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:

• Reproductive tracts are evaluated and pelvic measurements greater than 160 sq. cm.

• Vaccinated for protection against IBR, PI₃, BVD, BRSV, Vibriosis & Leptospirosis.  

• Boostered for Leptospirosis within 90 days of sale.

• Mineral program approved by the University of KY and the University of TN.

• Dewormed and treated for external parasites within 90 days of sale.

• Heifers are inspected to eliminate shorts, scarred eyes, rat tails and light muscled heifers.

• Bred to calving-ease bulls with known genomic enhanced calving-ease EPDs. 

• Tested for PI BVD and found negative

  
  

  Since its inception, 6189 heifers have been sold in 33 sales for a total gross receipts of $9,812,980.  This represents an overall average price of $1,586.  Over the years, these heifers have sold at a substantial premium over bred heifers in normal weekly auctions and in recent years, the West KY Select Bred Heifer Sales have had the highest sale averages when compared to similar bred heifer sales held in the Commonwealth.  

  But what is probably the best indicator of this program’s success are the results and subsequent loyalty of its buyers over time.  This can be determined by tracking the rate of repeat buyers.  The number of buyers at each of the 33 sales held from 2000-2019 totals 970.  The number of unique buyers over that same time frame totals 405.  This means that nearly half of the buyers at any given sale have been repeat buyers.  An additional impact is the fact that many heifers trade private treaty on area farms based on the results of this sale. 

An integral part of the sustaining success of the West KY Select Bred Heifer Sales is not only the fact that the genetics and management of the Kentucky and Tennessee consignors have improved over the last 19 years, but that they take great pride in offering quality heifers and do whatever it takes to satisfy the buyers.