Steve Kopperud writes "Inside D.C." I met Steve years back when he was writing for Feedstuffs and I was selling advertising space in three livestock publications at the Miller Publishing Co. He has spent a career writing about agriculture. It's one of my favorites.
If you're looking for some good reading about what's happening in Washington, D.C., you might check out Steve's blog on the Brownfield website. He updates it weekly.
Click here to see Steve's Column

I ran across an interesting article the other day about internet speed in my newspaper. Wire and distance can influence web speed.
Your distance from the central telephone office, the number of home phone extensions, your house's internal phone wiring, your internet service provider and your PC. can influence internet speed.
Click to read article

Fifty-fifth Annual Florida Beef Cattle Short Course May 3-5,2006
Click here for all the info

Donna Lofgren, Purdue University, sent this report on the Indiana Sale.

The IBEP 2005 Winter Test bull sale was held April 13, 2006.
Of 135 bulls offered, all sold, for an average of $2,160.
100 Angus sold for $2,291 (top $5,200)
7 Charolais sold for $1,393 (top $1,600)
2 Composite sold for $1,550 (top $1,900)
1 Gelbvieh sold for $1,600
2 Gelbvieh Balancer sold for $2,175 (top $2,650)
5 Hereford sold for $2,480 (top $4,000)
2 Red Angus sold for $2,150 (top $2,600)
3 Shorthorn sold for $1,533 (top $2,200)
4 SimAngus sold for $1,638 (top $2,100)
9 Simmental sold for $1,767 (top $2,500)

Click here for full report on sale.

Here is another weekly email cattle newsletter for you to check out. The OSU Extension BEEF Team does a nice job. Read the latest one and subscribe if you want.
Click here to read the latest BEEF Cattle Letter

Do a friend a favor, send him an invite to visit BullShop.
Click here to send an invite

NFU opposes Animal ID program
by Gary Truitt
Brownfield Network
April 24, 2006


The National Animal ID Program being proposed by USDA is being
criticized by the National Farmers Union (NFU). President Tom Buis told
Brownfield, "the government is headed down the wrong track. They are
headed for a disaster", said Buis. He was particularly critical of the
use of a public/private database system to track the movement of livestock.

Buis feels allowing private firms to profit from the creation and use of
the database system is wrong. "I think they should go back to the
drawing board and start over", he suggested. The USDA has set a goal of
having the system on line by 2007 and fully operational by 2009.


We designed BullShop.com on a state-by-state basis so cattlemen can easily look local first. Use the map on our front page.

The American Maine-Anjou Assn has an excellent article on their site, by Dr Lana Kaiser, containing a lot of info on the subject. Here are some of the highlights.

TH and PHA - Some Facts

TH and PHA are two distinct genetic conditions
TH and PHA are the result of two different genes that are abnormal
TH and PHA are both considered autosonal recessive
Cattle with TH trace to Shorthorn breeding
Cattle with PHA trace to Maine-Anjou breeding
Click on the following link to read the complete article.

Link to TH and PHA article.

Sell your breeding stock with a FREE State Breeder Ad on one of the busiest cattle sites on the internet-Click Here!

Saturday I attended the St. Croix Valley Bull Test Sale at the University of Wisconsin River Falls. The test started with about 80 bulls from 21 cosignors and finished with 54 bulls making the cut.
Gary Finley, the auctioneer, and Keith Vander Velde did a nice job of moving the sale along.
High indexing bull was from Creek Cove Red Angus Superior,WI. It sold for $1700.

High selling Black Angus Lot 2-4 consigned by The Goodrich Place Emerald, WI. This bull sired by GAR Grid Maker sold to Rebecca Black in the Houston, TX area for $3,000.

Bob Swanson of Bennett, WI consigned high selling Simmental Lot 21-1. This bull sired by Hook’s Majestic sold to Dan Woodford of Jim Falls, WI for $1,625.

High selling Red Angus Lot 2-7 consigned by The Goodrich Place in Emerald, WI. This bull was sired by Becton Lancer and sold to Ralph Buhr of Clear Lake, WI. for $2,100

New to the sale this year was the South Devon Breed. High seller was lot 50-1 consigned by Kurt & Nettie Nelson of Bay City, WI. This bull sired by Prairie Fieldmaster sold to Dan Robins of Garrett, WY for $2,250

There was one Normande bull that sold on the sale. He was cosigned by Jeff Bock of River Falls, WI. This bull sired by RGA Nichols 27N sold for $1,100 to Dahn Carrison of River Falls, WI.

47 total bulls sold averaging $1,730

2 South Devons sold averaging $2,213
33 Black Angus sold averaging $1,794
8 Red Angus sold averaging $1,584
3 Simmental sold averaging $1,475
1 Normande sold for $1,100






Glenn Selk, Extension Cattle Specialist at Oklahoma State University, always has an interesting and educational weekly emailing. To visit his web site use this link. You might want to join his weekly emailing list.
Cow/Calf Corner.

John Rossi, Extension Animal Scientist, U of Ga reports.
The Tifton Bull Evaluation Sale held Wednesday, March 1, 2006, averaged $2,400. One hundred seventeen bulls sold to 68 buyers from five states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
For info on UGA Beef Programs visit their site.
UGA Beef Programs Site

Online coverage of the 2006 Beef Improvement Federation (BIF) 38th Annual Meeting and Research Symposium is available on the BIF Conference Web site.
Link to BIF Site

I plan to attend the St. Croix Valley Bull Test Sale tomorrow at the University of Wisconsin River Falls. The Sale will start at 11:00 am. It is held on the UWRF farm south of town. Jerry Lausted, Jesse Singerhouse and Phil Ketterhagen run a good test and do a nice job on the sale.
I graduated from the ag school at UWRF over 30 years ago. The school sure has grown a lot since that time.

Again, almost 1,500 cattlemen visited BullShop.com yesterday. Have a good weekend!

One of the oldest, if not the oldest, bull tests in the nation held its last sale on April 15th. Stan Smith, Ohio extension, reports the following sale results.

Ohio Bull Test Concludes With Record Sale Prices

Auctioneer Johnny Regula sold the 92 bulls offered at the 37th Annual Ohio Bull Test Auction for an average price of $2,096. The average sale price was $130 higher than the previous record set at the 2004 auction. The sale was held Saturday, April 15 at the Eastern Agricultural Research Station in Belle Valley, Ohio.

The Auction was led off by Angus lot 152 from Rains Angus of Mercer, Pennsylvania. He is a February 1, 2005 son of Bon View New Design 878 and sold for $4,250. High selling honors went to the lot 148 bull that was consigned by Kiata Farms of Hamilton, Ohio. The January 11, 2005 Angus bull sired by Bon View New Design 208 was the fourth bull to enter the sale ring and sold for a recent all time Ohio Bull Test Auction high price of $6,300.

The top selling Simmental, sired by SRS J914 Preferred Beef, brought $3,000 and was consigned by Kohli Farms of Circleville, Ohio. Valentine Farms of Oak Hill, Ohio consigned lot 703 that became the high selling Red Angus bull at $2,650. He is a January 2005 son of RBJ Ortega 2X. Thistle Farms from Senecaville, Ohio consigned Angus bull 183 and sired by Rito 2 878 of BVND 878 that sold for $4,000.

One Gelbvieh bull sold for $2,550, five Simmentals averaged $2,510, 73 Angus bulls sold for an average of $2,125, one Chimaine sold for $2,100, seven Red Angus bulls averaged $1,968, Charolais averaged $1,500 on two head and three Shorthorn bulls sold for a $1,200 average.

For a complete sale summary and overview of the program visit the Ohio Bull Test web site at http://bulltest.osu.edu.

The Ohio Cattlemen's Association and The Ohio State University announced earlier this year that this would be the final Ohio Bull Test program that they conducted.

Almost 1,500 cattlemen visited BullShop yesterday!

The Kilgore College Bull Evaluation Center in Overton, Texas, will host three bull tests this year:

Test No. 1: June 17 - Sept. 30, 2006 for bulls born Aug. 1, 2005 - Oct. 31, 2005
Test No. 2: Sept. 16 - Dec. 30, 2006 for bulls born Nov. 1, 2005 - Jan. 31, 2006
Test No. 3: Dec. 16 - March 31, 2007 for bulls born Feb. 1, 2006 - April 30, 2006
Kilgore Bull Evaluation Center Site

When I was looking over the bull test sale reports, I noticed that a few have been going on for some time. I remembered visiting with Chuck Christians, of the U of M at the Minnesota Beef Expo. He said the Minnesota Beef Cattle Improvement Assn bull test might be one of the oldest in the country. Last week I wrote to Chuck asking about it and here is his reply.

Dear Paul.
I had to wipe off the dust on my files to find the information on the first
test conducted. The first was conducted at the Jack Delaney farm where
bulls were fed out by sire progeny groups. 140 day test was conducted with
test ADG and Wt per day of age reported along with pen or sire feed
efficiency. The Index was 20 X breed grade ratio + 30 X breed test gain
ratio + 20 breed wt. per day of age + 30 X breed feed efficiency
ratio. This indicates that there was real concern about type and breed
performance. The first sale was held May 8, 1970 with 80 bulls
selling. Breeds represented were Charolais, Angus,Shorthorn, Hereford, and
Polled Hereford.
Thought you would be interested in this brief history. We have conducted a
bull test program every year since 1969.
Chuck

I know that Western Illinois University test has been going for 34 years. Might one of you reading this know of a longer running test and sale? If so enter it in a comment and I will add it to the blog for all to read.

Dave Hawkins, Michigan State U, reports that the Michigan Bull Test had its highest sale average in all 19 years of the test.

44 Angus bulls grossed $ 92,250 to average $ 2,096.59
1 Red Angus bull grossed $ 3,400 to average $ 3,400.00
1 Charolais bull grossed $ 2,300 to average $ 2,300.00
1 Chimaine bull grossed $ 1,550 to average $ 1,550.00
1 Hereford bull grossed $ 1,400 to average $ 1,400.00
27 Simmental bulls grossed $ 55,650 to average $ 2,061.11
75 Bulls grossed $156,550 to average $ 2,087.33

High bull, a red angus, Walnut Springs Farms $3,400
2nd high, black angus, Dawson Farms $3,000
Sale was held on 3/18/06

MCA/MSU Bull Test site

Grand kids are great! Ours were here yesterday.

The South Dakota Beef Breeds Council (SDBBC) is hosting the 1st Annual SD Bull Test Station Sale at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, 2006, at Mitchell Livestock Auction in Mitchell, SD. Click here to visit their site for test data

Don Jones reports on the 6th Florida Bull Test Sate results held Jan 21st. 70 bulls averaged $1891.
54-Angus, average sale price $1,878.00,
5-Simmental, average sale price $2,430.00,
5-Brangus, average sale price $1,560.00,
2-Simm Angus, average sale price $2,000.00
2-P.Hereford, average sale price $2,175.00,
1-Santa Gertrudis, sale price $1,300.00,
1-Charolais, sale price $1,400.00.

High bull was from Southern Cattle Co $3,300.
Next high was from CD Ranch $3,200.
Here is the link to the Florida Bull Test site

Wyoming Bull Test Sale report form Steve Paisley,Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, held April first.
120 Angus brought $2040
32 Red Angus brought $2475
Total Average $2080

High Selling Angus Bull $3900 Consigned by Popo Agie Angus
2nd High selling bull $3750 Consigned by Six Iron Ranch
Here is the WBCIA site

We welcome your comments. We will read them all and will display the ones that add to the info shared and the goals of the blog.

Ken Nimrick, of Western Illinois U, reports on Bull Test Sale held March 17,06. 34TH ANNUAL SALE!
Sale averages
8 Simmental $2006
1 Red Angus $1900
34 Angus $1710
1 P Hereford $1700
6 Gelbvieh $1675
10 Composite $1655
60 Total $1740

Top selling bulls
$3500 Simmental consigned by Ron Claussen, Bettendorf, IA
$3000 Angus consigned by Ranrose Farms, Carthage, IL
To get on the mailing list for the next sale or info on placing a bull in the next test, contact Ken.
>Click here to contact Ken

David Colburn, test coordinator of Northeast Colorado Bull Test, forwards these results of April 1 sale. 30TH ANNUAL SALE!
Angus Calving Ease $2,904.55
Angus Growth $1,794.74
Red Angus $1,750.00
Red Angus Calving Ease $1,675.00
Hereford $1,400.00
Crossbred $1,980.00

High selling bull, Angus calving ease, $4,600 owned by Kimmel Angus, Stoneham,CO
2nd high selling $4,000 (Angus)owned by Mark Kauffman, Keenesburg, CO
Contact David for info on the next test and sale.
Click here to contact David

Arthur C. Linton, Extension Beef Scientist at the Washington State University reports the 13th annual sale results:
102 bulls averaged $2414
Angus $2502, Simmental $1989, Polled Hereford $2119, Horned Hereford $1950, Red Angus $2877.
The sale was held March 22 at the Prosser test station. The test included 6 breeds from over 60 breeders.
To contact Art for info on the next test click here

Larry Olson, Extension Animal Scientist & Clemson Bull Testing Program Coordinator, reports about the Clemson 06 Bull Test Sale held on Feb 4th.
62 bulls averaged $2130.
Deercreek Angus Farms had the high bull at $5,000.
Trax Cattle had the 2nd high, a Gelvieh at $4,500.
To contact Larry about the next test, to get on the mailing list or info on putting a bull on test click on this link

A few days back when Cody Douglas placed his free State Breeder Ad in Texas, I emailed him that if he got 3 photos I would put them up for him. Yesterday he sent me 3 photos and I added them to his free State Breeder Ad.
You can click on the state of Texas on our map to see his ad for The Douglas Cattle Company in the Brangus section of the Texas Breeder Directory or click on this link.
Douglas Cattle Company
As always, we are here to help.


I am working on learning the photo features of this blog software. Nice angus plus bull.

The Minnesota Bull Test Sale was held last Friday the 7th at Jackson,MN.
Over-all average price $1773.
Average Black Angus $1898.
Average Red Angus $1514.
Aveage Simmental $1850.

Top selling bull $3200- Simmental- Sargeant Farms- Sandstone,MN.
2nd selling bull $3000- Red Angus- Goodrich Place,Inc- Emerald,WI.

If you might be interested in placing a bull in the next test or being notified of the next sale, go to the MBCIA site and contact Chuck Christians. Below is a photo of Chuck matching an index to a bull's ear tag before the sale.

MBCIA Site