Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- On April 5, producers and students will gather at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville's Pioneer Farm Beef Center for the Wisconsin Beef Improvement Association's 51st annual Performance Selected Bull Sale. The sale will begin at 11 a.m. and end at approximately 2 p.m.

Red and Black Angus, Simmental and mixed breed bulls will be sold. A video and catalog of all the bulls for sale are available at www.wisconsinbeef.com/home.html.

What is unique about the WBIA sale is that all the bulls have been tested for expected progeny difference. EPDs determine the genetic merit of the bull as a parent. Only bulls that have a 95 percent index after testing make the sale. The EPDs evaluate the bulls for traits such as weight per day of age, average daily gain, carcass quality and breeding soundness. Ultrasounds are also done to determine rib eye quality and amount of back fat. Pioneer Farm is contracted by the WBIA to provide this testing and care of the bulls. Consigners bring their bulls to the farm in the fall to be tested and only pay a yardage fee, feed costs and veterinary costs. Once the bull is sold, the consigner recieves the profit from the sale. Most of the bulls sold in the sale will be used for breeding.

"People do not test their bulls just to make money. They also get good information," said Alicia Prill-Adams, assistant director of Pioneer Farm.

According to Prill-Adams, the information gained from the test not only reveals traits about the bull, but also its parents. This information proves the bull's and its parent's genetic performance.

In addition to EPD testing, a new DNA test has become available to consigners. This test analyzes the bull's genes to determine rib eye quality, percent of intramuscular fat, tenderness and behavior.

Over 4,600 bulls from hundreds of producers have gone through the test station at Pioneer Farm since 1972. One of the benefits to consigners is that their bulls are tested in an unbiased environment. Josh Kamps, WBIA board member and UWP alumnus, and his wife, Gretchen, camp coordinator for the UWP School of Agriculture, consigned seven bulls, four of which made the sale.

"We're starting an Angus seed stock business and wanted to prove our bulls ability to gain weight. It's also a chance to reach potential customers. We have deep roots to UWP and enjoy working with Pioneer Farm staff. They are very approachable and work hard," said Josh Kamps.

In addition to increased income, Pioneer Farm benefits from the testing and sale by offering student learning opportunities. Prill-Adams' Animal Science Management class works with the bulls, helping to perform the ultrasounds, testing for breeding soundness and collecting semen. Students also work at the sale.

"It's a great learning experience. There are a lot of different jobs students can do from handling the animals to getting the testing information to the buyers. Students can develop skills in animal husbandry, production research and how to run an event," said Andrea Fritz, student worker at Pioneer Farm.

Anyone wanting more information about the bull test station or sale may contact Prill-Adams at (608) 342-1119 or prillada@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Alicia Prill-Adams, assistant director, Pioneer Farm, (608) 342-1119, prillada@uwplatt.edu Written by: Krystle Kurdi, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, kurdik@uwplatt.edu