Annual WBIA Central Bull Test
The Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association would like to offer a big Thank You to all buyers and bidders who supported our annual bull sale April 3. Our member-consignors delivered a super set of bull calves last fall and they were rewarded by strong demand this spring. The best news may be that a strong sale usually results in another round of high quality consignments for next years’ test, and the cycle continues.
Station manager Phil Wyse offered some raw statistics at the consignor meeting that followed the sale. While we often tout the highest performing individuals, it is worthwhile to recognize the test group as a whole. In round figures, here is a small breakdown.
Eighty-six bulls were on test for 100 days. The target average daily gain for the calculated ration has been 4.0 pounds. The total gain for all 86 bulls, sale bulls and non-qualifiers, was 40,961 pounds for an average daily gain of 4.762 pounds, nineteen percent above the target. Feed used during the 100-day test was in the close neighborhood of 245,000 pounds. Total pounds of feed divided by total pounds of gain gives us a feed conversion ratio of 5.98 pounds of feed per pound of gain. All in all, those are impressive numbers. Every year I mention it, but I will again point out that this test ration has the same energy level as the ration that was used as the pre-test warm-up a few years back. Congratulations are in order to all consignors for delivering a great set of bulls.
Each year the WBIA recognizes the consignors of the highest performing bull in each breed group, as well as the consignors who deliver the highest performing group of three bulls in each breed group. For the first time, all bulls of all breeds recognized in these two categories had average daily gains exceeding 5 pounds per day.
The top performing Angus bull was consigned by Borkview Angus, Grand Marsh, WI, and had an ADG of 5.70 pounds, a WDA of 4.02 pounds, and a final index of 118. Borkdale Angus, Grand Marsh, WI consigned the top Angus group. The three bulls posted average daily gains of 5.35 pounds, 5.15 pounds and 5.05 pounds and an average index of 111.
The top performing Simmental bull was consigned Walton Simmentals, Deforest, WI. This bull had an ADG of 5.45 pounds, a WDA of 3.81 pounds and a final index of 110. Walton Simmentals also consigned the highest performing Simmental group. The group consisted of the breed winner, and two additional bulls gaining 5.50 pounds and 5.15 pounds daily with an average index of 107.
The UW-Platteville Pioneer Farm consigned the Red Angus top performer. This bull posted an ADG of 5.00 pounds with a WDA of 4.30 pounds and a final index of 109.
All the test details including pedigrees, sale catalog and sale summary are available online at www.wisconsinbeef.com.
As I write this the calves eligible for the 2010-2011 test are already on the ground and breeding plans for the calves that will be in the 2011-2012 test are in full swing. Surely, the first round of A.I. breeding is already done. Cattle breeding is a bit like juggling. Despite the fact that your hands are full it seems there are two or three items in the air requiring your immediate attention. As you work through that list of tasks and projects this spring from calving to fieldwork to fencing to breeding to haying and on and on, remember to take a moment to catch your breath. This occupation is a choice, not a sentence. Spend some time watching the cattle eat and the calves play. Murphy’s Law has a way of demanding our attention, but some attention paid to the days that go well will pay dividends, too.
Have a safe spring.
Allan Arndt