The Thorbardin Ranch Bull Test

Thorbardin is pleased to announce that a total of 32 bulls were entered into its annual bull test. Of the total bulls entered, we had 20 Highland bulls, a single Highland cross and 11 other breeds. Fifteen ranches supplied these bulls from across the country.

The breeds this year include Highland, Angus composite, Red Angus/Gelbvieh composite and black composite cattle. This is a very good set of bulls and will be fun to feed and manage during the winter. This grouping of different breeds will provide great educational and marketing data for the Highland breeders of how their cattle compete with other breeds.

The quality of bulls looks to be extremely good upon arrival. Again, Thorbardin had an Open House for visitors and for breeders who entered bulls. It is amazing what a year ís difference can be. Last year the temperatures were record low near 20 below and this year was an extremely balmy 55ºF. With an expected milder winter approaching, we should see some good gains in these bulls.

We weighed the bulls on January 9th at the end of the first 28-day period. The bulk of the bulls did extremely well. The weather had been decent until the New Year, when on January 2nd, the low temperature at the ranch was a cold -36ºF. The cattle experienced very cold weather for the next few days.

The average daily gain was 2.4 lbs./day. The top gaining bull did a whopping 5.6 lbs./day own by Highfield Farms in Pennsylvania. Many bulls did over 3.0 lbs./day. One of our own bulls decided to take a small vacation from growing and actually lost a few pounds during the period. Growth does not always move in a straight line upward.

All the bulls in the test are healthy and looking good. After this last weigh period, we split the group into two pens of 15 animals each. While the bulls will have to establish a new social order, we believe they would more than benefit with increased bunk space per animal especially as they get a bit bigger.

We weighed the bulls on February 6 at the end of the 56-day period or the halfway point. It was a remarkably warm day in the mid-40's and with no wind. The bulk of the bulls did extremely well. The weather had moderated a bit with warmer daytime temperatures usually around the 30's. The wind remained pretty constant through most the period.

The average daily gain for the period was 2.86 lbs/day. This was up almost a half pound per day over the last weigh period. A big reason for the increase was the very dramatic gains the non-Highlands accomplished.

The top gaining Highland bull was Lyle of Covington Highlands, owned by Paul and Sharon Dillard with a gain of 3.2 lbs/day. The top gaining non-Highland bull was a Red Angus/Gelbvieh composite owned by Landers Livestock with a 5.8 lb/day gain.

This test is showing that there is a tremendous difference between the Highland breed and other performance driven cattle. The Highland breeders for the past few decades have not developed this breed into efficient gainers nor have sought to improve them. This is neither good nor bad, it is just where we are today compared to other breeds.

Also in regards to the test, to further clarify the Highland bulls versus non-Highland ones. There is one Highland composite lot number 7. The non-Highland bulls are lot #8, #17-24. Lots 17-21 are Maine/Angus/Chi composites. While lots 22-24 are Red Angus/Gelbvieh mix.

In looking over last year's data and comparing it to this years, many of the breeders have through better management are at the same point or even slightly better than a year ago. It is also important to remember that we need to breed for the complete package. This includes fertility, conformation, calving ease, and disposition along with carcass traits. The Highland breeders have a unique opportunity to improve their breed, but at the same time avoid the mistakes the other cattle breeds made in recent times. We should never forget that ultimately it is the beef's quality that will decide the breed's future.

The animals are being fed a ration of free choice alfalfa and about 7 lbs./day of brewers' pellets. These pellets are highly palatable and contain very high levels of protein and natural fat as the result of the fermentation process used to make beer. The bulls also have free access to a mineral supplement. Water is supplied via heated water tanks.

We weighed the bulls on March 6 at the end of the 84-day period. The testing is now ¾ of the way done. The top bulls have for the past three-weigh periods been consistent gainers. The whole purpose of the test is to separate gainers from non-gainers. We are at the point now that this is being accomplished.

The average daily gain for the period was 2.93 lbs/day. This was a slight increase over the last weigh period. As the bulls grow and mature they increase their ability to gain at higher rates. It is tougher for young animals to achieve high rates of gains compared to more mature animals.

The top gaining Highland bull was Anndra 2nd of Highfield Farms. This bull has shown steady improvement with each weigh period and achieved a very respectable gain of 3.71 lbs/day. The top gaining commercial bull was UP1166 sired by UPT Kophdrop owned by Talbot Club Calves with a remarkable rate of 6.5l lbs/day.

In looking over last year's data and comparing it to this years, many of the breeders through better management have reached the same point or even slightly better than a year ago. It is also important to remember that we need to breed for the complete package. This includes fertility, conformation, calving ease, and disposition along with carcass traits. The Highland breeders have a unique opportunity to improve their breed, but at the same time avoid the mistakes the other cattle breeds made in recent times. We should never forget that ultimately it is the beef's quality that will decide the breed's future.

The animals are being fed a ration of free choice alfalfa and about 10 lbs./day of brewers' pellets. These pellets are highly palatable and contain very high levels of protein and natural fat as the result of the fermentation process used to make beer. The bulls also have free access to a mineral supplement. Water is supplied via heated water tanks.

We weighed the bulls on April 3rd at the end of the 112-day period and the test. In addition to the final weighing, the veterinary conducted a breeding soundness exam, which includes the extension of a bull's penis, his semen quality, plus examining his testicles.

On April 5th, we again reworked the bulls for ultrasound measurements. These measurements were for ribeye, marbling and backfat. All the bulls were shaved over their 12th and 13th rib to allow intimate contact of the probe to the animal's skin.

The weights in the final period took a big jump across the board for Highland bulls. Combined with increasing the ration after the 3rd weigh period plus warmer temperatures allowed the bulls to roll up some impressive gains.

For the final weigh period, TCL Boomer Bob (Lot 5) was top gaining Highland bull achieving 5.07 lbs./day gain during this warm period. Owl Rock Yukon (Lot 11) with a 4.79 lbs./day achievement followed him. On the commercial composite side, the Red Angus/Gelbvieh 276 (Lot 22) had a 4.64 lbs/day gain followed by the UP 1062 (Lot 18) with a 4.46 lbs./day gain.

With regards to gains, a very special congratulations to Doug and Ruth Osborn of Big Horn Highlands Ranch of Buffalo, Wyoming with the top gaining Highland bull for the entire test. Big Horn Fraser achieved a 3.21 lbs/day gain throughout the test. This was followed closely by Highfield Storm at 3.18 lbs/day owned by John Marshall of Highfield Farm of Pennsylvania. Both breeders need to be recognized for their outstanding performance and work to achieve such results.

On the commercial side, the composite Red Angus/Gelbvieh Landers 276, was top gaining bull owned by Landers' Livestock, Cheyenne, Wyoming. Again, congratulations are in order for his outstanding breeding and performance. Guy Landers also had the second top gainer with another of his fine Red Angus/Gelbvieh combinations

Thorbardin provides the following data:

• ADG is the average daily gain for the weigh period, lbs/day of gain.
• Cum ADG is the average daily gain for the entire test, lbs/day of gain.
• WPDA is the weight per day of age, lbs/day. This does not include birth weights. It measures the animal's ability to gain from birth on the mother, post weaning and the test. Early on the test, it is partial measurement of the dam's milking ability, calf growth, plus the breeder's wean program.

In regards to the breeding soundness exam (BSE), last year only a single bull failed his BSE out of 42 bulls. It was actually an incredible record of success. This year, it seemed that the field of bulls pulled back to a more expected rate. A total of 5 bulls failed their BSE. Two of the bulls were composite bulls and 3 of the bulls were Highland bulls.

The bulls are electro-ejaculated and their semen is collected on a slide and viewed under a microscope by the vet, which is setup next to the working chute. The bulls that fail or had trouble with the first collection are jumped up to about 5 times to insure that the animal has the most opportunity to provide a live sample. Sometimes it takes 2 or 3 jumps to clean the tubes to get a good sample.

The vet measures scrotal circumference. This is a measurement of essential semen storage. The bigger the scrotal volume, the more semen a bull can produce and store which is a very strong positive. The vet also records semen motility. Motility is the ability of the semen to reach its target. Bulls who have greater semen motility should breed cows easier. The vet also records morphology of the semen, broken tails, misshapen sperm, etc. The higher the number the better the quality of semen. Again this is a positive.

Bulls that failed their BSE are not available for sale through the auction. Typically, Thorbardin buys these animals at steer prices and permanently makes them into steers. Some breeders take them home themselves for the freezer.

It is important to note that bulls that pass their BSE at a young age will have a tendency to throw this fertility trait to his female offspring. This means that his daughters will also have a tendency to become fertile at a younger age, which is very desirable.

An ultrasound technician takes the final measurements. We shave the animal on the right side. This allows the probe to have intimate contact with the skin. Ultrasounds do not travel through air, so a good physical contact is required for proper and accurate measurements.

The technician measures the ribeye of the animal, the marbling (intramuscular fat, %IM), and backfat thickness (BF). A quick note, %IM and marbling score that USDA grader provides are not quite the same, but are very similar. Higher %IM indicates that the bull will have higher marbling scores. Ribeyes are reported in square inches and backfat is reported in inches.

With Thorbardin using a growing ration on these bulls and not a finishing ration, the backfat almost across the board was quite small. It is about half what most commercial bulls have been testing this spring according to the technician.