Dr. Saulo Zoca
Assistant Professor and Beef Cattle Reproduction Specialist
Department of Animal Science
P: 931-486-2129
On January 11th, 2024, the University of Tennessee Bull Development and Evaluation Program held its annual Performance Tested Bull Sale at the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center in Spring Hill. There were 45 performance tested bulls sold, including 17 SimAngus bulls, 15 Angus bulls, 5 Black Hereford bulls, 4 Hereford bulls, and 4 Simmental bulls. The sale grand total was $242,500.00, making the average sale price $5,388.89. Average sale price per breed was: SimAngus $6,058.82; Angus $5,717.00, Black Hereford $3,900.00; Hereford $4,250.00; Simmental $4,312.50.
This year’s sale reached the highest ever selling bull for the University of Tennessee Bull Development and Evaluation Program at $10,500.00. This mark belongs to Lot 76 (MF/BGHF Kaching 2K90 – SimAngus) from Martin and Sons Farm. Further, Lot 76 was the highest performing bull during our 84-day test reaching an impressive average daily gain (ADG) of 6.15 pounds per day (lbs/day) with 17.16 inch of ribeye area (REA). To award this outstanding performance, owners of Lot 76 (Martin and Sons Farm) received The Woods Rocker (pictured below) that was donated by Tim and Beth Watts from Tennessee Chair Company (Readyville, TN). The second highest selling bull was Lot 59 (JRFF Big Bang 401K – SimAngus) from Reed Family Farm at $8,000.00 and the third was Lot 12 (Diamond M Patriot 151 – Angus) from Diamond M Farms at $7,500. The highest selling price per breed were: SimAngus $10,500, Angus $7,500, Black Hereford $5,00.00 (Winters Plantation), Hereford $5,500 (Cunningham Hereford), and Simmental $5,500 (Cumberland Bottoms Ranch).
Photo: The Woods Rocker was awarded to the owners of the highest gaining bull from the 2023-2024 University of Tennessee Bull Development and Evaluation Program. Left to right: Chris Martin (Martin and Sons Farm); Dr. Neal Schrick (UT Animal Science – Department head); Neil Martin (Martin and Sons Farm); Dr. Saulo Zoca (UT Animal Science – Assistant Professor and Extension Beef Cattle Specialist).
There were 67 bulls enrolled in the 2023-2024 program. For various reasons 8 bulls did not finish the test and 14 bulls were removed from sale. From the 59 bulls that finished the 84-day test, the overall ADG was 4.4 lbs/day. The ADG per breed was: SimAngus 4.54 lbs/day, Angus 4.55 lbs/day, Black Hereford 4.24 lbs/day, Hereford 3.92 lbs/day, and Simmental 4.35 lbs/day. The overall average weight per day of age (WDA) was 3.14 lbs/day. The WDA per breed was: SimAngus 3.19 lbs/day, Angus 3.18 lbs/day, Black Hereford 3.08 lbs/day, Hereford 2.99 lbs/day, and Simmental 3.05 lbs/day. In the first 28-day period of test Lot 13 was the highest gaining bull with 7.50 lbs/day, in the second 28-day period of test Lot 65 was the highest gaining bull with 7.14 lbs/day, and in the third 28-day period of test the highest gaining bull was Lot 76 with 7.14 lbs/day.
The University of Tennessee Bull Development and Evaluation Program, represented by the Middle Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center – Spring Hill and the Department of Animal Science would like to thank all consignors, bidders and buyers for another successful program and sale. Further, we would like to thank UT AgResearch and UT Extension for their support. Last but not least, we would like to thank our sponsors LiveAuction.tv and Boehringer Ingelheim. If you have any questions, concerns, or if you are interested in participating the 2024-2025 UT Bull Development and Evaluation Program feel free to reach out to Dr. Saulo Zoca (szoca@utk.edu) or Dr. Troy Rowan (trowan@utk.edu).
