With 38,000 cattle producers in Kentucky and nearly 70,000 head of beef cattle in Madison County, reproductive management and efficiency is economically important to our region. Opportunity for profit is dependent heavily on reproductive success of the Cow/Calf producer. Breeding bulls provide 50 percent of the genetics in any given herd and thus have a great impact on the type and kind of calves produced as well as influencing maternal qualities in heifers that will be kept for replacements in the herd. 

Funded by the Kentucky Ag Development Board, in late winter of 2020, the UK Beef IRM group and several ANR agents in District 4 and two from District 2 teamed up to offer a Bull Valuation Program at the Madison County Extension Office. The Madison County ANR agent coordinated the advertisement, payment, materials and meals for each session. This program contained two parts and both were in a classroom setting. In the first session, UK Extension Beef Specialist taught attendees about bull genetics expected progeny differences (EPD’s), breeding soundness exams, health and nutrition. A mock auction with a live auctioneer concluded the program in the second session with several production scenarios given to participants to study beforehand. Producers learned about how to purchase the best bull for their herd and marketing system while considering cost and return on investment.

Surveys indicated that participants spent between 30 minutes and 2 hours studying bull buying scenarios prior to the auction utilizing skills they learned in the first session. All thought that this program absolutely or likely helped them with their next bull purchase and benefitted from the mock auction and following evaluation/discussion. One producer commented "before you purchase your next bull, you need to attend University of Kentucky's Bull Value Assessment Program". Another said it was one of the best classes they ever attended.