The 23rd Salisbury BCIP Performance Tested Bull Sale was held for the first time ever on a Saturday, February 10, 1996, at the Iredell County Fairgrounds south of Statesville. The weather, for a pleasant change, was absolutely beautiful. A large crowd of cattlemen gathered in for the sale. Bidding was steady on the 53 bulls that sold for $83,550 to average a strong $1,576.
Thirty-two Angus bulls topped the sale with an average of $1,723. Lot 45 from the below average birth weight group was the high selling bull of all breeds at $2,900. This outstanding Northlander son out of a Schearbrook Shoshone daughter came from the New Light Farm of Bill and Jim Wallace of Wake Forest. He posted impressive performance figures by gaining 4.79 pounds per day to ratio 124, adjusted yearling weight of 1278 pounds, ratio of 108. His EPD numbers were 1.0 for birth weight, 19 for weaning, 36 for yearling weight, and 20 for maternalmilk. Buyer was Edward Brown of Pinnacle. Close behind at $2,700 was J. F. and Carolyn Lancaster’s Lot 25, another consignment from the below average birth weight group. This GAR Precision 1680 son from a Ginger Hill Mountain Dew daughter gained 4.26 pounds per day, ratio 110, and had an adjusted yearling weight of 1343 pounds, ratio 113. EPDs were 2.8 for birth, 26 weaning, 57 yearling and 21 milk. E. P. and S., Inc. of Huntersville purchased this bull. The 15 Angus bulls in the below average birth weight category averaged $1,980 with a range in prices from $1,550 to $2,900. Other Angus bulls ranged from $1,050 to $2,100 and averaged $1,497 on 17 head.
Nine Gelbvieh bulls came in with a strong $1,606 average. Leading the way was Lot 61, a DDF Otis son out of a KCF Virginian daughter, consigned by Steve Meadows, Edgefield. SC. Benji Hunter, Grey Court, SC, purchased Lot 61 at $2,000. EPDs were 0.5 for birth, 12 for weaning, 17 for yearling and 2 for milk. Average daily gain on test was 4.28 pounds, ratio 121. Close behind at $1,900 each were Lots 67 and 68, black, polled consignments from James I. Smith, JANASTCI Farm, Stem. Lot 67, a JNS Mr Premier 37B ET son out of a Sherman Tank daughter went to Hunsucker Dairy, Conover. Lot 68 was a J Bob Black Image son out of a Night Train daughter that was bought by Don Russell of Oakboro. Prices on Gelbviehs ranged from $1,300 to $2,000.
Four Charolais bulls reached an average of $1,300. Lot 55, from Joe Porter’s Shadow Lane Farm, Monroe, sold to Winburn Farms, Galivants, SC, on a bid of $1,400. He was a HHP Born Alive son from a HHP American Performer 464 daughter that posted EPDs of 1.9 for birth, 16 weaning, and 29 for yearling weight. Jim Wilson’s Lot 58 and Joe Porter’s Lot 56 each sold for $1,300, to tie for second place. Gene Fox of Taylorsville purchased Lot 58 and Winburn Farms took Lot 56.
Six Simmentals averaged $1,167. Holly Cornelius, Mooresville, consigned Lot 82, the top seller at $1,600. This Red Brother son with EPDs of 0 for birth weight, 10 for weaning, 23 yearling and 3 milk went to Bill Couick of Monroe. Three sold for $1,200. They were Lot 95 from Hunt-Hawley Simmental, Lucama, Lot 92 from John Langdon of Benson and Lot 81 from Steve and Bettie Carroll of Walkertown.
Two Polled Herefords averaged $875.
This test and sale is sponsored by the NC Beef Cattle Improvement Program and is a cooperative effort involving the Piedmont Research Station of the NC Department of Agriculture, NC Cattlemen’s Association, and the NC Cooperative Extension Service.
Eight bulls sold to producers in South Carolina and 45 went to herds in North Carolina. The sale was managed by the North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association. Auctioneer was Dan Williams of Boone.