You've reached the Virginia Cooperative Extension Newsletter Archive. These files cover more than ten years of newsletters posted on our old website (through April/May 2009), and are provided for historical purposes only. As such, they may contain out-of-date references and broken links.
To see our latest newsletters and current information, visit our website at http://www.ext.vt.edu/news/.
Newsletter Archive index: http://sites.ext.vt.edu/newsletter-archive/
1998-99 Virginia BCIA Bull Test and Sale Summary
Livestock Update, June 1999
Scott Greiner, Extension Animal Scientist, Beef,, Virginia Tech
The Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association central bull tests evaluated a total of 438 bulls consigned by 121 Virginia BCIA members during the 1998-99 test season. The bulls were tested at two locations (Culpeper and Wytheville), in four test groups with test lengths ranging from 112 to 140 days. The 458 bulls had an average test gain of 3.53 lb./day and an average adjusted yearling weight of 1150 pounds. Average performance by breed was: 335 Angus- 3.58 ADG, 1152 YW; 53 Simmental- 3.48 ADG, 1190 YW; 24 Polled Hereford- 3.27 ADG, 1070 YW; 12 Charolais- 3.34 ADG, 1120 YW; 11 Gelbvieh- 3.05 ADG, 1085 YW; 2 Salers- 3.53 ADG, 1150 YW; and 1 Limousin- 2.59 ADG, 963 YW. The top two-thirds of each test group, based on ADG and YW, were eligible for sale. Three sales were conducted, and the 289 bulls sold received an average price of $1697. Number sold in each breed and average price were as follows: 219 Angus- $1751; 35 Simmental- $1566; 15 Polled Hereford- $1737; 9 Charolais- $1217; 9 Gelbvieh- $1411; and 2 Salers- $1225. Of the 238 bulls sold, 194 sold in Virginia and 44 out-of-state. For information concerning the 1999-2000 tests and sales, contact the Virginia BCIA office at (540) 231-9163.