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, 2005. Mail entries to HC 61 Box 6, Tipton, KS 67485. The nonrefundable entry fee (nomination fee and management fee combined together) of $80 per bull for Kansas herds and $105 per bull for out-of-state herds must be received with the nomination form.

4. All bulls must be born January 1-April 15, 2005, 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.
7. Bulls must be delivered to H.M. Schmitt, Inc. by the Saturday, October 29, 2005 deadline. If you would like to deliver the bulls early please call and let H.M. Schmitt, Inc. know. 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 28 & 29, 2005. 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 day after the official test date. Final test weights will be an average of two full weights taken the day prior to and the day after the official test date. An intermediate (mid point) weight will be taken on day 56 of the test.

10. Official starting and ending dates will be November 15, 2005, and March 7, 2006, 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.

15. An Ear notch PI negative BVD status test will be done one each bull after entry at the feedlot. Average cost per head will be $6.

Sale Requirements For All Breeds,

1. The top 50% of the bulls within each breed are eligible to sell at the Spring 2006 Kansas Bull Test Sale. The Bull Test Committee and H.M. Schmitt, Inc. obtain the right to change or adjust this percentage according to the number of bulls on test.

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 9, 2006.

5. If information is not collected by this time the bull will not be eligible for the sale. We will be inforcing this rule this year if needed. we will not wait for information – bulls will not be able to be sold if all information is not provided to the feedlot.

6. Consignors must declare bulls for the sale by January 9, 2006. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. There will be a minimum floor price of $1200 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.

10. 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.

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 90 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 50% of the bulls within each birth weight category will be eligible for 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 $80 fee per bull for Kansas herds and $105 per bull for out-of-state herd is to be made payable to

1. H. M. Schmitt, Inc., Kansas Bull Test with the nomination form.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Consignors will be responsible for ultrasound costs. Past ultrasound fees of approximately $16.00 per head have been assessed.

5. Consignors responsible for BSE Exam costs. Past cost average fee of $20.00.

6. Consignors responsible for clipping costs. Past cost average fee of $10-$12.

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, 2006.

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