Agreement for the W.I.U. Bull Testing Program
1. The purposes of the WIU Bull Test are to provide reliable, unbiased performance information on bulls entered into the program and to provide a source of performance tested seedstock to the beef industry.
2. Bulls must have been born between January 1 and April 15, 2009, have a recorded birth weight, and weigh a minimum of 500 pounds at delivery.
3. The testing fee is $175 per bull -- $100 per bull is due with the entry application, with the additional $75 payable at delivery of the bull. Consignors with two bulls accepted will receive a $10 per head discount from the $75 per head delivery payment. Consignors with three or more bulls accepted will receive a $15 per head discount from the $75 per head delivery payment.
4. The testing capacity of the station is 70 bulls -- 5 pens with 12 bulls each, and one pen with 10 as it is a smaller pen.
5. The entry deadline is a postmark of August 31. Entries postmarked after August 31 will be accepted by a drawing if room is still available after acceptance of all entries received by the deadline.
6. The entry fee will be refunded only if the bull is not accepted due to reaching capacity of the station, or, in the case of illness to a bull, a replacement entry can be found from another breeder.
7. At delivery each consignor must present the Merial SureHealth form and enclosed health form, completed by their veterinarian. Each bull will be tested for persistent BVD within one week of delivery. Any bull testing positive will be removed from the station.
8. Bulls must be delivered to the test station with veterinarian completed health forms, blood test results, registration papers or applications, the remaining test fees and a $200 per bull feed/health deposit on either Monday, October 5 or Tuesday, October 6 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. The phone number for the bull testing station is 309/298-2233. Horned bulls should be healed from dehorning.
9. Bulls must be free of known genetic defects including but not limited to arthrogryposis multiplex (AM), neuropathic hydrocephalus (NH), and osteopetrosis (OS). Provide either DNA test results or pedigree documentation from your breed association.
10. Feed and health costs during the testing period will be based on the individual. Preliminary and post-test period feed and health costs, plus all other costs not attributable to an individual will be pro-rated per head.
11. Billing statements will be updated at each 28-day weight period. Any balance due is payable prior to the next billing period or becomes subject to a 1% interest charge per month. This will be enforced.
12. There will be a minimum sale bid of $1000 on each bull.
13. Owners of the tested bulls must be members of the Illinois Beef Association or National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
14. All costs must be paid before any bull can be removed from the station. Bulls may be removed only by permission of either Dr. Ken Nimrick or Mr. Bruce Engnell.
15. Bulls will be fed free choice long hay at arrival. During the preliminary period, they will receive a receiving ration which will be gradually substituted by the testing ration so that only the testing ration will be fed at the time bulls officially begin test.
16. The testing period will last 112 days. The official on-test weight will be the averages of weights taken on Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27. The official off-test weight will be the averages of weights taken on Monday, February 15 and Tuesday, February 16. Progress report weights will be taken every 28 days on November 24, December 22 and January 19. All bulls will be ultrasonically scanned on approximately January 22.
17. At the conclusion of the testing period, bulls will be fed the testing ration, plus free choice long hay.
18. Bulls will be
indexed by breed group (if there are more than four of a breed) as well as
against all bulls on test. Both
indexes are based on 40% ADG + 40% F/G + 10% Marbling + 10% REA ratios.
19. Approximately 60 bulls will be selected for the sale, based on their within-breed index. However, to be eligible for the sale, all bulls must have an across-breed index of at least 80, a minimum adjusted scrotal circumference of 32 cm, be screened for disposition, pass a soundness exam based on the University of Missouri scoring system, and pass a reproductive exam. Retests for the reproductive exam will be given during the week prior to the sale. The 38th annual sale will be at the WIU livestock center on Friday evening, March 19, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. All bulls sold will be charged a prorated share of the sale expenses. No-sale bulls will be charged one-half of the prorated sale expenses.
20.
21. All bulls qualifying for the sale must go through the sale unless excused for health reasons. At least 1/3 interest must be offered for sale. If full interest is not to be sold, 60-day advance notice is required.
22. All data will be public information and the Western Illinois University Agriculture Department has the right to use the records for research purposes.
23. Neither Western
entered on test.
24. Insurance on bulls, if desired, is the responsibility of the breeder -- none is carried on them by WIU.
25. The sale catalog will include information on average daily gain, weight per day of age, feed efficiency (adjusted), frame score, pelvic measurement, scrotal circumference, fat depth, ribeye area, birthweight, date of birth, color, horned/polled, beginning and ending test weights, and marbling, plus indexes where applicable. It will also include EPD information for birthweight, weaning weight, yearling weight, milk and maternal weaning weight, with percentiles where applicable.
26. The test station directors are: Mr. Bruce Engnell Dr. Ken Nimrick
Agriculture Dept. Agriculture Dept.
145 Knoblauch Hall 313 Knoblauch Hall
WIU WIU
Office: 309/ 298-2613 Office: 309/298-1288
Home: 309/298-1276 Cell: 309/337-4352
Cell: 309/255-2055