The Value of Lists

One of my friends is a writer; she writes a bit of everything and is really good I enjoy reading her blog http://www.wandaargersinger.com/blog/. As all of us do we started talking about what we want to do or accomplish in the New Year. Wanda informed me she had made a list of 52 random thoughts or words and she plans to write a blog on each of the words in the future. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with I know I can expect a good laugh. Well this puts some pressure on me what I am going to do, then my daughter in law gave me a book. The name of the book is Lists to live by and was compiled by Alice Gray, Steve Stephens and John Van Diest. By golly that is what I want to do share some really good list! So because I am not good at committing to weekly I will try to pick a favorite list for the next twelve months. This past fall Ronnie and I attended the American Angus Tour in Georgia one of the stops was at the founder of Chick-Fil-A Company, Cathy S. Truett and we were honored to have the opportunity to meet this gentleman and his sweet wife. This list is from his book “It’s Easier To Succeed Than To Fail”

Five Reasons it’s Easier to Succeed

1. It’s easier to succeed because failure exacts a high price in terms of time when you have to do a job over.

2. It’s easier to succeed because success eliminates the agony and frustration of defeat.

3. It’s easier to succeed because money spent to fail must be spent again to succeed.

4. It’s easier to succeed because a person’s credibility decreases with each failure, making it harder to succeed the second time.

5. And it’s easier to succeed because joy and expression of affirmation come from succeeding, whereas feelings of discouragement and discontent accompany failure

Reading his book and reading this list you understand why this sweet man has been such a success. He doesn’t just make a list he followed it and learned from it.  What a blessing to be able to say we had the opportunity to meet him.

Wishing You and Yours a blessed New Year!

Florida Bull Test Catalog

Dear Cattlemen:
Welcome to the 12th Annual Florida Bull Test Sale. The objective of this test is to evaluate the performance potential and breeding soundness of bulls consigned. This year was the second year in which individual feed efficiency was established on all bulls.

The Florida Bull Test consists of a 112-day performance test plus a breeding soundness evaluation on every bull that qualifies for the auction. Bulls arrive at the NFREC Feed Efficiency Facility, are sorted into contemporary groups, and moved into pens where bulls adapted to soy hull and corn gluten-based diet with free choice access to Bermuda grass hay and water for a three week adaptation period before initiating the test. The bulls remained in the Feed Efficiency Facility for the first 56 days of test after which they were moved out of the facility to 3.25 acre pastures for the remaining 56 days of test. They received the same diet throughout the test. Animal performance, specifically average daily gain (ADG), was calculated using only the official starting and finishing test weights. Throughout the test bulls were observed and screened for structural soundness and disposition. Bulls deemed to be structurally unsound or poor disposition did not qualify for the sale.

The target was to achieve an ADG of 3.5 lb/day. As you may note the bulls averaged an ADG of 3.32 lb/day. The average weight per day of age was 2.96 lb/day. Average daily feed intake during the first 56 days of test was 23.3 lb/day (on a dry matter basis) and average feed:gain ratio of 7.5 pounds of feed for every pound of gain.

A significant portion of the test is the inclusion of feed efficiency of individual bulls. To rank the bulls on feed efficiency we use residual feed intake (RFI), which is the difference between actual feed intake and expected feed intake. The more negative the number is, the more efficient the bull is. During this bull test the RFI of bulls ranged from -6.67 to 5.19 lb/d. Therefore, the most efficient bull consumed 6.67 lb per day less feed than expected for his gain. This equates to more than 2,400 lb per year less feed than that bull is expected to consume!

Our staff has worked hard to provide the best care possible for these bulls. We believe each bull has been given the chance to express his own genetic potential for performance and fertility. Thank you for making our sale stronger year after year. We look forward to visiting with you about the bulls either before or on sale day.

Catalog

Sincerely,

Florida Bull Test Committee
 
So if your looking for a new herd bull we invite you to join us in Marianna Florida on Saturday January 14, 2011.  If you have any questions concerning our consignments please feel free to give us a call. 
 
Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!
 
The Gilmore's
Ronnie & Debbie

Florida Bull Test Sale January 14th 2012

The Florida Test NFREC-Marianna

The North Florida Research and Education Center in Marianna, Florida annually hosts the Florida Bull Test.  Final weights were taken on December 6 & 7 2011.  Bulls that qualify for the sale will be cataloged soon, all bulls are evaluated by ultrasound for carcass traits 30 days before the end of the test.  Bulls below frame score of 4.5 will not be accepted (BIF frame score chart). All bulls will undergo a Breeding Soundness Evaluation according to the Society of Theriognology guidelines prior to the sale by the Bull Test designated Veterniarian.  Any bulls that do not pass the BSE will not be permitted to sell in the sale.

Gizmo Angus Farm nominated three bull calves to this years test we were notified this week that all three have met the sale criteria and will be offered for sale on January 14, 2012. 



Gizmo EXT 1002 0556 6149 Registration #16938941

 

1002 was being camera shy



Gizmo Image Maker 1013 525 Registration #16938946

 

Gizmo EXT 1023 409 6149 Registration #16938951

For more information on all the bulls that will be selling on January 14, 2012 go to the Florida Bull Test page.