Program Rules

Requirements for Entrance:

As a consignor to the Ohio Bull Test, you are committing to have your bull(s) fed for the duration of the 112-day test. Bulls may be excused from the test as seen fit by the committee in cases of unsoundness, illness, temperament problems, etc. Bulls may not leave the test early unless approved by the committee. Bulls will not be released until all fees are paid. A contract will be sent to all consignors that nominate bulls and it must be completed and delivered with the bulls on delivery day.

1. Bulls must originate from a calf crop that has been performance tested under the performance test program of the breeders' respective breed. State Production Testing Program records are acceptable for breeds that do not have a national performance program. Consignors must submit a photocopy of the herd performance summary originating from the breed association or state production testing program and original or photocopy of the animal's registration paper by the 28-day weigh date (December 23). If information is not received by the 28-day weigh date, those bulls may become ineligible for sale but must remain on test for the duration of the 112-day test. If photocopies are sent, the original registration papers must be received by April 2, 2004 or the bull will not be sold on sale day.

2. A completed nomination form must be received at OCA postmarked by September 19, 2003 along with the nomination fee of $50 per bull for space reservation. Nominations received postmarked after September 19, 2003 will not be accepted. Consignment forms will be sent upon receipt of the nomination form and fees. The nomination fee will be refunded if the bull cannot be accepted because of space or because the bull does not meet entrance requirements. The nomination fee will be forfeited for bulls that fail to arrive on delivery day. Half of the nomination fee will serve as an Administrative Fee for each bull that begins the test. The remaining $25 per bull will be applied toward the consignor's total test station cost.

3. Bulls must be weaned and started on feed a minimum of 30 days prior to delivery to the test station.

4. Bulls must weigh 2.45 pounds per day of age at delivery.

5. Bulls will be inspected at time of delivery and will not be accepted if sick, wild, or have a physical defect that may impair future reproductive performance such as: cryptorchidism, testicular hypoplasia, stifled, foundered, "double muscled", etc. Scrotal palpation of bulls is recommended at time of vaccinations. Bulls that do not meet the screening committee's approval will be required to leave immediately. All decisions made by the screening committee are final. Nomination fees will be fully refunded for bulls that fail to pass the committee's examination.

6. Bulls must be registered or recorded with a National Breed Association to participate in the Ohio Bull Test and Sale.

7. Bulls are required to have a legible and healed tattoo. Bulls with non-legible tattoos, unhealed tattoos, or tattoos which do not correspond to consignment forms will be rejected. Recommended time for tattooing is on or prior to vaccinations.

To be delivered to the test station with the bull(s):

1. Completed consignment forms and vaccination and treatment record forms. Bulls will not be accepted with incomplete information.

2. Appropriate health papers.

3. Completed test agreement contract.

4. Payment of $150 per bull delivered. An additional $200 will be due by the 56-day of the test. By the 56-day, a total of $400 must be paid in full. If the $400 is not paid on or by the 56-day, the bull(s) will not be eligible for the sale. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!

Priority plan for accepting nominations:

(This plan will apply only when nominations exceed space at the test station.)

1. There are a total of 200 spaces at the bull test facility.

2. Approximately 25 percent of the spaces (50 bulls) will be reserved for out-of-state consignors. If the out-of-state allotment is not filled by entry deadline (postmarked by September 19, 2003) then the remaining spaces may be used by in-state consignments.

3. Priority for in-state and out-of-state spaces will first go to consignor's from the 2002-2003 Ohio Bull Test. A consignor from the previous test has the first priority to the same number of spaces that were used last year. In other words, a consignor who had three bulls last year, will have first priority at those three spaces. In addition, before that consignor can add an additional bull, those spaces will be made available to new consignors. Those nominations will be filled by rotating through nominations in ascending order of postmark date and accepting one bull from each consignor on the first round and one bull on successive rounds until approximately 100 percent of the spaces are filled. Priority will be given to consignors from the previous year's test.

Health requirements and procedures:

The health requirements and procedures go beyond the regulatory requirements of the State of Ohio. These requirements have been established by the Bull Test Committee and are mandatory for all delivered bulls.

Consignors are encouraged to participate in their state's Johne's Disease (paratuberculosis) test-negative status program. Consignors designating their herd's status level, provide proper documentation and grant permission to the committee, will have their bulls appropriately designated in reports and in the sale catalogue as originating from such herd status.

A Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD) test will be done to the bulls upon delivery to identify persistently-infected carriers of the virus. Bulls testing positive must be removed from the Test Station within 7 days of notification. Consignors are encouraged to test bulls prior to delivery so as to identify and eliminate delivery of persistently infected animals. Consult with your veterinarian for appropriate testing. Bulls tested prior to delivery will still be tested upon delivery.

1. Bulls must be weaned for at least 30 days.

2. Bulls must test negative to Tuberculosis and Brucellosis within 30 days prior to delivery to the test station. Bulls from accredited and certified herds do not need to be TB and Brucellosis tested but certification and accreditation numbers must be listed along with qualifying test dates.

3. All bulls must be free of active ringworm lesions and warts on delivery day.

4. Bulls must be dehorned and healed prior to delivery.

5. All bulls, regardless of state of origin must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection stating TB and Brucellosis status and verifying the bull(s) are in good health with no visible signs of infections or communicable disease.

6. Upon receiving the nomination form, OCA will send consignment forms and vaccination and treatment records for each bull nominated. All forms must be completed and delivered by hand with the bull(s). Your veterinarian must sign the vaccination and treatment record stating that the bull(s) have been vaccinated and boostered for the following agents according to manufacturer's specifications:

• IBR, PI3, and BRSV
• Wart Vaccine
• BVD (2nd dose is suggested to be MLV)
• Haemophilus Somnus
• Clostridium (7-way)
• Leptospirosis (5-way)
• Pasteurella haemolytica and multocida

The first vaccinations should be administered by September 23. An injection of Selenium/Vitamin E is also required at time of first vaccination. Boosters must be administered by October 14 and consignors should follow manufacturer's specifications for timing. Bulls will be rejected on delivery day for incomplete or untimely vaccinations. All shots must be given according to Beef Quality Assurance guidelines.

7. All bulls must be treated for the control of grubs and lice and be dewormed.

8. Veterinary service for any bull will be obtained when necessary and the consignor will be responsible for veterinary service fees, drugs and medication on their bull(s).

9. Any bull deemed to be sick, unsound, and/or exhibiting physical abnormalities of any kind will be removed from the test and/or ineligible for sale. The veterinarian and a representative of the Bull Test Committee will make these decisions. All committee approved decisions are final.

Ration:

The ration will consist of a high grain ration formulated for an approximate gain of 4 pounds a day and will be pre-approved by the Bull Test Committee. A recommended pre-delivery/weaning time diet will be formulated and made available to consignors after nominations have been received. A new bunk feeding system with augers to each pen should be in place prior to the start of the 2003-04 test.

Return:

Bulls will be evaluated after the first 28-day period on test and at the committee's discretion periodically throughout the test. Bulls failing to perform at an acceptable rate will be dismissed. Bulls may not be removed from the official test without permission from the Bull Test Committee. Violation of this requirement by a consignor will forfeit all future testing privileges. The committee reserves the right to request a consignor to remove a bull from the station because of health, disposition, lack of identification or any failure to meet entry requirements. A charge of $3/day for any bull that fails to complete the test will be assessed. If the bull is not removed within seven days of notification, the fee will increase to $5/day. Bulls that fail to qualify for the sale will be released once a $200 per bull payment is made. Sale bulls that do not bring the minimum floor at auction will be released once a $200 per bull payment is made. This payment must be made on sale day. These payments will be credited toward the consignor's total test station cost. All fees must be paid before any bull is released. NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE!

Liability:

Careful management and care will be exercised at all times. Veterinary services will be used when necessary at the expense of the owner. However, neither the Ohio Bull Test Station nor anyone associated with Ohio State University or the Ohio Cattlemen's Association will assume liability for the cattle in case of loss. Ohio Cattlemen's Association has no obligation to procure casualty insurance on tested bulls; however, consignors are encouraged to consider casualty insurance on their bulls prior to delivery to the station.

Costs:

All testing costs, except feed and individual veterinary expenses, will be equally divided on a per bull basis. Feed costs will be prorated at the end of the test according to the pounds of gain of each bull. All costs incurred during the test will be billed appropriately to consignors at true cost. A nomination fee of $50 per bull must accompany all nomination forms. Half of the nomination fee will serve as an administrative Fee for each bull that begins the test. The remaining $25 per bull will be applied toward the consignor's total test station cost. A fee of $150 per bull will be paid when the bulls are delivered to the station. An additional $200 will be due by the 56-day of the test. By the 56-day, a total of $400 must be paid in full. Consignor's may choose to pay the total of $400 upon delivery to the station. If the $400 is not paid on or by the 56-day, the bull(s) will not be eligible for the sale. A sale commission will be charged to bulls going through the sale to cover sale expences and management - commission for the 2003 sale was 7.25%. All consignors must be members of the Ohio Cattlemen's Association. Consignors are responsible for all cost associated with their bull(s). Average testing expences for the 02-03 tewst period were approximately $625. Average expences for the sale bulls in 02-03 were approximately $790. All fees must be paid before bulls are released from the station. Make all checks payable to Ohio Cattlemen's Association.

Performance Records Provided on Sale Bulls:

• Birth weight
• Birth date
• 205-day weight
• Frame Score
• Adjusted scrotal circumference
• Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs)
• Carcass traits measured by ultrasound
• Weight, average daily gain (ADG), and weight per day of age (WDA) after each weight period
• Five State Beef Initiative Performance Power Score and Carcass Power Score
• Bulls will be ratioed within each breed according to a Performance Index. The Performance Index = .60(Average Daily Gain Percentage) + .40(Weight Per Day of Age Percentage)

If there are less than six bulls tested within a breed, those bulls will be Indexed using the Average Daily Gain and Weight Per Day of Age of all other bulls that fail to meet a minimum breed test group size.

Sale order will be established by the sum of each bull's within-breed ranking using a five-star evaluation system. The five-star evaluation will award ***** to a bull that ranks in the 20%, **** to a bull that ranks in the top 40%, *** to a bull that ranks in the top 60%, ** for bulls in the 80th percentile, and * to a bull that ranks in the bottom 20% of the breed or test group. The six criteria to be evaluated using the five-star system to determine sale order are: Average Daily Gain Percentage, Weight Per Day of Age Percentage, Adjusted Scrotal Circumference, Birth Weight EPD, Weaning Weight EPD, and Maternal Milk EPD. EPD stars are derived using the percentile tables from the National Breed Association for the respective breed. The total number of stars received from maximum to minimum will then rank bulls for sale order. In case of identical trait rankings among two or more bulls, the Performance Index will determine the sale order. One * will be deducted for each missing EPD.

Stan Smith, Chairman

Brent Raines, Vice Chairman

Dave Kohli, Producer

Don Peterson, Producer

Jim Dickson, Ohio Simmental Association

Dave Long, Producer/Ohio Angus Association

Dr. Steve Debruin, D.V.M., OCA Director

Dr. Stephen Boyles, OSU Extension Beef Specialist

Dr. Francis Fluharty, OSU Department of Animal Sciences

John Grimes, Producer/OSU Extension

Bruce Smith, Producer

Steve Lewis, Producer/Ohio Simmental Association

Remote Video Sale Site Representatives:

Dave Samples, OSU Extension, Jackson County

Woody Joslin, OSU Extension, Shelby County

Jeff McCutcheon, OSU Extension, Knox County

Mike Hogan, OSU Extension, Carroll County

EORDC Facility Representatives:

Ken Scaife, OARDC Assistant to Director - Field Operations

Wayne Shriver, Manager EORDC

Kevin Stottsberry, Bull Test Herdsman

• Ohio Bull Test Station, EORDC
• 16870 Township Road 126
• Caldwell, OH 43724
• 740.732.4275

Correspondence and questions direct to:

• Justin Lahmers, OCA Director of Beef Improvement Programs/OSU Extension Associate
• Ohio Cattlemen's Association
• 10600 US Highway 42
• Marysville, OH 43040
• 614.873.6736
• Fax: 614.873.6835
• Email: beef@ohiobeef.org
• Ohio Bull Test Website: http://bulltest.osu.edu