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Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025


Success StoryWest Kentucky Select Bred Heifer Sale



West Kentucky Select Bred Heifer Sale

Author: Kevin Laurent

Planning Unit: Animal and Food Sciences

Major Program: Beef

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

The West Kentucky Select Bred Heifer Sale held in Guthrie, KY was established by the University of Kentucky Extension in November 2000 as an annual opportunity for progressive cattle producers to purchase quality replacement heifers.  In 2005, the effort was expanded to include the University of Tennessee and Tennessee producers in a cooperative effort.  Starting in May of 2006, an additional sale was added to the calendar to offer fall calving bred heifers.

Heifers are inspected and screened by University of KY and University of TN extension personnel and must meet the following stringent health and physical requirements to be eligible for this sale:

  1. Reproductive tracts are evaluated and pelvic measurements greater than 160 sq. cm.
  2. Vaccinated for protection against IBR, PI3, BVD, BRSV, Vibriosis & Leptospirosis.  
  3. Boostered for Leptospirosis within 90 days of sale.
  4. Mineral program approved by the University of KY and the University of TN.
  5. Dewormed and treated for external parasites within 90 days of sale.
  6. Heifers are inspected to eliminate shorts, scarred eyes, rat tails and light muscled heifers.
  7. Bred to calving-ease bulls with known genomic enhanced calving-ease EPDs. 
  8. Tested for PI BVD and found negative

 Since its inception, 8,582 heifers have been sold in 45 sales for a total gross receipts of $15,430,746. This calculates an average of 191 heifers per sale at an average price of $1,798 selling to 31 buyers.  Detailed results of the two most recent sales can be found in the tables that follow. These two most recent sales exceeded the historical average of past sales in number of head sold, price per head and number of buyers. This indicates that buyer acceptance of heifers sold in the West KY Select Bred Heifer Sales is as strong as ever. In fact, this sale has become a price discovery indicator for valuing bred heifers in the West KY and Middle TN region. Many heifers are sold private treaty and are priced based on the most recent Select Sale.


West KY Select Bred Heifer Sale Results – November 23, 2024

KY-TN Livestock – Guthrie, KY
 Heifers due to calve Jan-April

 

 

 

No. Head

Breed Type

Avg Price

89

Angus cross

3,221

15

Angus

3,207

22

BWF (including 8 F-1 Hereford-Angus) 

3,173

17

Black Gelbvieh-Angus, Balancer type

3,388

24

Black Simm/SimAngus influenced

3,425

14

Red Angus cross

3,314

12

Ultrablacks (Brangus-Angus)

3,263

193

Head/Average

$3,264

 

          Notes: Prices ranged from $2,600 - $3,800 (37 buyers)

                            90 head below the sale average, sold at an average of $3,030.

                            103 head above the sale average, sold at an average of $3,468.

                            44 AI bred heifers averaged $3,424.

                            26 AI sired heifers averaged $3,517.

                            19 AI sired and AI bred averaged $3,550.  



20th Annual West KY Select Bred Heifer Sale Results – May 17, 2025

KY-TN Livestock – Guthrie, KY
 Heifers due to calve Sept-Nov

 

 

 

No. Head

Breed Type

Avg Price

66

Angus cross

3,995

5

Purebred Angus (includes 1 Registered Angus)

3,840

16

Hereford-Angus F-1s 

3,953

15

Black-White Face 

3,873

42

Black Gelbvieh-Angus Balancers (includes 2 SimAngus)

3,893

28

Red Angus cross (includes 4 Red White Face and 2 Red Balancers)

3,827

18

Red Angus Sired – Black hided

3,833

16

Ultrablacks (Brangus-Angus)

3,941

206

Head/Average

$3,917

 

          Notes: Prices ranged from $3,400 - $4,300 (40 buyers)

                            99 head below the sale average, sold at an average of $3,741.

                            107 head above the sale average, sold at an average of $4,079.

                            28 AI bred heifers averaged $3,873.

                            30 AI sired heifers averaged $3,792.

                            20 AI sired and AI bred averaged $3,898.  






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