BULL TESTING PROGRAM OPENS AT LIVESTOCK EVALUATION CENTER

120 Bulls Participating in Testing Program

Pennsylvania Furnace – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced the start of the 2008-2009 State Bull Performance Testing Program at the Livestock Evaluation Center. 

Beef producers from Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have 120 bulls participating in the 112-day performance testing program.

Progressive breeders nominate some of their best bulls to be evaluated.  Only the best performing bulls, as determined by the testing program, are selected for sale. 

The bulls are evaluated, compared and indexed on the average daily gain, weight per day of age, feed efficiency, loin eye area, fat thickness and meat quality traits.  The data collected during the test will be used to rank bulls for the 36th Annual Pennsylvania Performance Tested Bull Sale, scheduled for Friday, March 27, at the Livestock Evaluation Center. The sale is held in conjunction with the 2009 Pennsylvania Beef Expo.

Seven beef breeds are participating in this year’s testing program, with Angus representing nearly 60 percent.  Breeds represented include 68 Angus, 20 Simmentals, 13 Herefords, eight Red Angus, five Limousin, five Charolais and one Crossbred bull.

Data from the bulls on test is distributed to owners and interested parties monthly, and a sales catalog will be published in early March.  The bulls are available for inspection at any time. 

For more information about Pennsylvania’s performance testing programs and sales, contact Livestock Evaluation Center Director Glenn Eberly at 814-238-2527 or geberly@state.pa.us.  For more information on the Livestock Evaluation Center, visit the center’s Web site at: www.agriculture.state.pa.us/lec.

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The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. Livestock Evaluation Center measures genetic traits for cattle, swine, sheep, and meat goats for two purposes: to benefit producers in evaluating economically important traits, and to benefit consumers by providing wholesome, high quality products at an affordable price.