The class is limited to the first 32 persons to enroll. One hundred and thirty two bulls were delivered last month in Belle Valley to participate in the 112 day performance test. Since delivery, the bulls have become acclimated to the OBT feed ration and have overcome a few typical health interruptions. All in all, OBT herdsman Kevin Stottsberry says this has been a good doing set of bulls that has adjusted well to feed. Most observers have commented that the overall appearance of the bulls exceeds what has been experienced in recent years.
Visitors are always welcome at the test station to observe and walk through the bulls.
The OBT Committee especially encourages local cattlemen's groups and breed organizations to consider bringing their membership on a field trip to the Belle Valley facility. This week's article will focus understanding specifics related to effective utilization of EPDs. In addition to directly comparing the EPDs of bulls, it is useful to understand where a particular bull ranks in the breed for traits of interest. This will give a general idea as to the genetic merit of the bull compared to all others within the breed. It is important to understand that the average EPD for any trait within a breed is not 0.