|
90th All-Breed Bull Sale Is Oct. 30 In Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, MO.
The 90th Southwest Missouri All-Breed Performance Tested Bull Sale will be held at 7 p.m., Oct. 30 at the Springfield Livestock Marketing Center, 6821 W Independence Drive, Springfield.
The offering consists of 56 Angus, two black Gelbviehs, and two Polled Herefords. Most of the bulls were born in August and September 2016 with a few that are 18-20 months old.
The bulls are consigned by breeders in the southwest part of Missouri according to Eldon Cole, livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
The primary standards to qualify for the sale are 1100 lbs. 365 day adjusted weight; a five frame score or better; rank in the top 50 percentile of their breed for three of these six expected progeny differences (EPD) traits, calving ease direct, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk, marbling, and ribeye area.
“At least half of the bulls will have genomic data on them which enhances the accuracy of their EPDs regarding some traits,” said Cole.
INDEXES AND EPDS
Indexes are becoming a popular value to look at from the buyer’s viewpoint. Those indexes incorporate several performance EPD’s into one number which includes current economic values.
As an example, the Angus breed has a weaned calf value ($W) which is expressed in dollars per head difference. It includes birth weight, weaning weight, milk and mature cow size.
The $W average for non-parent Angus bulls in September was $45.75.
The average $W of the 56 Angus bulls in the sale is $57.12 when they were cataloged in early September.
When a person does the math ($57.12 - $45.75 = $11.37), it tells the average SW MO BCIA bull’s calves should beat the average of the Angus non-parents by $11.37 per head in future progeny performance for pre-weaning merit, when bred randomly to cows under comparable conditions.
The above simply compares the average to average, but we have an extreme high in the sale that has a $W of $89.14.
SELECTION
“Once again when you do the math you’d expect his progeny at weaning to exceed the average Angus bull by $43.39,” said Cole. “Prospective bull buyers need to use the above type of data as they make their choices.”
Cole says buyers also need to study their own herd's measurable data such as herd weaning weight, feedlot data, carcass value and anything else they routinely evaluate.
“I also suggest they keep track of the EPDs of past bulls they’ve used if they retain their daughters. Most commercial herds do not have EPDs on their cows, but if they’ve kept track of their bull purchases they can have an idea how their genetics are stacking up,” said Cole.
Numbers and objective data are vital in selecting breeding stock.
“Once you review the bulls in the pasture, pen and sale barn be sure to look the bulls over critically, starting from the ground up. Unfortunately, we do have some bulls with hoof, mobility and attitude issues. Those are not always detectable at the sale but do your best to look them over or have a reliable person do it for you,” said Cole.
MORE INFORMATION
The bulls will be available for viewing on Oct. 30 afternoon. Don't wait until 15 minutes before sale time to arrive to see them.
At 5:30 p.m., MU Extension livestock specialists will have a 30-minute program and questions session for attendees.
Contact sale manager, Pam Naylor, Buffalo for a catalog. Her numbers are 417-345-8330 or 417-880-6039. It is also on-line at www.swmobcia.com. ∆
|
|