The 14th annual Florida Bull Test was conducted at the University of Florida North Florida Research and Education center near Marianna. There were 126 bulls, from 40 ranches, located in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina. There were 67 Angus, 7 Charolais, 2 Hereford, 3 Red Angus, 33 SimAngus, and 14 Simmental consignments born between August and December of 2012. Bulls were delivered in late July and initiated their 112-day test on August 20, 2013. The last day of test was December11, 2013. In addition, a hallmark of the FL Bull Test is that individual feed intake is assessed to establish feed efficiency. At completion of the test, the entire group of bulls averaged 3.45 pounds of gain per day, but ranged from 1.81 to 5.31 pounds per day.

Activities of the Florida Bull Test will conclude with a sale on Saturday, January 18, 2014, at 12:30 PM Central Time, at the NFREC Beef Unit near Marianna. Only bulls meeting specific benchmarks are eligible for the sale. In addition to performance evaluation, bulls are inspected for structural soundness and disposition, and must pass a breeding soundness exam to qualify for the sale. Additional information, such as actual performance data, expected progeny differences (EPDs), and carcass ultrasound data, is available for buyers to aid their selection of excellent quality bulls to purchase.

For more information on the Florida Bull Test, including performance data and pictures of all bulls, visit the web page at http://nfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/fl_bull_test. Catalogs for the sale are available by request, call 850-394-9124 to have one mailed to you. Note: the Research Station office will be closed for the Holidays from December 25 through January 1.

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