Describe the Issue or Situation.

The 2022 Census of Agriculture reports that there are over $759 thousand in cattle sales annually in Lawrence County.   However, beef producers in Eastern Kentucky have long faced challenges in selecting bulls that enhance herd productivity and market value. Producers often rely on visual appraisal or word-of-mouth when choosing breeding stock—methods that lack precision and sometimes lead to disappointing results. 

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

The FIVCO ANR agents hosted the two-night Bull Value Assessment Program in Carter County to help producers make more informed decisions about the bulls they purchase.   Agents advertised the program, coordinated the meals, and secured an auctioneer for the second session.  

Several UK M-G CAFE beef extension specialists were on hand for the three-hour session on the first night to discuss breeding soundness exams, bull nutritional management, matching genetics to management, targeting for selected markets, and tools for selection (including EPDs).  

At the conclusion of the first session each producer was assigned one of five scenarios and received a sales catalogue with the charge to research the bulls and determine which ones would be suitable in their assigned scenario. Videos of the bulls were available online.

Two weeks later, participants returned with the responsibility of “buying” a bull to fit their assigned scenario during a “Mock Auction”. A licensed auctioneer “sold” all bulls to the highest bidder. 

Utilizing economic index selection methodology, each bull was assigned a value for each scenario. (With economic indexes a bull that has extremely high value in one scenario may have a much lower value in another scenario that emphasizes other traits or has a different marketing scheme.)

At the conclusion of the sale the beef specialist “sales team” determined the relative value of each sale by comparing the sale price against the determined value of each bull (i.e., if a bull was purchased for $2500 and his computed value was $3500 then that producer had a plus $1000 value; however, if that producer paid $4000 then they had a minus $500 value). The producer with the highest value purchase within each scenario was recognized.

An informal educational program concluded the auction night to discuss which bulls fit each scenario the best. This discussion included common mistakes, missed opportunities and other teachable moments from the auction.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

Thirty-six beef cattle producers from Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Greenup, & Lawrence counties attended the first session and 22 producers attended the mock auction. 

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

When producers were asked on an evaluation at the end of the second night “Do you feel this program will help you with your next bull purchase?” 65% said absolutely and another 30% said likely. 

Two producers reported on their evaluations that this was one of the most beneficial programs that we had offered.  Another producer commented on the Facebook “I've been in the beef cattle business practically all my life and I got a lot of good information from the presentations at this meeting!”

Additionally, one producer told us that he had raised cattle for several decades but that he never understood how to read EPDs.  After attending BVAP he now understands and is looking forward to utilizing this information for his next bull purchase. 

In a follow-up survey sent to all Lawrence County ANR clientele, 36% of the respondents had attended BVAP.   Of the survey respondents that had attended BVAP 75% reported that they had improved herd genetics by crossbreeding and/or utilizing EPDs to meet breeding objectives and had also used reproduction techniques to improve productivity (i.e. perform exams of pelvic area, reproduction tract scores, breeding soundness exam of bull, artificial insemination, pregnancy diagnosis or animal evaluation)