Four Corners Beef Cattle Improvement Association
The 4C BCIA continues to lease land and conduct its Winter Bull Test and Heifer Development Program. The Annual Sale is the first Saturday in April. Their website is: http://www.highaltitudebulls.org
Bull Test
Colorado State University was one of the first universities
to establish a bull test for evaluating the performance of young
bulls. Progeny from the breeding herd has been performance tested
since 1949. Bull calves were fed on an individual basis until
1980 when electronic feeders were installed and
individual feed intake was measured and recorded by mini-computers.
This provides feed conversion data for individual bulls and is
helpful in evaluating the various lines of cattle in the herd.
Ranchers from the Four Corners area have been testing bulls
at Hesperus station since early 1950 and in 1975, built a facility
consisting of 40 pens to performance test 200 bulls annually.
This test offers commercial cattlemen the opportunity to purchase
bulls with good genetics that will perform on mountain ranches.
Bulls are fed a growing ration that allows them to gain approximately
3.25 pounds per day. Genetically superior animals may gain in
excess of four pounds per day. In addition to rate of gain and
feed efficiency, the bull are measured of Pulmonary Arterial
Pressure (PAP) which is an indicator of susceptibility to brisket
disease. The test bulls are also measured for breeding soundness,
back fat, hip height, pelvic area measurement and scrotal circumference.
The four Corners Beef Cattle Improvement Association cooperates
with CSU in a joint bull sale for the top performing bulls. The
sale is held at the Center in April. Bulls purchased from this
test have had a great influence on improving the genetics of
cattle in Colorado and neighboring states. Ranchers who have
purchased performance tested bulls at
Hesperus for more than 10 years have reported increased weaning
weights in excess of 100 pounds and yearling weights in excess
of 200 pounds.
50 Years of Performance Testing - A Historical Review
Ram Test
The Colorado Ram Test was established at the San Juan Basin
Research Center in 1980. The first seven years of the test involved
only mutton-type breeds. In 1988, the test included wool-type
breeds for the first time. Ram lambs, from breeders throughout
Colorado, weighing 40 to 100 pounds are put on a 70-day test
in May and the top 75% are sold in September. In 1993, the test
was relocated to Fort Collins, Colorado where it continues today.
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