• Topics: Animal Sciences  | Lamb, Graham Cliff  | Bull Management 

An Overview of the Florida Bull Test¹

Overview

With the support of the Florida Cattlemen's Association and the University of Florida, the Florida Bull Test was initiated in 2000. The primary purpose of the Florida Bull Test is to serve as an educational aid for the improvement of beef cattle. The test standardizes environmental conditions for evaluating postweaning performance. In doing so, it provides useful records for bull consignors to better evaluate breeding programs and creates a local source of performance-tested bulls. Since the inception of the test, 920 bulls have been tested from more than fourteen different breeds. Table 1 includes a summary of the number of consignors, bulls, breeds, performance, and sale averages of all previous Florida Bull Tests.

Objectives of the Florida Bull Test

1. Provide the commercial cow/calf producer a source of bulls that have been gain tested, that were thoroughly evaluated at the same location, and that have passed stringent health requirements.

2. Provide an opportunity for seed stock producers to advertise their breeding programs through testing and marketing bulls.

3. Promote awareness and understanding of the latest animal breeding concepts and tools while showcasing superior beef cattle genetics in Florida.

General Test Procedures

Until 2009, when bulls arrived they were sorted into contemporary groups and moved into pens where they received free choice access to a corn-based concentrate supplement, grass hay, and water. In 2010 changes were made to the test to obtain feed efficiency data. Now, upon arrival bulls are sorted into contemporary groups and placed in pens in the North Florida Research and Education Center (NFREC) Feed Efficiency Facility where they receive free choice access to a corn gluten and soy hull-based supplement, grass hay, and water. After an adaptation period, bulls are weighed on two consecutive days to obtain an objective average starting weight. This weight becomes the on-test starting weight. Bulls are inspected daily for any arising health problems. Intermediate un-shrunk weights are obtained every 28 days during the test. At the conclusion of the feeding period, bulls are weighed again on two consecutive days to determine final test weight. Animal performance, specifically average daily gain (ADG), is calculated using only the official starting and finishing test weights. Throughout the test, bulls are observed and screened for structural soundness and disposition. Bulls deemed structurally unsound or those having poor disposition do not qualify for the sale.

Evolution of the FL Bull Test

The first Florida Bull Test was initiated in 2000 when bulls of two ages (junior and senior yearlings) were consigned to the test. After two years, the bull test committee elected to restrict the bull test to a single age range of bulls born between September 1 and December 31 of the preceding year. Since then, only bulls born during those periods have been accepted to the Florida Bull Test. All tests were conducted for 112 days until the 2007/2008 test when the committee elected to shorten the test to 84 days. This was done to reduce the cost of the test to consignors. However, after two years, the test was increased to 112 days to ensure that bulls had sufficient time on feed to display their genetic ability for performance in a contemporary group environment.

Overall, performance for bulls has ranged from 2.91 lbs/day to 4.22 lbs/day. However, genetic differences occurred from year to year, based on breed differences and differing feed resources. In 2008/2009, a decision was made to reduce the amount of grain consumed and enhance the quantity of forage consumed. Therefore, daily gains were anticipated to be lower than for cattle on grain-based diets.

The FL Bull Test Sale average ranged from $1,283 to $2,252 per bull that qualified for each sale. The lowest sale average was associated with the inaugural FL Bull Test Sale, and the highest average was associated with the 2010/2011 sale. The trend in sale averages appears to be increasing with the second highest sale average occurring in 2009.

Tables

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

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