Creek Farms of Newton, AL for $3100. Sired by Sand Hand Ranch, this homozygous black, polled bull had IMF and REA ratios of 125 and 110, test ADG of 4.06, ratio 116, and posted strong EPDs for MB, REA, API and TI.

A sale feature was Lot 611. a purebred Gelbvieh bred by Little Windy Hills Farms of Max Meadows, VA which sold for $5500 for two-thirds semen interest and full possession to Southeast Community College, Beatrice, NE and Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA. This black, homozygous polled son of LWHF Energizer 128R ET had test ADG and YW ratios of 136 and 119, a YW EPD +85, and ultrasound REA 16.2, ratio 117.

A strong Angus sale was paced by a member of the Junior Breeder Group, consigned by Echo Ridge Farm of Atkins, VA. Lot 112, sired by GAR Selective, commanded $5100 from Bob Myers of Galax, VA for two thirds semen interest and full possession. He gained 4.47 on test and had an adjusted YW of 1418 pounds which was backed by a YW EPD +110, MB EPD +0.51, IMF ratio 122, and $B EPD +57. Selling for $5000 was Lot 106 Junior Angus consigned by Legacy at Pine Hill Farm of Forest, VA and going to George Wright of Galax, VA. A son of TC Total 410, he had YW EPD +113, test ADG ratio 117, and was the high $W Angus bull of the sale at +35.

Echo Ridge was also recognized with the Breeder Group Award in the Senior Test for their consignment of Angus bulls. Their lead bull in this group, Lot 53, a calving ease son of GAR Future Direction 7884 sold to Bobby and Martha Jackson of Draper, VA for $3200. Selling for $3100 was Lot 35 from Four Locust Angus in Keysville, VA which went to Bundy Farm of Lebanon, VA. This high growth son of Woodhill Foresight posted test ADG and YW ratios of 122 and 113, along with YW EPD +107, strong ultrasound data and a $B of +61. Mullins Angus Farm of Clintwood, VA consigned Lot 67, a son of HSAF Bando 701 which sold to Jamie Culbertson of Gate City, VA for $3000. The high-indexing Junior Angus bull, Lot 122, was bred by Echo Ridge Farm and sold to Jason Semones of Hillsville, VA for $3000. Sired by Rito 6F40 of Rita 4D11 FD, this bull recorded a test YW of 1437, ADG 4.47, CED EPD +11, YW EPD +111, and $B +54. His herdmate, Lot 123, also brought $3000 and sold to R.T. Bowen Company of Pounding Mill, VA. This son of ALC Big Eye D09N led all Angus bulls with a REA EPD +0.55.

A strong group of SimAngus bulls was led by Lot 444, bred by J & M Windy Acres of Maryville, TN and selling to Walter Robinson of Glade Spring, VA for $4100. This homozygous black, January 2008 son of GAR Predestined posted trait leader EPDs for MB and REA of +1.01 and +0.38 along with ultrasound IMF and REA ratios of 131 and 120. Another GAR Predestined son consigned by J & M Windy Acres, Lot 443, was the top indexing Junior Simmental Hybrid bull, and sold to Maxey Farms of Chatham, VA for $2800. His test performance led the SimAngus group, and he posted YW EPD +74, MB EPD +0.69 along with API of +127.

The BCIA-Influenced Bred Heifer Sale consisted of 47 fall-calving commercial bred heifers. Prices were steady, with the heifers averaging $1036 per head. Hillwinds Farm of Dublin, VA consigned Lot 3 to top the sale at $1125 each and selling to Al Belcher of Bland, VA. This pair of SimAngus heifers, sired by Nichols Legacy G151, are due to calve in September and are AI-bred to Bar Ext Traveler 205 and Rito 3X15. Slusher Valley Farm of Floyd, VA sold a pair similarly bred SimAngus heifers sired by Nichols Legacy G151, and bred to Rito 3V44 of 1I40 1407, to Gillespie Cove Farm of Tazewell, VA for $1100. All heifers were designated as Virginia Premium Assured Plus females.

All bulls and heifers were consigned by members of the Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association. Bulls were developed at Hillwinds Farm at Dublin, VA owned and operated by Tim Sutphin. The sale was managed by Virginia BCIA and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, and the auctioneer was Mike Jones.