LINN — For a number of years, breeders of purebred beef cattle in the lower Rio Grande Valley have participated in bull gain tests and replacement heifer development programs in other parts of the state. Beginning on Oct. 26, the Rio Grande Valley Beef Cattle Improvement Association will begin its first annual bull gain test at Rio Beef Feedyard near Linn.
Mike Risica, Rio Beef Feedyard manager, said, “We are very excited about the level of interest exhibited by the breeders in the Valley in the bull test and the replacement heifer development program. We have fed gain test bulls and replacement heifers for the Jim Wells County bull test for several years and we have the experience to make this a successful program for Valley breeders.”
The Rio Grande Beef Cattle Improvement Association consists of members of the Extension Beef Cattle Committees of Hidalgo and Cameron counties. Membership is open to any interested beef producer for $10 per ranch. The consignment fee per bull is $15 per head.
Feed costs during the test are expected to be between $1.50 and $2 per head per day with an additional charge for any medication that may be needed, said Brad Cowan, Hidalgo County Extension agent. Each bull can have a breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) conducted at the end of the test for $15. Breeders will be billed a monthly pro-rata share of the feed cost based on weight of the bull. Any breeder may participate in the gain test, he said.
The bulls will have a 21-day warm-up and will be fed a growing ration on pasture during the 112-day gain test. The bulls will be weighed, measured for hip height and scrotal circumference both on and off test and at the 56-day mid-point. In addition to the BSE, the bulls will have ultrasound performed (scanned) for fat thickness, ribeye area and percent intramuscular fat (marbling score) during the test. The bulls will also be measured for pelvic area.
The bull test will conclude on March 10 with enough time for consignors to consign their bulls to the all breed bull sale at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show in March. Association members are planning a field day for a date to be announced during the bull gain test. The intent of the bull gain test is to allow Valley purebred breeders to evaluate their bulls under local conditions and to bring potential buyers to evaluate the bulls on test.
The association is also planning a replacement heifer development program to assist Valley breeders in developing their heifers to their full reproductive potential. The heifers will go on feed on Nov. 17 and will come off feed on the same date as the bulls.
The heifers will also be weighed, measured for hip height and pelvic area both on and off the program and at the 45-day mid-point. If possible, they also will be ultrasound scanned for fat thickness, ribeye area, and intramuscular fat. The heifers will also have a reproductive tract score assigned to them at the end of the program to determine which are cycling. Costs of participation in the heifer development test are the same as for the bulls.
Enrique Perez, Cameron County Extension agent said a number of groups are collaborating on both the bull gain test and the replacement heifer development program. The Texas Agricultural Extension Service provides technical assistance, oversees the data collection, and assists in the field day. Texas State Technical College’s agricultural technology program assists in data collection. Several Rio Grande Valley beef cattle breed associations including the Rio Grande Valley Santa Gertrudis Breeders Association, Rio Grande Valley Simmental-Simbrah Breeders Association and the Rio Grande Valley Red Brangus Breeders Association also lend support.
For more information contact Brad Cowan, Hidalgo County, at (956) 383-1026, or Enrique Perez, Cameron County, at (956) 399-7757.
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