• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

Trich Testing Change Marketing Patterns for Bull Sellers....

A

Anonymous

Guest
I was talking to an old friend that is a longtime Hereford breeder- sells his bulls as 2 year olds private treaty....

But he was in a stew- with Montana's new Trich testing rules most of his bulls no longer qualify under the virgin bull exemption (requires the bulls be under 24 months and never have been used for breeding)-- so in order to sell them he needs to have them tested...Which I don't believe any of the local vets are set up to do- and which my vet said he thought could run about $400- $500 a bull-( 3 tests 7 days apart with quarantine in between)... I've heard that the Dept of Livestock is considering only one test if all bulls on the place are tested at the same time- but have not seen the rule yet...

And he said Wyomings rule was just as tough or tougher- said he thought all bulls entering or leaving the state (except to slaughter) had to be tested there....

Anyway- I was wondering if this will change the marketing programs for bulls for any of the bull people- especially the Hereford folks that normally sell a lot of bulls that could be over that 24 month date....
Even some of the fall calving programs that winter the bulls for folks could have to deliver bulls prior to the bulls 24 month birthdate or do testing....
 

Doug Thorson

Well-known member
SD's first year of major trich outbreak was what got me started thinking about selling bulls. I wanted to sell 2 year old bulls a guy could really use hard but things didn't work out that way (cash flow) so i am trying to peddle them as yearlings.
I thought most people who sold 2's had their sale before calving started though?
Leave it to any goverment to throw common sense out the window and make a rule just to be making a rule.
 

Denny

Well-known member
I've bought 2 year old bulls before they were May/June born calves and were bought at a sale in Febuary so they were about 22 months of age at sale day.

The way these modern genetics grow I would just lean towards calveing earlier and selling yearling's.

Stevenson/Basin sells their bull's in the 18 to 20 month age so why not just have an earlier sale like they do.
 
Top