TX Helping East Texas cattle producers determine the genetic potential of their bulls can be a very difficult assignment. But Kilgore College has taken the responsibility seriously since its bull test center was founded in 1973 on the college farm near Overton. Initiated by Wayne Lacy, the college's first agricultural instructor, the KC Bull Test Center attracted attention from near and far as one of the first such tests in the region. The test, which can accommodate up to 100 bulls, is used to help determine an animal's potential for genetics in passing weight gain efficiency to its offspring.
Animals learn to develop a more competitive attitude in securing their nutrition.
Some bulls which have attended such tests have been known to be less aggressive at fence row encounters with neighboring bulls. We try to maintain a manageable number between 30 and 80 bulls so we can serve the producers better. Young says the college operates two evaluation periods per year. The first runs from August through December for fall-born calves. The second, for spring-born calves, is October through March.