Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 12:00 Noon

Hinds Community College Sales Facility, Raymond, MS

Interactive Video Distance Bidding Sites

North Mississippi Research and Extension Center, Verona, MS

Panola County Extension office, Batesville, MS

Fall 2008 Bull Sale Location Map

Fall 2008 Nomination Form (Nomination deadline: September 1, 2008)

Pdf version

MS Word version

Fall 2008 Rules and Regulations

Pdf version

MS Word version

Fall 2008 Sale Order Guidelines

Pdf version

Bull Sale File Downloads

Ultrasound Guidelines Council

UGC Certified Ultrasound Technician List

Mississippi BCIA Breeding Soundness Evaluation Form

Mississippi BCIA Bull Sale Consignor Checklist

For information on centralized ultrasound scanning of Mississippi bulls contact:

Dr. Rhonda Vann

Brown Loam Branch Experiment Station

(601) 857-5952

rcv2@ra.msstate.edu

FALL 2008 RULES AND REGULATIONS

The objective of the Mississippi BCIA Bull Sale program is to encourage production and identification of genetically superior bulls by purebred breeders and to encourage the purchase and use of these bulls by commercial producers. Mississippi BCIA Bull Sales will accept consignments from Mississippi Cattlemen only. Out of state cattle producers may consign bulls provided those bulls were gain-tested at the Hinds Bull Test or the South Mississippi Forage Bull Test and they are members of the Mississippi BCIA.

The minimum standards as set forth in these rules and regulations are for all breeds of cattle. Comparison of performance data and records should be limited to bulls within the same breed. Even when comparing bulls of the same breed, it should be remembered that all bulls are not developed under the same pasture and feeding program. The feed and pasture program of these bulls should be such that they can demonstrate their genetic potential for growth, not be overly fat, and be sound on their feet and legs.

FALL BCIA BULL SALE

A. Date of Sale - Thursday, November 13, 2008

B. Location - Hinds Community College Sales Facility, Raymond, MS

C. Nominations

The deadline to nominate bulls for this sale is September 1, 2008.

The following items need to be sent in to Mississippi BCIA, Box 9815, Mississippi State, MS 39762 for each bull nominated:

1. Nomination form
2. Signed registration certificate
3. Nomination fee of $25 per bull. Withdrawals and substitutions will be allowed until October 1, 2008. After October 1, 2008, no substitutions will be accepted and no checks will be refunded. Make checks payable to Mississippi BCIA. Nomination fees will be applied towards sale expenses.

D. Regulations

1. Age - Bulls must be born between September 1, 2006 and October 31, 2007.

2. Health - Current health papers from a licensed veterinarian must accompany bulls to the sale. The U.S. beef cattle industry experiences substantial animal health issues and economic losses due to the effects of bovine viral diarrhea virus, the causative agent of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD). This virus is an important cause of reproductive disease as well as “shipping fever” (bovine respiratory disease). The Mississippi Beef Cattle Improvement Association encourages voluntary testing of BCIA sale bulls for persistently-infected BVD as part of a statewide effort to educate producers on BVD and to control and/or eradicate BVD from Mississippi cattle herds. Negative BVD test results will be reported in the sale catalog.

3. Fertility - All bulls must have documentation of a passed breeding soundness exam, including scrotal measurements within 30 days prior to sale. Scrotal circumference must measure a minimum of 32 cm for a 12-16 month old bull, 34 cm for a 17-23 month old bull, and 36 cm for a 24+ month old bull.

4. Bulls should be considered structurally sound.

5. Actual birth weight must be reported.

6. Minimum adjusted 205-day weaning weight as reported by respective breed associations shall be:
a. 575 pounds or
b. 550 pounds with at least a 95 ratio within a minimum of 5 contemporaries.

7. Minimum adjusted 365-day yearling weight as reported by respective breed associations shall be 1000 pounds.

8. Bulls must have at least one of the following to qualify for the sale:
a. Ultrasound body composition yearling scan results accepted by the respective breed association or
b. Ultrasound EPDs or
c. Carcass EPDs.

9. EPDs and accuracies from respective breed associations are required. Bulls without EPD information will be accepted, only if the respective breed association cannot provide the EPD data. However, each consignor must complete all bull performance data required.

10. Yearling weight must be taken and reported to the respective breed association for calculation of a yearling weight EPD. Additionally, 365-day adjusted yearling weights must be reported on the nomination form. Breeders nominating bulls not old enough by the nomination deadline to have yearling data collected, should report yearling data to sale management prior to the sale. Yearling data will be reported at the sale.

11. A signed copy of the bull's registration certificate must accompany the nomination form. In addition, live animal ulltrasound scan data will be printed in the sale catalog if provided. If available, carcass/ ultrasound EPDs will also be printed in the sale catalog.

12. Minimum qualifying sale weights shall be:

E. Sale Order

The sale order will be set based on the bull's individual performance data, EPDs, general conformation and quality. A selection index based on the individual bull’s score in the following categories will be used to rank bulls for determination of sale order (highest scoring will sell first); CE or BW EPD (max. of 5 points), WW EPD (max. of 7.5 points), YW EPD (max. of 7.5 points), actual scrotal circumference (max. of 5 points), WDA (max of 15 points), IMF EPD (max. of 7.5 points), REA EPD (max. of 7.5 points), and visual appraisal (max. of 40 points). A three-person committee will assign visual appraisal scores. An additional 5 points will be added to a bull’s selection index total if ultrasound body composition scan results are provided.

F. Processing for Sale

1. Bulls are to be delivered to the sale location by 12:00 noon on November 12, 2008 (the day preceding the sale).

2. Weighing - Bulls will be weighed, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on November 12, 2008 (the day preceding the sale).

G. Sale Terms and Conditions

1. The Mississippi BCIA acts as agent only. The contract is between the buyer and seller.

2. All persons who attend this sale do so at their own risk. The owners or sponsors assume no responsibility, legal or otherwise, for any accidents that may occur.

3. All bulls will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder. The auctioneer selling will settle any disputes concerning bids.

4. Terms of the sale are cash.

5. All bulls will have been registered and properly signed transfer papers will be furnished to the buyer.

6. Animals are guaranteed to be without defects, but nothing more. Animals failing to breed after a trial of six months may be returned to the seller, if in good condition. The seller reserves the right to try said animal for six months, and if it proves to be a breeder, to return it to the buyer at the buyer’s expense. If the animal proves to be a non-breeder, a satisfactory exchange will be made or purchase

7. Bulls purchased will be fed and cared for, for 24 hours, without charge. Arrangements for removal from grounds must be made at the conclusion of 24 hours.

H. Sale Cost

The sale cost will include:

1. Fixed Expenses include catalog and advertising. Fixed Expenses are charged to each bull catalogued.

2. Sale Expenses include Auctioneer (prorated), Finance Handling Fee, Ringmen, Breed Association Transfer Fees, 1% BCIA Promotion Fee, and Beef Checkoff. Sale Expenses are charged to each bull that goes through the sale.

3. Annual MBCIA membership dues (if not current). Annual dues are $5 per person.