Dogs and Cows
Hopefully I can address some of your questions. I pulled the following from the entry forms, this addresses the amount of gain the test was designed for.
The ration fed will be formulated (target 4.0 lbs. gain per day) to be adequate for allowing expression of growth potential and development without over conditioning the bulls. The diet will be a grain and forage based diet, with ad libitum access to hay.
When you look at pictures of these young bulls you can see they are expressing growth and have not been overconditioned. This in very important when your purchasing a young bull to put to work. You want a young bull fit not fat.
As far as testing for the quality of the meat I have again pulled information from the entry form:
Bulls will be evaluated by ultrasound for carcass traits 30 days before the end of the test. Ultrasound evaluations will be made by a certified technician.
Ultrasound is the best way we have to determin carcass value. Measurements of ribeye area and IMF are taken. This is valuable information to have for your bull customers.
Another important piece of information is purchasing a bull that has passed his BSE exam.
Bulls will undergo a Breeding Soundness Evaluation according to the Society of Theriognology guidelines prior to the sale by the Bull Test designated Veterniarian. Any bulls that do not pass the initial breeding soundness exam may be tested a second time (by the Bull Test designated Veterinarian) prior to the sale. Bulls that do not pass either Breeding Soundness Evaluation will not be permitted to sell in the sale.
I was thrilled to see that our bulls were as consistant as they were. Do we breed for this? Yes we do. Do we always succeed no we don't. I start planning the next years breeding decisions as soon as calves start hitting the ground. We do everything we can to have a uniform calf crop. Uniformity is something else that our bull customers want. We also breed for moderation we can't be everything for everybody and have accepted that. Our herd is very maternal, we do breed for performance but not at the expense of maternal traits. It is like walking a tighrope, you want performance and growth and carcass but it all has to balance. If you breed for just one trait down the road it will bite you in the butt. If you just breed for growth your cow herd will get to big, if you breed just for carcass you can lose some in maternal but if you just breed for maternal you will end up with puds.
To have four bulls in a test like this one and all four complete the test as well is these bulls did I would be pulling your leg if I told you I wasn't tickled. The data we get from a test like this is a tool for us to use to make better better breeding decisions. This years test indicates to us that we are on the right track.
Gizmom