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
