2006 Bull Test Info

Requirements for Entry

1. Bulls must be owned for at least thirty days prior to delivery at H. M Schmitt, Inc..

2. ONLY REGISTERED BULLS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE KANSAS BULL TEST SALE, non-registered bulls can be tested, but are ineligible for the Kansas Bull Test Sale.

3. Nomination forms must be received at H.M. Schmitt, Inc., no later than October 7, 2004. Mail entries to HC 61 Box 6, Tipton, KS 67485. The nonrefundable nomination fee of $40 per bull for Kansas herds and $55 per bull for out-of-state herds must be received with the nomination form. The Kansas Simmental Association has requested an additional $10 per bull nomination fee for special advertising, this makes Simmental nomination fees $50 and $65 per bull for Kansas herds and out-of-state herds, respectively.

4. All bulls must be born January 1-April 15, 2004, to be eligible for the Spring Test. KBT Board of Directors reserves the right to examine all cattle when arriving at KBT test facilities and to pass judgment on verification of age.

5. The following recommendations constitute the health program for bulls to be tested at KBT. It is in your best interest to protect the health of your bulls as completely as possible.

The following vaccines should be given 2-4 weeks before shipping to KBT. The most desirable procedure would be to vaccinate at least two weeks before weaning and wean about six weeks before shipping. Avoid weaning, vaccinating, and shipping bulls to KBT on the same date.

A. 7-Way Clostridium with Hemophilus somnus bacterin

B. Modified live IBR-PI3-BVD-BRSV viral vaccines with 5-way Lepto

C. Pasteurella leukotoxoid bacterin vaccine

In addition to the above health requirements, KBT requires a negative test for Brucellosis (or Certified Free Herd) on bulls within 30 days of delivery to KBT. When bulls leave KBT, another test is required. For the sale, health papers require evidence of a negative test for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis.

6. The test manager has the right to refuse entry to any bull that is deemed to be unacceptable (health, structural soundness, disposition, etc.) at the time of delivery or anytime throughout the testing period as determined by the test manager and/or a veterinarian.

77. Bulls must be delivered to H.M. Schmitt, Inc. by the Saturday, October 30, 2004 deadline. Late delivery bulls will not be accepted, NO EXCEPTIONS!

Testing Program

The Kansas Bull Test will be conducted and managed by H. M. Schmitt, Inc., Tipton, KS. Harry and Doug Schmitt own and manage the yard. Daily care and feeding is the responsibility of H.M. Schmitt, Inc. We will also supervise the test, formulate test and sale policies, and authenticate the performance of the bulls tested.

1. Entry priority will be given to Kansas maintained herds in the order entries are received. Out-of-state bulls will be accepted as pen space allows.

2. Bulls must be delivered to the test site between 8:00 AM & 4:00 PM, FRIDAY and SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29 & 30, 2004. Early deliveries must be approved by the test managers. No late deliveries will be allowed.

3. Bulls must have legible tattoos that match the registration certificate.

4. Minimum weight upon arrival must be equal to or greater than two pounds per day of age. There will be no shrink allowance.

5. The registration certificate or application for registration should accompany each bull to the test station. No data will be published until a copy of the certificate is on file.

6. Upon delivery, bulls will be processed and penned according to breed or by similar type, i.e. Continentals with Continentals, etc.

7. There will be a 16 day warm-up period following delivery and prior to weigh in for the official test.

8. The length of the test will be 112 days.

9. Initial weight on test will be the average of two full weights taken the day prior to and the first day of the official test. Final test weights will be an average of two full weights taken the day prior to and the last day of the official test. An intermediate (mid point) weight will be taken on day 56 of the test.

10. Official starting and ending dates will be November 16, 2004, and March 8, 2005, respectively.

11. All bulls will be managed similarly in the testing program. The weights and performance, including Average Daily Gain (ADG) and Weight-per-Day-of-Age (WDA), will be published and distributed to the consignors and potential buyers. The bulls will be indexed for the sale according to there ADG/Breed Avg. and WDA/Breed Avg., and also carcass data/breed avg.

12. Ultrasound scanning will be used to determine ribeye area, backfat thickness, and percent intramuscular fat (marbling).

13. Any bulls removed from the test facilities prior to the end of the test must be approved by the test manager, have all incurred bills paid in full, and must pay a $50 removal fee.

14. Beef Improvement Federation guidelines will be followed on all calculations and adjustments.

Sale Requirements All Breeds, Except Simmental

1. The top 65% of the bulls within each breed are eligible to sale at the Spring 2005 Kansas Bull Test Sale with maximum of 180 bulls being sold.

2. Bulls must have an adjusted 365-day scrotal circumference of at least 32 cm.

3. All bulls eligible for the sale must pass a breeding soundness exam and semen evaluation administered by a veterinarian. Breeding soundness exams will be pErformed immediately after the conclusion of the test. consignors with bulls that fail will be notified immediately.

4. Actual birth weight and adjusted 205-day weaning weight must be provided to H.M. Schmitt, Inc. no later than JANUARY 10, 2005. If this information is not collected by this time the bull will not be eligible for the sale.

5. Consignors must declare bulls for the sale by January 10, 2005. Bulls can be performance tested and developed at the Kansas Bull Test and then removed for a separate sale, but any paid nomination fees are non-refundable.

6. ANY CHANGES to the sale listing, either removing or adding to the declared bull selling list, will involve a $50 per head charge. This charge will be waived for bulls not indexing or being accepted for sale according to their breed standards (top 65% in most breeds, except for Simmentals, which follow self imposed standards).

7. The sale catalog will include EPDs for birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, and maternal weaning weight. Calving ease EPDs will be included for the breeds that calculate them.

8. There will be a minimum floor price of $1000 for all bulls that enter the sale ring. Up to an 11% sale commission will be charged to the consignor based upon the auctioned or floor price of each bulls that enters the sale ring.

9. Sale commissions will be no more than 11% of the bull’s selling or floor price. Number of entries, selling prices, advertising and other expenses will determine the final sales commission percentage.

10. Angus Sale Order – Angus bulls classified as Low Birth Weight bulls will be sold first in the Angus section of the ale by index. Non Low Birth Weight bulls will then be sold in order of index.

11. Hereford Sale Order – Sale order for Hereford bulls will be determined by a combination of EPD, test index and Low Birth Weight grouping. Order will be determined by the breed representative.

Low Birth Weight Category

1. Separate categories for low birth weight Angus, Hereford, and Charolais bulls will be based upon individual’s actual birth weight and birth weight EPD. To be eligible bulls must have:

a) an actual birth weight of less than 100 pounds

and Birth Weight EPDs of

b) Angus bulls, less than or equal to 2.0; Charolais bulls, less than or equal to 1.0; or Hereford bulls, less than or equal to 2.5.

2. Bulls will be automatically transferred into the separate “Low BW EPD” Categories.

3. KBT will use the most recent EPD calculations provided by the respective breed associations to determine a bull’s status immediately prior to the final report. This will be available near the official test ending date.

4. Low birth weight bulls’ index will reflect their performance compared to all bulls within their respective breed, regardless of birthweight status.

5. The top 65% of the bulls within each birth weight category will be eligible for the sale.

Simmental Sale Requirements

1. Simmental consignors must follow the sale requirements 3 through 9 listed in the Sale Requirements All Breeds, Except Simmental section.

2. Simmental bulls entered in the test must meet specifications established by a committee of Simmental breeders representing the breed.

3. The Simmental breed will not be governed by the 65% eligibility based on their index. They will govern 70% of the bulls to be in the sale that have an index greater than 90%; unless the 180 bull maximum is reached, then it will be figured at same % as all other breeds.

4. At the end of the test, a bull must have a WDA of at least 3.00 lb/day.

5. The sale order will be determined by the KSA Executive Secretary and a KSA Bull Test Committee representative or their chosen representative. The sale order should be available prior to the sale.

Management of Bulls and Billing Information

1. H.M. Schmitt, Inc. and KBT are not responsible for any loss of any bulls by injury, death, fire, theft, or any other causes. However, if death is caused by direct negligence of the feedlot, the feedlot shall pay the owner of said loss. The value of any bull lost due to direct negligence of the feedyard will be determined by $100 above the market price for a steer on the date the bull was delivered to the test station. In addition, H.M. Schmitt, Inc. will reimburse the owner for payments made to the feedyard for the care and feeding of the bull.

2. The KBT Committee and H.M. Schmitt, Inc. have no obligation or responsibility to procure casualty insurance on tested bulls. However, it is suggested that the owner insure his bulls prior to delivery.

3. Bulls may only leave the test station prior to completion of the test through veterinary release (because of illness or disease) or by consent of the test managers.

4. Consignors will be billed monthly for feed, medicine, or other miscellaneous charges by H. M. Schmitt, Inc.

Testing Costs

1. A $40 nomination fee per bull for Kansas herds and $55 per bull for out-of-state herds (exception for Simmental, nominations are $50 per Kansas bull and $65 for out-of-state bulls), is to be made payable to H. M. Schmitt, Inc., Kansas Bull Test with the nomination form.

2. A management fee of $40 per bull will be made upon delivery to the test station, this fee is to be made payable to H.M. Schmitt, Inc., Kansas bull test.

3. Feed, medicine, and veterinary costs are payable to H.M. Schmitt, Inc. within 10 days after billing. All accounts will be balanced on a monthly basis. Any delinquent invoices will be charged with an additional 1.5% per month.

4. H.M. Schmitt, Inc. retains the right to hold bulls on accounts not current. For accounts over 90 days past due, bulls will not be released to the owner.

5. Consignors will be responsible for ultrasound costs. Past ultrasound fees of approximately $10.00 per head have been assessed.

Selling Costs

1. All bulls which enter the sale ring will be charged up to 11% sale commission on the final price bid or floored during the auction, NO EXCEPTIONS.

2. Sales commission rate will be set by the KBT Board of Directors.

3. Consignors will be responsible for any and all pedigree transfer fees, and breeding soundness exam fees.

Pick up Information

1. Bulls not consigned to the sale may be picked up after March 9, 2005.

2. Bulls consigned, but not sold through the sale ring, can be picked up at the Mitchell County Fairgrounds in Beloit, KS immediately following the sale, or they will be returned to H.M. Schmitt, Inc., Tipton, KS awaiting further instructions. Freight, feed and yardage charges for returning to H.M. Schmitt, Inc. will be incurred.

3. Bulls not sold through the sale are the responsibility of their owners. Owners must contact H.M. Schmitt, Inc. within 10 days after the Kansas Bull Test Sale with their intentions of bull pick up or disposal.

Information

If there is any concern with the operation or procedure of the Kansas Bull Test, please contact us.

H.M. Schmitt, Inc.

HC 61 Box 6

Tipton, KS 67485

Harry Schmitt (785) 373 – 4824

Doug Schmitt (785) 373 – 5025