116 FALL BULLS EXCEL IN FEED EFFICIENCY TRIAL
With the industry changing every year and feed costs coming down from an all time high, we couldn’t turn down an opportunity that was presented to us. Feed conversion and intakes are going to be the next traits that are targeted by our industry. Feedlots are asking for this data more and more. We felt it was important for us to start measuring these traits on our bulls for you, our customers, as well as for ourselves and our cowherd.
We were able to take our entire set of fall bulls to Simplot in Grandview for a 75 day test and collect this individual data using their Grow Safe system. The individual data, average daily gain (
ADG) residual feed intake, (RFI) and feed conversion (CONV) on every fall bull is in the catalog. The bulls were fed a high roughage diet and expected to gain 3 pounds a day. Having never done any work with individual feed conversions and intake, we were a little nervous as to what we might find out. After the test was completed, we were extremely pleased with the data and the results. 116 head of bulls averaged over 4 pounds per day (ADG) on this ration and the Hereford bulls converted 5.6 on an average conversion, while the Angus bulls converted 6 on their average conversion.As strong as we feel about these traits and the importance of them to our industry, this isn’t going to be a trait that we chase as a seedstock producer. It will be no different than individual weights, ultrasound measurements or other traits that are already collected by us. We feel this data is going to be very beneficial to us, as a provider of the best genetics possible, for you, our customer. We are trying to help you earn the most money for your calves when you sell them.
We are grateful to Simplot and thankful for the opportunity to collect this data. We also want to thank the Simplot crew, as the bulls were very well taken care of while they were there. We look forward to being able to provide you the best genetics possible, using multiple trait selection.
Please feel free to give us a call for more information.