SOUTHERN WEST VIRGINIA HEIFER EVALUATION PROGRAM

RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR 2009-2010

 

Sponsors:

WVU Cooperative Extension Service

WVU College of Agriculture & Forestry

West Virginia Department of Agriculture

West Virginia Cattlemen's Association

 

______________________________________________________________________________

 

LOCATION:  Jack Crank Farm, Point Pleasant Station, U. S. Rt. 35, Henderson, WV  25106

                        Phone - 304-675-2776

 

WEB PAGE: www.wvbeef.org/bulltest/

 

PURPOSE:  

 

1.         Provide opportunity for consignors to evaluate genetic merit of replacement heifers produced in their herd and their breeding program.

2.         Provide commercial producers with a source of genetically superior heifers and to provide them with the opportunity to evaluate differences in genetic merit.

3.         Provide data and animals that can be used for educational programs conducted by West Virginia University

4.         The heifer evaluation program will feed a forage-base ration of corn silage, alfalfa haylage and mineral.

 

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS:

 

1.         All heifers must be calfhood vaccinated for Brucellosis or a negative Brucellosis test (60) sixty days prior to delivery, including heifers from certified herds.  All heifers, except those from West Virginia accredited herds, must also pass a negative TB test within (60) sixty days prior to delivery.

2.         No heifer may enter from any herds under Federal or State quarantine.

3.         All heifers must be negative to both TB and Brucellosis to sell or leave the station regardless of destination unless to slaughter.

4.         A "certificate of vaccination" signed by the producer or veterinarian is required verifying your heifers have been vaccinated.  This certificate must accompany heifers on delivery.

5.         Heifers must be weaned by September 1, 2009.

6.         Heifers must  be enrolled in the Boehringer Ingelheim “Range Ready” program and

            vaccinated with the approved Boehringer Ingelheim vaccines.  (It is the consignors

            responsibility to become enrolled in the “Range Ready” program.)

 

 

 

 

 

7.         All heifers must be vaccinated as follows:  No substitutes or exceptions.

 

 

 


                        Alpha 7/MB-1

                        Elite 9 or Express  FP 10                             3 to 4 months of age

                                (Depending on Cow vac. Program)

                       

Preweaning (August 1-15)

 

                        Elite 4-HS or Express 5-HS (Depending on cow

                                Alpha 7/MB-1                                    Vac. Program)

                                Pulmo-guard PHM

                       

                        Express 5-HS

                        Pulmo-guard MpB for Mycoplasma                  After weaning (Sept. 1- Sept. 10)

                       

 

 

                        Pulmo-guard MpB booster for Mycoplasma –                   3 weeks prior to delivery

                        Express 5-PHM                                                                     (September 22 - 30)

 

 

8.         All heifers will be PI ear notched on delivery day to test station.  Any heifer testing PI

            positive will be sent home immediately.

9.         All heifers will be dewormed and deliced on delivery to the test station.  DO NOT

            administer any worm or lice treatment within 21 days of delivery.

10.       All heifers will be vaccinated 60 days prior to sale with Express FP3 VL5 and 30 days

            prior to sale with Caliber 7 and Citadel VL5.

11.       Heifers with evidence of active pinkeye or warts more than 3 will be REJECTED.

12.       All horns MUST be removed and fully healed before delivery to the station.

13.       Heifers must be fed a complete beef mineral which meets NRC requirements for at

            least 90 (ninety) days prior to weaning.

 

 

            ALL HEALTH PAPERS MUST ACCOMPANY HEIFERS BEING DELIVERED TO THE STATION.  HEALTH PAPERS MUST BE PRESENTED AND CLEARED BEFORE HEIFERS ARE UNLOADED.

 

ELIGIBILITY:

  1.       Consignors must have completed a certified BQA training.

  2.       Consignors must be members of the West Virginia Cattleman’s Association.

  3.       Heifer must be open.  Bred heifers will be sent home and not eligible for sale.  No  

                  aborting at test station will be allowed or done.

  4.       Heifers must have a minimum 205 day weight ratio of 90 and a minimum adjusted 

205 day weight of 475 lbs. to go on test and be eligible for possible sale.  Heifers not

meeting this requirement may be farmer tested if space allows.

  5.       Heifers must be consigned in lots of four (4) head or more.

  6.       Heifers must be sired by performance tested bulls or AI Sires with performance records.

  7.       Dams of Heifers must be from a two-way cross or a straight bred breeding program.

  8.       Heifers must be born on or after December 1, 2008 through March 15, 2009.  Must be bred and raised by consignor.

  9.       Heifers of any beef breed are eligible for the program.

10.       At least 25% of the heifers consigned to the program will be sold March 27, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. prior to the bull sale.  Producers will have until March 1 to declare nomination to the sale.  All other heifers not selling must be picked up on March 4.

11.       The Southern Bull Test Committee reserves the right to limit the number of heifers consigned.

12.       If station vet deems a heifer as unfit for sale during the test period, management has the right to excuse the animal.

 

PROCEDURES FOR ENTRANCE:

 

1.         Complete the reservation form and mail it to Rodney Wallbrown, Mason County Extension Office, Courthouse Annex, 525 Viand Street, Point Pleasant, WV by August 15.  Consignor will be notified by September 1 as to the number of heifers allowed to bring.

2.         Complete the consignment form by sire groups and bring it with you when you deliver your approved number of heifers.

3.         Send Herd Improvement records to Rodney M. Wallbrown, Courthouse Annex, 525 Viand Street, Point Pleasant, WV  25550 by  October 1 so that ratios can be verified.  Only AHIR reports will be accepted.

4.         Heifers will be received on one delivery date of October 15, 2009 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.  Delivery schedule as to time of day will be sent to each consignor. 

 

COSTS:

 

1.         A fee of $150.00 per heifer is due upon delivery to the test station.

2.         Expenses per heifer to consignors include: 

(The afore mentioned $150.00 will apply toward these expenses). 

            a)         $10.00 to Southern Bull Test for equipment.

            b)         $10.00 Advertising fee.

            c)         $40.00 for labor and facilities.

            d)         Feed costs.

            e)         Veterinarian costs.

            f)          Medication costs and vaccine costs.

g)         Breeding Soundness examination costs.

            h)         TB Test costs.

            i)          Ultra Sound fee.

3.         All heifers selling will pay a sale commission to be determined after the sale. 

4.         Heifers not receiving the minimum bid price will pay sales commission on the set floor price.

5.         If a heifers dies or is removed during the program the consignor will pay all cost accumulated to that date.

 

SALE REQUIREMENTS:

 

1.         To be eligible for the sale, all registration numbers and requested data must be provided by November 1, 2009 to Rodney Wallbrown, Mason County Extension Office, Courthouse Annex, 525 Viand Street, Point Pleasant, WV  25550.  To be complete, a copy of your performance test program records and a copy of the registration certificate or verification of electronic registration must be provided by November 1.  Original registration papers on heifers that qualify for the sale must be indorsed for transfer purposes and sent to Rodney Wallbrown by March 10.  All heifers must have a registration number by this date so current EPD’s can be requested from the Association office.  Make sure you get all your paper work done will in advance.

2.         Frame evaluation will be taken when heifers are structure scored.  Evaluation will be S, M, and L with no S heifers selling.

3.         Heifers must have a muscle score of 1.0 (based on new USDA guide lines) or higher to sell.  All heifers will be evaluated for muscle by West Virginia Department of Agriculture graders and graded according to U.S.D.A. feeder calf standards for muscle.

4.         All heifers will be scored for structural soundness by West Virginia Department of Agriculture graders.  Unsound and questionable heifers will be culled and all heifers catalogued will be considered sound.

5.         All heifers will have reproductive soundness score.  Seller agrees to guarantee ability of heifer to breed if properly cared for.

6.         Heifers with an adjusted pelvic measurement of under 150 sq. cm. will not be sold.

7.         Heifer must have an adjusted yearling weight of at least 750 lbs. and achieved at least a1.25 lbs. per day gain to sell.

8.         Heifers must have an in group ratio of at least 90 adjusted weaning weight and adjusted yearling weight to sell.

9.         Sale Committee reserves the right to disqualify any heifer because of health, disposition, or lack of identification and/or if in their opinion, the heifer appears to be misrepresented.

10.       Heifers will be sold individually by a ranking system.

 

OTHER:

 

            1.         Sale order will be determined by the sale manager and advisory committee.

            2.         Heifers will be fed in a group, within facility limitations.

3.         All heifers must remain on feed for the entire period unless given written permission from the management.

4.         In order to reduce stress at weaning time and transportation to the station, consignors should follow the conditioning program outlined.  It is in your own best interest to do the best job of preconditioning possible.

5.         Announcements at the sale will come from the sale manager.

6.         All purebred heifers will have an ultrasound measurement for loin area and back fat.  Commercial heifers will not be ultrasound.

7.         All heifers will have a pelvic area measurement.

8.         All heifers will be examined for breeding soundness

9.         Non-sale heifers must be picked up by March 4, 2010.

 

LIABILITY:

 

            Heifers in the evaluation program will receive top management.  Veterinary services will be used when deemed necessary by the station management and/or the program chairman.  The sponsors assume no liability for loss of heifers, property damage, personal injury, accuracy of consignor information or data collected.

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE:

 

Birth Dates                 December 1, 2008 - March 15, 2009

Weaned by                September 1, 2009

Vaccination Dates    Alpha 7/MB-1, Pulmo-guard PHM, and Elite 4-HS or Express 5-HS (Aug1– 15)

                                    Express 5-HS, Pulmo-guard MpB -      (September 1-10)

                                    Express 5-PHM, Pulmo-guard MpB  (September 22 - 30)

 

Reservations By        August 15 (To Rodney Wallbrown)

Herd Improvement Records Due  October 1, 2009 (To Rodney Wallbrown)    

Delivery to Test                                 October 15, 2009

Registration Numbers Due              November 1, 2009 (To Rodney Wallbrown)

Take home pickup                            March 4, 2010

Sale:

            Day                                         March 27, 2010

            Time                                       11:00 a.m.

 

 

CONDITIONING PROGRAM:

 

            September 1 - Wean calves and feed concentrate mixture at 1% of body weight.  In addition feed good quality hay and a complete mineral mix (free choice).

 

            Suggested Concentrate Mixture:    1750 lb. Corn and Cob Meal

                                                                         250 lb. Soybean Oil Meal

                                                                         Free Choice Hay

 

WEST VIRGINIA YOUNG SIRE & REPLACEMENT HEIFER EVALUATION TEST BOARD

 

 

John McCutcheon, Greenbrier County Extension Agent

Rodney Wallbrown, Mason County Extension Agent

Ed Smolder, Jackson County Extension Agent

David Richmond, Raleigh/Summers County Extension Agent

Brian Sparks, Nicholas/Fayette County Extension Agent

Chuck Talbott, Putnam County Extension Agent

Don Peterson, Producer

Chuck Lipscomb, Producer

Jim Poling, Producer

Robert Wolfe, Producer

Jack Crank, Bull Test Station Manager

Jim Bostic, WV Cattlemen’s Association

Jim Pritchard, West Virginia Cattleman’s Association

Dwayne O’Dell, WV Department of Agriculture

Dr. Bill Crank, DVM, Veterinarian

 

Click here for official nomination forms