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News Release 3-6-2001

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BULL AND HEIFER SALE SET FOR MARCH 31, 2001

For Immediate Release March 6, 2001

With two successful annual sales, the Southern Bull and Replacement Heifer Evaluation Program (Southern Bull Test) is preparing for its third bull and heifer sale. Last year, more than 500 farmers from West Virginia and the surrounding states traveled to the farm of Jack Crank to see some of the best animals in West Virginia’s cattle herds.

Dwayne O’Dell, Assistant Director for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture’s (WVDA) Marketing & Development Division, believes that the high level of monitoring that the cattle receive positively affects West Virginia’s cattle production. "Rate of gain, muscle and structure score, reproductive soundness exam and the Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) has been recorded for these animals," O’Dell said. "This gives buyers an opportunity to view the potential genetic impact that bulls of this quality can have on their herds. It’s a good investment in the future of your livestock."

WVU Extension Agent Rodney Wallbrown is also pleased with the gains the Program has made this year. "The bulls are being fed to gain three pounds a day on a forage-based ration," Wallbrown said. "You can see that they’re showing good thickness of muscle. We’ve increased our overall quality of animals, which results in improved breeding on the farm. The credit for the success of this Program goes to everyone involved, including the West Virginia Cattlemen’s Association, WVDA, WVU Extension Service and WVU’s College of Agriculture, Forestry and Consumer Sciences. It’s especially important to recognize Jack Crank and his workers, Rick Smith and Toby Leport. They do a great job feeding and caring for the cattle."

The 70 heifers on site are also improving. "We record similar information for the heifers and have seen gains of more than 1.5 pounds a day," Wallbrown said. "They’ve also been palpated by a certified veterinarian to ensure potential reproductive efficiency."

The Program’s annual auction will occur Saturday, March 31, 2001, when the top two-thirds of the 119 bulls and the top quarter of the heifers will be auctioned. The heifer sale begins at 11 a.m., followed by the bull sale at 1 p.m.

The Southern Bull and Replacement Heifer Evaluation Program is located three miles south of Point Pleasant on Route 35.

To receive a catalog for the March 31 auction, contact John McCutcheon, Greenbrier County Extension Office, P.O. Box 586, Lewisburg, WV 24901-0586; 304/647-7408; (fax) 304/647-7418.
For more information, contact Rodney Wallbrown, 304/675-0888.

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