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 Auburn
Bull Test Sale Set
AUBURN, Jan 15, 2003 ---
More than 70 bulls
representing seven breeds and recognized breed composites will pass
through the sale ring at the 54th Annual Auburn Bull Test
Sale. The sale will be Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Ham Wilson Livestock
Arena on the Auburn University campus.
Billy Stephenson of Forrest Hill Angus in Higdon consigned this year’s
top indexing bull. His December 2002 bull sired by Rito 8M1 of 4B20
Elixer had a final test ratio of 115.51. The bull gained 4.55 pounds
per day with a weight per day of age of 4.27 pounds. He also sported
a 6.27 pounds of feed to pound of gain feed conversion rate. This
bull will be the first bull sold when the sale begins at noon.
Dr. Lisa Kriese-Anderson, Extension animal scientist and the Auburn
Bull Test supervisor, said producers have the opportunity to buy bulls
with excellent genetic potential.
“Bulls in this sale are genetically in the top 20 percent or higher of
their respective breeds,” she said.
Cattle producers from six states consigned bulls to the test this
year. Kriese-Anderson expects buyers from across the Southeast to
attend the sale.
Kriese-Anderson said that a bull consigned to the Auburn test goes on
an 84-day feed test. At the end, vital information, such as average
daily gain, weight per day of age, and feed efficiency is available on
each of the bulls. They also undergo ultrasound evaluations that
indicate the size of the ribeye and marbling scores, among other data.
Bulls undergo a thorough reproductive exam before the sale. An added
benefit is the prestige of the Auburn Bull Test Sale.
“The test is one of the premier bull tests in the country,“ said
Kriese-Anderson. "Many buyers return year after year because they are
comfortable with the data quality and integrity. They also realize
calves from bulls they purchase will perform in a similar manner in
Western feedlots. Consignors benefit greatly on sale day since the
Auburn University Bull Test enjoys such a good reputation among
Southeastern cattle farms drawing a good crowd of buyers . In
addition, producers are able to witness undergraduate students in
action. Students are responsible for many aspects of sale day
including registering buyers, moving the bulls through the ring,
loading bulls on trailers after the sale and preparing lunch.”
This year, the sale is dedicated to Dr. Allen Heath. Heath was the
test veterinarian from the Auburn University College of Veterinary
Medicine for 3 years before his death in March 2003. Many of the
health concerns and problems faced by bulls at the bull test facility
were eliminated by Heath's innovative approaches to veterinary
medicine.
The Auburn Bull Test, begun in 1951, is the oldest continuous
performance bull test in the United States. Extension specialists
have supervised the test since the early 1980s.
The facilities used by the bull test are some of the most modern in
the country. Electronically operated feed bunks accurately measure
feed consumption on each bull, allowing feed efficiency to be
calculated on each bull.
"The Auburn Test is one of the few in the country that can provide
this data to the cattle industry," said Kriese-Anderson.
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