Preview Scheduled for Ohio Bull Test Sale

The traditional Ohio Bull Test sale preview night is back. Potential buyers and other interested cattle producers are invited to the Ohio Bull Test facility located at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station in Belle Valley, Ohio on Monday, April 4 beginning at 5:00 PM. Sale bulls will be on display and catalogs containing test data and EPDs will be available.

Currently there are 123 bulls from 40 different consignors scheduled to complete 112-day feed test on March 15. Bulls vying for a spot in the 36th Annual Ohio Bull Test Sale, to be held April 16, include: 87 Angus, 16 Simmental, eight Hereford, six Charolais, three Red Angus, two Gelbvieh, and one Chimaine. Detailed information on the bulls and test is posted on the Web at http://bulltest.osu.edu.

Only bulls meeting minimum performance requirements and classified as "Satisfactory Potential Breeders" will be eligible for the sale. Performance records provided on the bulls upon completion of the test will include: birth weight, weaning weight, scrotal circumference, frame score, ribeye area, intramuscular fat and back fat measured by ultrasound, Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs), and average daily gain during the test. Cataloged traits and data will be explained as part of the preview program.

Consignors to the bull test were the first Ohio livestock producers to be able to register for premises identification with the Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA). Additionally the individual bulls were tagged with radio frequency identification (RFID) for data management purposes. ODA staff will be at the preview night to explain the National Animal Identification System, including the national premises allocation system and to demonstrate the individual animal tracking software using the Ohio Bull Test animals as an example. Those in attendance will also have the opportunity to register their own farms for premises identification.

The Ohio Bull Test is a program of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association in educational partnership with The Ohio State University Extension and Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Contact Justin Lahmers at jlahmers@ohiobeef.org or 614-873-6736 for more information.