Requirements For 2001 - 2002 West  Virginia Bull Evaluation Program

Sponsors:

West Virginia University Extension Service

Division of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, WVU

West Virginia Department of Agriculture

West Virginia Cattlemen's Association

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Location:

WVU Reymann Memorial Farm, approximately two miles north of Wardensville on State Route 259.

 

Purpose:

1. Provide an opportunity for Cooperators to evaluate genetic merit of bulls produced in their herd and their breeding program.
2. Provide commercial producers with a large source of genetically superior bulls and provide them with the opportunity to evaluate differences in genetic merit.
3. Provide data and animals that can be used for educational programs conducted by West Virginia University.

Health Requirements:

1. All bulls of West Virginia origin must have a negative brucellosis test within 60 days prior to delivery, including bulls that are from certified herds. All bulls, except those from accredited herds, must also pass a negative TB test within 60 days prior to delivery.
2. No bull may enter from any herd under federal or state quarantine.
3. All bulls will be tested for both TB and Brucellosis at the end of the test. All bulls must be negative for both TB and brucellosis to sell or leave the station regardless of destination unless to slaughter.
4. A "certificate of vaccination" signed by the producer is required verifying your bulls have been vaccinated with the following under the guidelines set forth:

1. Bovi-Shield 4+L5
2. Vision 7/Somnus (Clostridial) - requires 2 shots prior to delivery of bulls. We will not booster Clostridial or haemophilus somnus.
3. One-Shot (Pfizer)
4. Warts (Recommended but at Cooperators discretion)
5. We recommend that you vaccinate calves for IBR and BVD with a killed product two (2) weeks prior to weaning. Since all other products being used are Pfizer products, we would suggest using Cattlemaster 4 or 4+L5 at this time. Immunity from vaccinations is a little like pregnancy. First service conception rates are typically about 60-70%. Only about 60-70% of calves will develop immunity from a single vaccination. That is the reason for giving a second and sometimes third booster.

In the future, you may have to become BQA certified in order to consign to Wardensville. This will probably require that you be able to pass a BQA test.

5. At least 60 days prior to weaning and until the bulls are delivered to Wardensville, a complete and balanced loose mineral must be fed free choice.  A mineral formulated for 2 ounces consumption per head per day should contain these minimums:

Zinc (Zn)	2500 ppm
Copper (Cu)	1000 ppm
Silenium (SE)	30 ppm

Following are some examples of acceptable products: 

1. Southern States Beef Breeder Mineral with Zinpro.

6. All health papers must accompany bulls being delivered to the station. Health papers must be presented and cleared before bulls are unloaded.
7. Bulls will be de-wormed at delivery. De-worming and insecticide application prior to delivery may be beneficial and are not discouraged. However, in order to minimize movement stress and prevent cumulative drug toxicity, do not administer these treatments within seven (7) days of delivery to the test. Bulls will also be boostered with Bovi-Shield on October 24 and de-wormed.
8. Bulls with active pinkeye, ringworm or warts should not be delivered to the test station. The station reserves the right to reject any such bull.
9. All horned bulls must be dehorned and healed before delivery to the station.

Eligibility:

1. Cooperators must be members of the West Virginia Cattlemen's Association (304/472-4020).
2. Cooperators must be enrolled in their breed association performance test program (i.e., AHIR, TPR, CHIP, SMILE, etc.). Bulls must have an actual birth weight recorded.
3. A maximum of 200 bulls, including a maximum of 160 Angus bulls, will be accepted for evaluation. Cooperators will be notified of the number of bulls accepted as soon after September 5 as possible. Preference will be given to West Virginia Cooperators from the previous year. However, new cooperators and out-of-state cooperators will be accepted if space is available with priority determined by the postmarked date on nomination forms.
4. Bulls should have a WDA at delivery of 2.7 to 3.3 lbs.   This will vary some depending upon pasture management, stocking rate, age of dam and the effectiveness of your weaning program.
5. Bulls must be raised by their natural mothers (calves raised on nurse cows and foster dams are not eligible for the sale) except ET calves may be consigned as long as there is a minimum of three full brothers consigned. ET calves must be raised by cows of same breed as breed of bull calf.
6. Bulls must be born on or after December 1, 2000 through March 31, 2001. Calves born after March 31 may be fed at the cooperators risk and cost, but are not eligible for the sale. You are encouraged to consign calves born prior to March 20 in order to fall within the desired age range for the collection of certain data.
7. Bulls of any breed are eligible for the program. However all bulls of a recognized breed must be registered and registration numbers must be furnished. Composite bulls will be accepted but you must notify Wayne Wagner (304/293-6131, ext. 4205) of the composite makeup before they will be accepted.
8. All calves must be weaned in contemporary groups of at least five (5) head (i.e. calves with no contemporaries or less than four other calves weighed at the same time are not eligible to be sold). Contemporary groups consist of calves of the same breed of both sexes weighed on the same date.
9. No single consignments accepted. All Angus bulls evaluated must have at least two other bulls tested from the same contemporary group at weaning (except as described previously for ET calves). We recommend the maximum range in age be 90 days or less within each cooperators group and/or contemporary group. For all other breeds the minimum number that can be consigned is two head and they must be contemporaries.
10. A cooperator will be required to consign at least every other year to the West Virginia Feedlot and Product Information Program (WVFPIP) or a program of equal value and merit (contact Wayne Wagner if you have a question as to what constitutes equal value and merit). Carcass data from a cooperator's herd will assist the producer and potential buyers in making better, more informed decisions. The minimum requirements for participation in the WVFPIP is five head of steers and/or heifers. A cooperator is expected to consign to WVFPIP a number equal to or greater than the number of bulls enrolled from his herd. However, Wardensville cooperators will be allowed to consign the same number to WVFPIP as bulls if they consign less than five head.

Can a producer consign calves from another herd if they are sired by a bull he produced? Yes, but you must consign at least twice as many as you would if they were produced within your own herd. Why twice as many? Because only half of the genetics of the calves came from your herd. The truth is that this information will be less than half as valuable to you as a producer as information coming directly from within your herd. It is important to remember that this is not a contest; it is an information-gathering process to assist you in your breeding program.

11. Cooperators are requested to submit a mission statement by January 1. In 100 words or less, it should state your goals and objectives. This is optional, but if submitted it will be included in the sale catalog.

We also request at this time a summary of your cattle/herd feedlot performance and carcass summary if you want that included in the catalog.  We reserve the right to re-write this information so it meets space requirements and uniformity.

Procedures for Entrance:

1. Complete the nomination form and submit prior to September 5 (must be postmarked by September 5). Consignment forms will be mailed for those accepted. These should be completed and delivered with the bulls on October 15.
2. Weigh your calves between 160 and 280 days and submit your data to your breed association.
3. You will be mailed ear tags.  You are to tag bulls in the right ear.  Bulls will not be processed at delivery.  This is being done to reduce stress at delivery and hopefully will improve overall health of the bulls.   You should also trim the hair off their sheaths and bob their tails prior to delivery.
4. Bulls will be received between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 noon on October 15.

Costs:

1. $50 per bull, a nonreturnable nomination fee for those accepted (applied to station costs).
2. $80 per bull for labor and equipment.
3. $10 per bull for repairs to facilities.
4. Feed cost.
5. Veterinary costs, including vaccines, pour-on, antibiotic treatments, etc.
6. Sale costs including BSE.
7. Costs associated with recording ultrasound data.
8. If a bull dies or is removed during the program, the cooperator will pay all costs accumulated to that date.
9. In addition to the $50.00 nomination fee previously paid, $200 per bull is due upon delivery to the station. Cooperators may be billed at other intervals to cover feed costs. Checks payable to WVCA.

Sale Requirements:

1. To be eligible for the sale, all requested data must be provided by January 1, 2002. To be complete, a copy of your performance test program records and the registration certificate, endorsed for transfer purposes must be provided by January 1. All bulls must have a registration number by this date so current EPD's can be requested from the Association office. Make sure you get all your paper work done well in advance. If time permits, late entries may be accepted, but there will be a $50 per bull late charge.
2. Bulls in the following categories will not qualify for the sale:

1. In the bottom 10% of the bulls within breed for adjusted scrotal circumference and/or less than 31 cm.
2. Bulls with a USDA feeder calf grade for muscle less than 2.5 (New System).
3. Bulls considered unsound and/or bulls that fail to pass the Breeding Soundness Evaluation.
4. Bulls with a frame score of less than 4.5 or greater than 7.5. Frame score will be rounded to the nearest half score.

3. After culling on the above information (item #2 a, b, d), the balance of culling will be based upon the index. A maximum of 80-90 bulls of any breed will be cataloged. If numbers are not a problem, approximately two-thirds of the bulls in a breed will be eligible to sell. However, if for example, 160 Angus bulls are consigned, only the top 80-90 will be cataloged and therefore eligible to sell.
4. The index will be used to determine sale order, but will not be published. The index will be calculated as follows:

Index = (.4 (ADG Ratio) + .4 (365d Ratio) + .2 (Scrotal Circumference Ratio)) - BW EPD+ Breed average BW EPD.

5. Registered bulls will not be sold without EPD's for birth and weaning weight and milk.
6. A floor price will be established for the sale based upon market conditions the last week of February. Any bull offered for sale that fails to bring the floor price will be the responsibility of the cooperator as soon as the bull leaves the sale ring.
7. Seller agrees to guarantee ability of bulls to breed and settle cows if properly cared for.
8. Buyers will be offered the opportunity to purchase Mortality and First Breeding Season Loss of Use Coverage through Harding and Harding.   Cost of this coverage is 7½% of the bulls purchase price with the buyer and seller each paying one-half.  Why offer this coverage?

        1.    Seller

• Replaces any guarantee except in item #7; reduces liability.
• Offers buyers the opportunity to make certain their bull needs are addressed.
• Improves customer relations through your listing on the policy as a co-insured.

        2.     Buyer

• Provides immediate coverage from the day of the sale through September for death and first breeding season loss of use due to illness or accident.
• Provides cash settlement for claim.
• Settlement after only 14 days from initial veterinarian's report of loss of use.

Buyers who do not request coverage on sale day will not have this coverage available at a later date.  Thus, bulls not insured will be sold "as is" on sale day with the only guarantee as item #7.  Policy covers:

• 100% of purchase price in the case of death or life threatening injury.
• 80% of purchase price in the case of a loss of use injury on or before July 15.
• 60% of purchase price after July 15 for a loss of use injury.
• At the buyers option on losses prior to July 15 if the bull is out for the first breeding season but can be retained for later use, the policy allows for payment of 50% of the purchase price with the buyer retaining the bull.

9. The sale committee reserves the right to disqualify any bull because of health, disposition or lack of identification, and/or if in the committee's opinion, the bull appears to be misrepresented. As a cooperator, you agree to allow management to obtain blood samples for DNA testing.
10. Cooperators may retain a breeding interest in any bull, but full possession will be assumed by the buyer at the time of sale. Partial interest sales must be designated by February 27.

Other:

1. Sale order will be determined by the sale manager and advisory committee. The sales managers will have the flexibility to adjust sale order so some sire groups may be offered for sale.
2. Bulls will be fed in groups, according to breed and age, within facility limitations.
3. All bulls must remain on feed for the entire period unless given written permission.
4. In order to reduce stress at weaning time and transportation to the station, cooperators should follow the conditioning program outlined. It is in your own best interest to do the best job of preconditioning possible.
5. Announcements at the sale will come from the auctioneer's box.
6. Non-sale bulls will be released following breeding soundness exams. They must be picked up before 8:00 a.m. on sale day. Cooperators are encouraged to send inferior bulls to slaughter.
7. Breeds represented by less than five head will be handled in the most appropriate manner possible as determined by the bull evaluation committee.
8. Auctioneer: Gary Vance.

Liability:

Bulls in the evaluation program will receive appropriate management.  Veterinary services will be used when deemed necessary by the station management and/or the program chairman.  The sponsors assume no liability for loss of bulls, property damage, personal injury, accuracy of consignor information or data collected.

Conditioning Program:

Suggested Concentrate Mixture:
1750 lb.* Corn and Cob Meal 260 lb. Soybean Oil Meal	or	1600 lb.* Shelled Corn (crimped) 250 lb. Soybean Oil Meal 150 Peanut hulls or Cottonseed hulls or chopped hay.
* Up to 50% of the corn can be substituted for barley.

Schedule:

Assistance:

University labor sources have diminished over the past several years.  Consequently, it will be necessary for cooperators to supply labor during certaindays or be willing to pay for hired labor to cover those needs.  Following is a listof those needs.  Please try to assist with the BSE, Ultrasound, or on-test weighdates.

If you cannot help for whatever reason, 2% of your gross sales receiptswill go to WVCA.  Your preference for a work day should be submitted to Wayne Wagner.

Address and phone number for reference:

Certificate of Vaccination Form (PDFFormat)
Nomination Form (PDFFormat)
Enrollment Form (PDFFormat)