The North Carolina Beef Cattle Improvement Program (NC BCIP) is a cooperative effort involving the N. C. Cooperative Extension Service, both the county and state staffs, the N. C. Cattlemen's Association, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. NC BCIP involves both the on-farm beef performance records program and central bull testing stations. This article is a review of the bull testing program for the 1995-96 season.
There are four bull testing stations and sales sponsored by NC BCIP. The N. C. Forage Bull Test is conducted by Carroll's Foods, Inc. in Sampson County. A total of 23 bulls from the 1994-95 test sold on November 11 for an average of $1,850. There are currently 30 Senior and 35 Junior bulls on the 1995-96 test. They are at the half way point of the 224-day grazing test. Qualifying bulls from the test will be sold on Saturday, November 9, 1996 at the Sampson County Livestock Arena.
A total of 232 bulls were tested at the Butner, Salisbury, and Waynesville test stations during the 1995-96 year. These bulls were consigned by producers located in more than 60 of North Carolina's 100 counties and from producers in South Carolina and Tennessee. From these, 163 qualified for the sales and grossed $219,450 for an average of $1,346. This average is down considerably from recent years. However, it appears reasonably strong when the generally depressed market conditions are considered.
Following are four tables that summarize these tests and sales in detail. You will notice that feed costs were up significantly this year at all three stations.
If you have bulls that you are interested in entering in the 1996-97 tests and you have not already received consignment information, please call the NC BCIP office, 919/515-2761, or write to NC BCIP, North Carolina State University, Box 7621, Raleigh, NC 27695, and request a copy of the Rules and Regulations. Acceptable birth dates for Butner are September 1, 1995 through December 15, 1995, for Salisbury, November 1, 1995 through January 15, 1996, and for Waynesville, November 1, 1995 through February 15, 1996.
Averages for Characteristics of Bulls on Test 1995-96
Average Test and Sale Expenses