120-Day Report
The 60th annual Tucumcari Bull Test is in the books! Another successful year with a group of bulls that have performed well. As a group, bulls averaged 1100 lbs by the end of the test with a 120 average daily gain (ADG) of 3.26 lbs per day. Efficiency held steady at just over 7.00 lbs of feed per lb of gain. We have some stand outs that gained well over 4 lbs per day and also converted under 4 lbs of feed per lb of gain.
Angus: We have over 98 Angus bulls that have remained on test. The top gaining Angus for the 2020-21 test is owned by Hartzog Angus. Test ID 8-4, RWL&C 3348 Black Magic H116 ended the test gaining 4.57 pounds gain per day (ADG), with a performance ratio of 133 in his division! Hartzog Angus are having a good year, with four of the top 10 Angus for gain. Lust Angus are again dominating WDA, owning 8 of the top 10 spots! This year’s winner of the top WDA spot is 20-15, , Lust A3 Payweight 061 with a sustained WDA of 3.75 that ratios 121 over the group. Rounding out the Angus division for performance is from Hartzog Angus. We had a change in the leader board for feed efficiency by the end of the test. The winner for FE is from J-C Angus. Number 9-25; J-C Loaded 2087 had and outstanding conversion rate of 3.91 lbs. Efficiency like that is sure to make daughters productive in any environment.
Braunvieh: J Bar Braunvieh has brought us 8 of very nice bulls. Test IDs 7-8 (JBB SW HARLEY 015H) is both top indexing and top gaining bull for the 2020-21 bull test. He carried a substantial lead overall with test index of 113 and a gain ratio of 123. An indication of bull quality from this producer is the fact that two other of their bulls topped the WDA and FE categories. Bull 7-4 (JBB DAWSONS HONDO 017H) carried the heaviest WDA of 2.95 lbs and 7-2 had the highest ratio for FE at 122. These heavy muscled bulls will add pounds to your weaning weights as they make a very good terminal cross on your cows.
Charolais: Grau Charolais’ 5-1GCR SUPREME MARKSMAN R6 hit the test trifecta this year by earning top indexing, gain, WDA AND FE. All of the Grau bulls had impressive conversion rates of 6.75 to 5.56 lbs feed per pound of gain! These bulls also demonstrated excellent efficiency with all bulls ranking in the top 20% of all the bulls tested in Residual Feed Intake. Any one of these bulls will improve efficiency in your cow herd and growth in your calves.
Hereford: There are 20 head in this year’s Hereford division. Corn Herefords from Roswell, NM have this year’s top indexing Hereford. Sired by TH 61A 358C Maverick 242E Corn’s 3-4 bull ended the test with an overall index of 120! bull surpassed his herd mate and won overall gain at 3.74 lbs per day. Efficiency numbers are in! The Hereford division had collectively the best conversion rates across the entire pen. The leader in FE for this group is a bull from Abercrombie Ranch. Bull 1-8 RA Domino Hutton 2018 only needed 4.33 lbs of feed to achieve one pound of gain.
Red Angus: C & C Ranches’ registered Red Angus is made for a very close race. These uniform set of bulls performed consistently across the board. This year’s winner of the top indexing is bull 13-3 (DuVall Rojo H015) who had a final index of 103. However, his half-brother led in gain/WDA (13-1 DuVall Rojo H018). Duvall’s 13-3 was also top in efficiency, with a conversion rate of 5.43 lbs.
Salers: K4 Cattle Company out of Hereford, TX returned this year with another set of 8 very nice Salers. These good dispositioned bulls are gentle and easy to handle. Known for their heartiness, they can go anywhere and improve hybrid vigor in your calves. Test ID 18-7 (CLK HIGH COUNTRY) remained consistently strong which resulted in him winning his division with a top indexing ratio of 124! This bull also topped the gain category with a rate of 3.43 lbs/d. In a close second overall was 18-6 CLK HIGH POINT ended the test with the highest WDA (3.15) and lowest FE (6.26).
Santa Gertrudis: We haven’t had Santa Gertrudis at the test station since the mid 80s! We have one from Ciriaco Toya out of Jemez, New Mexico, and he is a dandy. True to his breed, his modest gains (ADG = 3.32) were accomplished with minimal feed. He is one of the most efficient bulls on test with a feed conversion of 6.30 lbs, and is in the top 20% across the entire group for RFI (-2.41). Known for handling the harsh arid environments, he might just fit your program well.
Shorthorn: The Shorthorn breed has also returned to the test this year after a long absence. COS Shorthorns out of Fort Stockton, TX brought us a nice set of calves. They came in averaging over 700 lbs. They all have demonstrated good health and vigor. Saw a new leader make it to the finish line with a final top index of 113! Bull 22-4 (COS Marquis 2005) earned the top spot by leading in both gain (3.27) and WDA (3.07). For efficiency, there was a change in the top spot. Bull 22-5 (COS Marquis 2011) took the lead by converting only 6.10 lbs of feed to gain. These bulls are quiet and easy to handle. Shorthorns have a long tradition of making an excellent cross with just about any breed base.
Red Angus X: All sired by Cherokee Redwater, TL Cattle Company’s bulls performed well. Test ID 6-1 lead the in both ADG (3.38) and WDA (3.15), earning him the rank of top indexing bull (109) in his division. Test ID 6-2 is currently the most efficient bull in his division as well, with a conversion rate of 5.08 lbs and the lowest RFI in the pen at an astounding -5.27! A bull with these numbers can really contribute to improving your program.
90-Day Report
We still have another 30 days to go until our bulls are ready to bring home, but they have certainly hit a gear since we last weighed them! The group added an addition 1.42 lbs per day to their bottom line in the last 30 days, with an and across the pen ADG of 4.40! The calves came in a bit heavier than last year, with their current weight average of 1060. They are on track to reach 1200 lbs by sale day. Frame has remained moderate, despite the great gains! Our producers continue to build super-efficient animals that have growth to meet industry needs while remaining relevant to the environment around them.
As you read the overall report you will notice color highlights on some bulls. These highlights indicate that the bull is performing in the top 20% of the group for either ADG, WDA, FE, or RFI. This data does not include the efficiency data for half the bulls, as the test is not fully complete.
We have had a few changes in the leader board, but stay tuned as things progress. Here are some bulls to watch in each division.
Angus: We have over 98 Angus bulls that have remained on test. We have a new top gainer from Hartzog Angus. Test number 8-4, RWL&C 3348 Black Magic H116 is currently the top gaining bull at 5.17 pounds gain per day (ADG), with a performance ratio of 141 in his division! Hartzog Angus is having a good year, with three of the top 10 Angus for gain. Lust Angus are again dominating WDA, owning 9 of the top 10 spots! Leading the way is test number 10-12, Lust 835 Cash 053, with a sustained WDA of 3.82 that ratios 120 over the group. Rounding out the Angus division for performance is from Hartzog Angus. They have an outstanding set of calves out of Byergo Black Magic 3348. One of his son’s, test id 8-2 (RWL&C Black Magic 4141 H114), is only requiring a little over 4 pounds of feed to achieve 1 pound of gain!
Braunvieh: We have 9 Braunvieh calves on test this year. This continental breed makes for a great cross for herds in arid regions. These hearty cattle can cover a lot of country and cows. J Bar Braunvieh has brought us 8 of very nice bulls. Test ids’ 7-4 and 7-8 out of their herd have shown impressive performance in both growth and efficiency. JBB DAWSONS HONDO 017H (7- 4) has taken over the lead from his herd mate, being the top gaining bull at 4.19 pounds gain per day. He also leads the way for WDA at 3.13. This bull will be the one to watch to win his division as he also carried an impressive efficiency of 6.05 lbs of feed per pound of gain (FE).
Charolais: Of the 60 years the Tucumcari Bull Test has been around, Grau Charolais have been here for 40 of them! The consistency in their program continues to this day. This set of bulls have demonstrated some of the best efficiency across the entire pen of 80 head! Specifically, Grau’s 5-1 bull out of their herd sire GCR SMOKE SUPREME 6086 is converting his feed to gain at a rate of 5.56 pounds! He is also carrying one of the lowest RFI values in the pen too! The more negative the RFI value the better. He is a great candidate to help improve efficiency in you cow herd and growth in your calves!
Hereford: There are 20 head in this year’s Hereford division. Corn Herefords from Roswell, NM have hit their stride, now holding the three top spots for ADG. Corn’s 3-4 bull is now leading the field in both ADG (4.11) and WDA (3.34). With another 30 days to go, it will be interesting to see which of Herefords bulls will cross the finish line first! Efficiency numbers will come in the next report, as the Herefords had to patiently wait their turn to get into the Growsafe® data collection pens. So stay tuned!
Red Angus: We have 7 Red Angus in the test this year. As with the Herefords, we have had a change in the leader board. Duval Red Angus from Lamar, CO have the top two slots for gain this go around. Test ID 13-2, Duvall Domain H003, is gaining 3.68 lbs per day. All sired out of Cherokee Redwater, TL Cattle Company’s bulls are all performing well. Test id 6-1 leads the pack in WDA at 3.14, with a ratio of 104. Test ID 6-2 is currently the most efficient bull in his division as well, with a conversion rate of 5.08 lbs and the lowest RFI in the pen at an astounding -5.27! A bull with these numbers can really contribute to improving your program.
Salers: K4 Cattle Company out of Hereford, TX returned this year with another set of 8 very nice Salers. These good dispositioned bulls are gentle and easy to handle. Known for their heartiness, they can go anywhere and improve hybrid vigor in your calves. Test id 18-7 (CLK HIGH COUNTRY) is still leading in gain and on his way to possibly win the test in his division. Sired by HA DANIEL D610, he is the top gaining bull averaging 3.40 ADG. His herd mate test ID (18-6; CLK HIGH POINT), is now leading in WDA at 3.14. There are a few more bulls to test for intake in this group, so we currently don’t have a rank for feed efficiency. This information will be available shortly before our sale.
Santa Gertrudis: We haven’t had Santa Gertrudis at the test station since the mid 80s! We have one from Ciriaco Toya out of Jemez, NM and he is a dandy! True to his breed, his modest gains (ADG = 3.28) were accomplished with minimal feed. He is one of the most efficient bulls on test with a feed conversion of 6.30 lbs, and is in the top 20% across the entire group for RFI (-2.41). Known for handling the harsh arid environments, he might just fit your program well.
Shorthorn: The Shorthorn breed has also returned to the test this year after a long absence! COS Shorthorns out of Fort Stockton, TX brought us a nice set of calves. They came in averaging over 700 lbs! They all have demonstrated good health and vigor. Continuing to lead this group is test id 22-2 (COS Kaper 2008) in gain (3.77 lbs/d). His herd mate 22-4 (COS Marquis 2005) seems to be a new contender to win the division, as he leads in both WDA (2.98) and efficiency thus far, converting at an impressive 6.45 lbs/lb gain. These bulls are quiet and easy to handle. Shorthorns have a long tradition of making an excellent cross with just about any breed base.
60-Day Report
The 2020-21 60th Annual Tucumcari Bull Test is shaping up to be another great year, despite the challenges our producers faced with drought. Calves came in close to 100 lbs. heavier than in years past. We also have a total of nine breeds! Angus, Braunvieh, Charolais, Hereford, Red Angus, Salers, Santa Gertrudis, Shorthorn, and Braunvieh X. Their growth and health have been very good! Efficiency continues to improve in the collective genetics from the participating producers. We have several bulls converting less than 6 lbs of feed to achieve one pound of gain (FE)!!! This is better than industry standards. Efficiency is highly heritable at 35%. Bringing one of these proven efficient bulls’ home will help you produce more efficient daughters to help stretch your grass during the lean years.
Here are some bulls to watch in each division.
Angus: We have over 100 Angus bulls on this year’s test out of some of the best genetics in the country. The top gaining bull comes from a new consignor. Test ID: 21-6, RWR Compliance 011, from Rock Wall Angus out of Ocate, NM is currently the top gaining bull at 4.57 lbs gain per day (ADG), with a performance ratio of 143 in his division! Lust Angus have once again brought a nice set of heavily muscled, growth driven bulls. They have two topping out the weight per day of age (WDA) category. Out of different sires, test ids’ 10-2 and 10-17 are carrying the same WDA value of 3.70; demonstrating the strong genetic base of their cow herd. Rounding out the Angus division for performance is from Hartzog Angus. They have an outstanding set of calves out of Byergo Black Magic 3348. One of his son’s, Test ID: 8-2 (RWL&C Black Magic 4141 H114), is only requiring a little over 4 lbs of feed to achieve 1 lb of gain! This super efficient calf will be one to watch as a possible test winner with ratio’s well over 100 in both gain and WDA as well.
Braunvieh: We have nine Braunvieh calves on test this year. This continental breed makes for a great cross for herds in arid regions. These hearty cattle can cover a lot of country and cows. J Bar Braunvieh has brought us eight very nice bulls. Test IDs: 7-4 and 7-8 out of their herd have shown impressive performance in both growth and efficiency. JBB SW HARLEY 015H (7-8 ) is leading his division overall, being the top gaining bull at 4.07 pounds gain per day while achieving that gain on less than six pounds of feed per pound of gain. The 7-4 bull is not far behind, with the top WDA of 2.91. His efficiency is as impressive at 6.05 (FE).
Charolais: Of the 60 years the Tucumcari Bull Test has been around, Grau Charolais have been here for 40 of them! The consistency in their program continues to this day. This set of bulls have demonstrated some of the best efficiency across the entire pen of 80 head! Specifically, Grau’s 5-1 bull out of their herd sire GCR SMOKE SUPREME 6086 is converting his feed to gain at a rate of 5.56 pounds! He is also carrying one of the lowest RFI values in the pen too! The more negative the RFI value the better. He is a great candidate to help improve efficiency in you cow herd and growth in your calves!
Hereford: There are 20 head in this year’s Hereford division. Cornerstone Ranch out of Ft. Sumner, NM has once again brought us an outstanding performer in growth. The 2-7 bull of theirs has had a sustained gain of 4.02 lbs per day, with a ratio of 177! Corn Herefords out of Roswell, NM top out the WDA category. Their 3-3 bull has a current WDA of 3.03! Efficiency numbers will come in the next report, as the Herefords had to patiently wait their turn to get into the Growsafe® data collection pens. So stay tuned!
Red Angus: We have seven Red Angus in the test this year. TL Cattle Company from Grady, NM brought us three calves that have all done well. All sired out of Cherokee Redwater, these calves have proven themselves in both growth and efficiency performance. Test ID: 6-3 leads the pack in gain at 3.68, with a ratio of 132! He is currently the most efficient bull in his division as well, with a conversion rate of 5.08 lbs and the lowest RFI in the pen at an astounding -5.27! A bull with these numbers can really contribute to improving your program.
Salers: K4 Cattle Company out of Hereford, TX returned this year with another set of eight very nice Salers. These good dispositioned bulls are gentle and easy to handle. Known for their heartiness, they can go anywhere and improve hybrid vigor in your calves. Test ID: 18-7 is leading and on his way to possibly win the test in his division. Sired by HA DANIEL D610, he is the top gaining bull averaging 3.77 ADG, and is in the top three for WDA. There are a few more bulls to test for intake in this group, so we currently don’t have a rank for feed efficiency. This information will be available shortly before our sale.
Santa Gertrudis: We haven’t had Santa Gertrudis at the test station since the mid 80s! We have one from Ciriaco Toya out of Jemez, NM and he is a dandy! True to his breed, his modest gains are accomplished with minimal feed. He is one of the most efficient bulls on test with a feed conversion of 6.30 lbs, and a strong negative RFI. Known for handling the harsh arid environments, he might just fit your program well.
Shorthorn: The Shorthorn breed has also returned to the test this year after a long absence! COS Shorthorns out of Fort Stockton, TX brought us a nice set of calves. They came in averaging over 700 lbs! They all have demonstrated good health and vigor. Leading this group is Test ID: 22-2 (COS Kaper 2008) in both gain (3.93 lbs/d) and WDA (3.66). For efficiency thus far, look to 22-4 (COS Marquis 2005), converting at an impressive 6.45 lbs/lb gain. These bulls are quiet and easy to handle. Shorthorns have a long tradition of making an excellent cross with just about any breed base.
Braunvieh X: New to the test are a sturdy set of five Braunvieh cross bulls (with Angus). These boys came in averaging 885! These guys are ready for work! The top three bulls are best in both gain and WDA. Test ID: 19-1 is leading in both ADG (4.01) and WDA (4.24). He will be the one to beat in this division. All will add pounds to your weaning pen! Salt Creek Ranch from Memphis, TX brought this impressive set of calves.
