Pa. tested bull sale is largest ever

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will hold the 35th annual Performance Tested Bull Sale March 28 at noon at the Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. Livestock Evaluation Center , in conjunction with the 19th Annual Pennsylvania Beef Expo.

Breeds

This year, 116 bulls representing eight different beef breeds, including Simmental, Limousin, Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Charolais, Lim-Flex, and Crossbred, will be offered at the sale.

All bulls were evaluated on rate of gain, muscling, composition of gain, (fat thickness and marbling) and breeding soundness as part of the performance bull testing program.

Leading the sale is the high-indexing Simmental bull consigned by Kenley Myers of Dallastown, Pa. This high-capacity, heavily muscled bull leads the Simmental breed in average daily gain with 6 pounds per day.

Angus

The top-indexing Angus bull is consigned by Robert Work of Smock, Pa. This thick-muscled bull finished test with an average daily gain of 5.54 pounds per day and has an adjusted loin-eye area of 16.9 square inches.

Sixty-nine Angus bulls with incredible performance data will sell and 13 are listed as calving ease bulls. Eleven excellent Hereford bulls from Pennsylvania and New York will be in the sale.

The top indexing Hereford bull, consigned by Zane Hausner of Thomasville, Pa., registered tremendous performance gaining 5.13 pounds per day.

Hereford

Following in the sale is a Hereford bull, consigned by Jack Abrams of Livingston Manor, N.Y., which recorded an adjusted yearling weight of 1,574 pounds.

Two Limousin and two Lim-Flex consignments are included in the sale, including two bulls consigned by Nathan and James Baker of Commodore, Pa., and two bulls consigned by Jim Delaplaine of Three Springs, Pa.

The lone Charolais bull in the sale is an outstanding representative of the breed. This calving ease, docile bull was consigned by John Myers of York, Pa.

The seven Red Angus in the sale are led by the fastest gaining bull of all breeds. This wide-made, deep-bodied bull consigned by Wade Vonada of Mill Hall, Pa., maintained 6.02 pounds per day average daily gain through the 112-day testing period.

Already tested

All bulls to be sold in the 2008 performance tested sale have completed a 112-day test at the Livestock Evaluation Center. This test evaluates bulls on average daily gain, carcass traits and feed efficiency.

Following the bull sale, the Pennsylvania Simmental Association will hold a female Simmental breeding cattle sale.

In addition, the 19th annual PA Beef Expo will feature educational programs and events, including a trade show for the beef industry, a large junior show, and a junior quiz bowl and skill-a-thon.

Learn more

All performance information, including expected progeny differences (EPD’s), are listed in the 2008 Pennsylvania Performance Bull Sale Catalog, available online at www.agriculture.state.pa.us.

For a hard copy of the catalog, contact Glenn Eberly at 814-238-2527 or geberly@state.pa.us.