Test Rules

GENERAL TEST RULES OF THE 2011-2012 UTAH BEEF IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION PERFORMANCE BULL TEST The testing policy will be set by Utah Beef Improvement Association, in accordance with guidelines established by the Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) and with the assistance of Utah State University Extension in operating a Central Bull Testing Station in Levan, Utah. Purebred producers of all breeds are invited to participate in the program. The following rules will be followed: 1. UBIA will accept bulls for test within a relatively narrow age group. Bulls entered in the Sr. Test must have been born between September 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. Bulls entered in the Jr. Test must have been born between January 1, 2011 and March 15, 2011. Bulls must be individually identified with permanent ear tattoo and/or brand before they are delivered. 2. All bulls must have a minimum 2.5 pound Weight per Day of Age (WDA) and weigh at least 650 pounds at the official start of the test to be placed on official test. Bulls not meeting these criteria may be placed on “unofficial” test status, but will not be eligible for the UBIA Performance Bull Test Sale. 3. It is suggested that you test four or more bulls sired by the same sire, as this provides test data on the sire as well as giving performance on each individual. However, you may bring individuals as well. 4. The maximum number of bulls that can be enrolled by a single owner within a breed in each test is 10 head. If an owner has both Sr. and Jr. bulls, that owner may enroll up to 10 head per division. 5. All breeds will be accepted. However, they must be eligible for registry with a recognized beef breed association and be at least 7/8 pure blood or designated "purebred" by their respective association. 6. Composite bulls may be entered in the UBIA Performance Bull Test if ALL of the following conditions are met: A. Composite bulls must have both sire and dam registered in a nationally/internationally-recognized beef breed association, with neither having any “commercial” or “grade” breeding in their pedigree in the event that either is a percentage animal. B. Percentage blood bulls must be recorded with a recognized breed association. C. Consignors must be participating in an official herd performance testing program with weaning data reported to and processed by their breed association. D. A registration certificate and pedigree must accompany bull at delivery to the test station. E. Only composites consisting of two breeds will be eligible to test and sell in the UBIA sale. 7. Owners must administer pre-conditioning vaccines, which include Blackleg, Malignant Edema, Clostridium Perfringins types C and D, IBR-PI3, BVD, and BRSV; three to four weeks before arriving at the bull test. Vaccines for Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida or may be given if the consignor feels so inclined, but these are not required. It is also recommended that owners treat for internal and external parasites, and that the treatment used for internal parasites be a product that will kill the larvae as well as the adults. Some of these products are Panicure, Ivomec, Synanthic, Safeguard, Dectomax, Cydectin and Valvazen, or any others that are registered for control of larval forms of parasites in cattle. If you have a problem with liver flukes, choose a treatment that will also control them. Complete the treatment record accompanying the cover letter and see that it accompanies your bulls to the test station. Bulls will not be allowed to be unloaded at the feedlot without this form! 8. Bulls coming from within the state of Utah will not need a brand inspection, but must have proof of ownership (brand card, etc.). They will be inspected for health upon arrival. Out of state consignors should check entrance requirements into the State of Utah before leaving home. 9. All bulls will be received on October 10, 2011between the hours of 8:00 a.m. MDT and 5:00 p.m. MDT. No bulls will be received after this date. If a producer would like to bring bulls to the test station earlier than this date, he/she must contact the feedlot to make arrangements for those early arrivals. Bulls brought to the feedlot after 3:00 p.m. will be held overnight and processed the following day. Receiving will be followed by a 14-day conditioning/warm-up period. The official test will begin on October 24, 2011, and end February 13, 2012 for both tests. The UBIA Bull Test Sale is set for March 17, 2012. Bulls which will not be sold through the UBIA Sale may be picked up on February 16-18th, 2012, or if they remain into the breeding soundness examination period, they will be available for pick up after being cleared for release by the feedlot veterinarian. 10. Beginning- and End-of-test individual weights will be an average of two weights taken at equal intervals. 11. The bulls will be managed according to the following schedule: Oct. 10, 2011 Receive/Process Bulls Oct. 24 & 26, 2011 Weigh Bulls onto test Dec. 19, 2011 Mid-Test Weigh Day Jan. 16, 2012 January Weigh Day Jan. 31 & Feb. 1, 2012 Ultrasound Jr. Bulls Feb. 13 & 15, 2012 Weigh Bulls off Test Feb. 20-22, 2012 Breeding Soundness/PAP Testing (Both Sale & Non-Sale* bulls) Feb. 23-25, 2012 Fitting bulls Feb. 27-29, 2012 Photograph Sale bulls for Marketing March 14, 2012 Retest bulls failing initial BSE March 17, 2012 UBIA Performance Bull Test Sale (*At owner’s request only) A report of these weights, rate of gain, etc. will be sent to all participating breeders. Comparisons will be made on a breed basis, within the Sr. and Jr. tests. Breeds with less than five head will be compared to the average of the test in which those bulls are enrolled. 12. The ration will be formulated by a beef nutritionist, in cooperation with Utah State University Extension. All animals will receive free choice of a 70% TDN ration, developed with the optimum productive life of the bulls in mind, as well as essential gain and efficiency records. Every effort will be made to maintain a test average daily gain of at least 3.0 pounds. 13. Proper care will be provided for bulls on test. Professional veterinary service is available, when necessary, at the owner’s expense. However, liability for cattle on test is not assumed by the UBIA, Kenison Farms & Feedlot, or their agents/personnel. 14. COSTS: A. Feed Charge $650/bull in three installments as follows: $150 at receiving $250 on January 1, 2012 $250 at conclusion of the test (Feed Charges are broken down as approximately 60% for feed and 40% yardage and management costs.) B. Following the end of the test, feed will be charged at $3.00 per head per day through sale day or until the bulls leave the feedlot. C. Treatment of sick cattle, together with all tests and vaccinations given at station will be charged to the bulls' owner. D. $15.00 per bull enrolled will be due and payable to UBIA on January 1, 2012 to pay for ultrasound scans of each bull. All bulls on test will be scanned for carcass traits. E. All bulls qualifying for the UBIA Performance Bull Test Sale, along with any non-sale bulls which owners wish to have tested, will be tested for breeding soundness and pulmonary artery pressure (PAP). The costs for these tests are negotiated by UBIA with the feedlot veterinarian. 15. TERMS: A. A completed entry form must be postmarked by September 10, 2011, and received in advance of the bulls' arrival at the feedlot. An entry fee of $55.00 per bull is due with application. Consignors must be members of Utah Beef Improvement Association. Payment of the entry fee constitutes membership dues in the Association. B. Initial feed payment of $150 per bull must accompany bulls to the feedlot. All feed bills will be paid to Kenison Feedlot. C. The second feed payment of $250 per bull will be due and payable on January 1, 2012, with the remaining $250 per bull due prior to bulls being removed from the feedlot. These payments can be mailed to Kenison Feedlot, P.O. Box 100, Levan, UT 84639-0100. After 30 days, interest will be charged at a rate established by the feedlot and in line with current interest rates. No bulls can be removed from the yard until all outstanding bills are paid. D. Make the check for the feed charge of $150.00 per bull payable to Kenison Feedlot. Make the check for the entry fee of $55.00 per bull payable to Utah Beef Improvement Association. E. Mail entry fee check with the entry form on or before September 10, 2011 to: UTAH BEEF IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION ATTN. - C. KIM CHAPMAN Utah State University Extension 250 N. Main RICHFIELD, UTAH 84701-2158 F. If there is a question on age of bulls, a veterinarian may be employed to mouth bulls in question. Any consignor who has a history of delinquency relative to payment of fees and feed will be required to pay a deposit for feed and fees, the amount of which to be determined by the Board of Directors. H. A charge of $15.00/bull on test will be due and payable on January 1, 2012 to the UBIA for ultrasound services which will be performed on the bulls as part of the data collection for the test. 16. Bulls committed to the test must remain until the test is completed, unless they develop a chronic illness or there are other extenuating circumstances. It is the decision of the Board of Directors to release a bull. This policy applies to unofficial bulls also. 17. Bulls must be fully weaned and conditioned to dry feed before bringing them to the station. This will allow them to adapt to feed and the new surroundings much better. This is only fair to the management of the station. Bulls which are “trailer weaned” on the way to the feedlot will not remain on the test and the owner will be asked to take them home. 18. Utah Beef Improvement Association will conduct a sale at the end of the test. Any bull with a combined ratio of 100 or higher and an adjusted yearling weight of at least 1,000 pounds, at the end of the test will be considered for the sale(See rule 19 for further explanation to qualify for the sale). If an owner does not want a qualified bull to sell in the Association sale, the owner must inform the Executive Secretary, in writing, prior to the end of the test, that the bull will not be offered in the sale. (Combined ratio = [60% x Test Gain Ratio] + [40% x Adjusted 365-day Weight Ratio(Jr. Bulls) or Adjusted 452-day Weight Ratio(Sr. Bulls)]) 19. The UBIA Board of Directors has established that a maximum of 135 bulls will be offered for sale at the annual UBIA Performance Bull Test Sale. This shall include all bulls which have a Combined Ratio above 100. Additionally, if the 135-bull threshold is not met, bulls which have a Combined Ratio of 99.99 to 95.00 will be considered for the sale on a sliding scale, beginning with the highest indexing bulls, until the sale slots for that breed are full. The number of sale lots assigned to each breed will be according to the percentage of the test represented by a particular breed (Example: Bulls in breed A = 65; Total bulls on Test = 240; 65/240 = .27; 27% of the 135 sale lots or 37 lots would be breed A bulls). All sale bulls must pass the breeding soundness exam and sifting criteria. 20. A performance record from your breed association and a copy of the registration certificate for each bull is due to the Executive Secretary by December 1, 2011. The performance record should contain the adjusted 205-day weight as calculated by your breed association, as well as EPD’s for at least the following: Birth Weight, Weaning Weight, Yearling Weight and Maternal Milk. Failure to provide this information by December 1, 2011 will result in the bull or bulls being placed on unofficial test making them ineligible for the sale. This means that all bulls entered into the test must be participating in their breeds’ performance record program. All performance data must be official breed association calculations, and come from the association. Hand-calculated data or data sent on a spreadsheet developed by the consignor will not be accepted. Additionally, a vaccination treatment form for the entire consignment must accompany the bulls to the feedlot. If your breed registration papers list performance information, a copy of the registration papers for each bull will be sufficient. 21. Bulls will be fed by breed. Breeds which do not have adequate numbers to fill a pen (typically 50 head) will be commingled with other breeds and fed together. 22. Biosecurity In order to protect the bulls enrolled in the Utah Beef Improvement Association (UBIA) Central Bull Test, and to maintain the biological integrity of the test, the Board of Directors has adopted the following policy regarding the biosecurity of the test: Any bull enrolled in the UBIA Central Bull Test will be required to remain at the test station from the time he is received at the test until such time as the test management releases him after the conclusion of the test. The only exception to this is when a bull is taken by feedlot personnel to a local veterinary clinic to have the bull treated for an illness. In such a case, the bull may be returned to complete the test following treatment. Any bull removed from the feedlot prior to the UBIA Sale will automatically become ineligible to be sold through the UBIA Performance-Tested Bull Sale, and cannot, under any circumstances, be returned to the feedlot. 23. UBIA eartags will be placed in each bull’s left ear. If you want your ranch ID eartag to be retained, it needs to be placed in the bull’s right ear prior to delivery of the bull to the test station. Any ranch tags found in the bull’s left ear at receiving will be removed and discarded to facilitate placement of the UBIA eartag. 24. Any Angus bull, or Composite bull with Angus breeding in its pedigree, that is a potential carrier of either the AM (Arthrogryposis multiplex), NH (Neuropathic hydrocephalus) or CA (Contractural Arachnodactyly; formerly known as Fawn Calf Syndrome) genes must be tested negative for the defect prior to entry in the test. Any carriers of these defects are ineligible to sell in the UBIA Performance-Tested Bull Sale. Verification of test results must be turned in to the Executive Secretary within 30 days from the beginning of the test. Collection of genetic material to test for these defects must take place prior to the bulls’ arrival to the test station to reduce undo stress on other bulls penned with suspect animals. 25. Sale consignors will be asked to assist with delivery of bulls to their home area if buyers of bulls request delivery. Those asked to deliver bulls will be reimbursed at a rate of $0.75/mile for the round trip mileage beyond their home operation that they are required to travel in delivering the bulls. 26. If a current member would like to increase his/her entry, up to the ten head /breed/division limit, their entry will be given preferential treatment before any new entries are considered, provided the test has not reached the 300 head test limit. These additional enrollments will be addressed in the order which they are received by the Executive Secretary. 27. Black Angus Low Birth Weight Division - There will be two divisions within the Jr. Angus breed test. Those divisions will be categorized as the “Growth” and “Low Birth Weight” Divisions (LBW). In order to qualify to be in the LBW Division, a bull must meet all of the following criteria: Birth Weight of less than or equal to 80 pounds, and A Birth Weight EPD of less than or equal to +1.8, and A Calving Ease EPD of greater than or equal to +5.0. Consigners desiring to enter bulls into the LBW Division must designate which bulls they wish to enroll at the time of enrollment. These bulls will be tagged sequentially in this division and will be penned and fed as a group. When the Executive Secretary receives the registrations and performance data on or before December 1st, as required in these General Test Rules, if a bull does not meet the above criteria, he will be removed from the LBW Division and indexed against the Growth Division bulls. All Black Angus bulls not classified in the LBW Division will be entered into the Growth Division. 28. All sale bulls will be PAP tested to measure pulmonary artery pressure and the values will be provided to potential buyers in the sale catalog. The owner of any bull with a PAP score higher than 50 may opt to have the bull re-tested at additional expense to the owner. 29. Any grievance relative to any aspect of the UBIA Performance Bull Test must be submitted in writing to the Association Vice President who will take the grievance to the Board of Directors to rule on. General Test Information: 1. The feedlot will provide at least 375 square feet of pen space and 2 1/2 feet of bunk space per bull to allow all bulls to eat at once without crowding. 2. Pens will vary in size, each holding around 50 bulls. 3. Weighing and reports will be provided by USU Extension. All such weights will be considered official. 2010-2011 SALE RESULTS Breed Number Sold Average Price Gelbvieh 7 $2,071 Angus 64 $3,199 Hereford 11 $2,595 Red Angus 16 $2,431 Simmental 8 $2,962 Charolais 2 $2,375 Composites 8 $2,994 OVERALL AVERAGE 116 $2,930

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