GDC: Test Times
• Summer Test • Fall Test
Eligible Age Range
Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec born calves
June 8-10 Receive cattle
21 day Warm up
July 1 Start Growsafe
(70 days)
September 9 End Growsafe
(42 days)
October 21 End test
(133 days)
Eligible Age Range
Dec, Jan, Feb, March born calves
October 9-11 Receive cattle
21 day Warm up
November 1 Start Growsafe
(70 days)
January 10 End Growsafe
(42 days)
February 21 End test
(133 days)
GDC Test Features
• Features– 80 GrowSafe feed bunks divided across 20 pens
– 10 regular gain test pens with concrete feed bunks
– All pens are 200’ x 60’ with 32 head/pen 375 ft2/head
– Water, feed, and shade design dictate animal movement
– Custom Temple Grandin designed working facility
– 640 head one-time capacity; capable of over 1280 head/year
– 112-day gain test with 21 day diet adaptation period
– Cattle processed into contemporary groups based on breed, age and weight
– Carcass ultrasound, Breeding Soundness Exam, and Yearling Measurements provided during test
– On call veterinarian and nutritionist
– Custom designed rations mixed at privately owned mill
– Bulls with horns 6” and less can be efficiency tested
Feed• A steamed flake corn, corn silage, roughage
pellet, cottonseed hull and protein premix based complete ration targeting 3.5 lb/day gain for bulls and 2.0 lb/day gain for heifers will be fed free choice according to nutritionist and GrowSafe guidelines.
GDC Feed Cost Breakdown
Price• The total All-Inclusive fee for the full
133 days is $865 per bull and $850 per heifer. This includes Feed costs, GrowSafe feed efficiency data, carcass ultrasound, yearling measurements, Breeding soundness exams, progress reports, entry vaccinations, tagging, weighing, etc.
• An initial down payment of $50 per head is due two weeks prior to arrival. Contract and field shield due upon arrival. Four equal installments will be billed monthly dividing the remainder of the cost up.
• Veterinary expenses will be charged as occurring.
• **Pricing subject to change given commodity price fluctuation**
What GDC has to Offer
• Clean, comfortable and efficient test facility• Most advanced development center in the
world• Competitive price
– Low cost of gain; exclusive Growsafe data
• Individual animal performance data reports• Professional staff taking care of animals 7
days a week• Data you can use to market animals and
improve your herd• On call veterinarian and nutritionist• Beautiful facility to host sale• Eliminates labor and increases stocking rate
at the ranch• Clear communication from GDC staff to
Producer• Preferred rate for bull stud sexed and
convention semen and ET/IVF lab work at Sexing Technologies
Hassle Free Bull Development
The GDC can be your one stop for your bull to be:
Performance tested
Developed to sale condition
Carcass ultra sounded
Fertility tested
DNA tested
Clipped and videoed
Receive free promotion via GDC performance awards and website
Exposed to an international customer base
Dispersed at a potential all breed sale
In the meantime you can reduce your labor, rest your pastures and have peace of mind your animals
are in good hands.
LESS WITH MORE.
Feed:gain ratio:
Traditional trait
Actual feed intake per unit gain
Selection for feed:gainwill: Increase genetic merit
for growth Increase cow mature
size Increase feed costs to
maintain the cow herd
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
1 2 3 4 5 6
ADG, lb/d
Feed:gain ratio .
Post-weaning feed
efficiencyFeed:gain ratio
Post-weaning feed
efficiencyResidual feed intake (RFI)
RFI quantifies variation in feed intake that is unrelated to BWand ADG in growing cattle
RFI equals actual dry matter (DM) intake minus expected DMI based on mid-test BW0.75 and ADG
Efficient animals consume less feed than expected for a given BW and growth rate
RFI is moderately heritable
RFI is positively correlated with DM intake (0.60 to 0.70) but is not with postweaning daily gain or body weight
Traits DMI F:G RFI
Favorable
ADG 0.49 -0.71 0.00
DM intake - 0.13 0.63
F:G ratio - 0.42
RFI -
Post-weaning feed
efficiency traits
Correlations with performance traits
Data collected from Midland Bull Test (Montana)
5,052 bulls
Intake collected for 70 days with GrowSafe system
F:G ratio and RFI computed for all bulls
-3.0
-2.0
-1.0
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
RFI
, kg
/day
Daily gain, kg/day
Low FPI (< 95)
Medium FPI (95-105)
High FPI (> 105)
635 Bulls
Multiple-trait selection
index for bulls
Profit Index for
feedlot progeny
FPI = 93
FPI = 125
FPI = 73
Average index value = 100
GDC Staff
• James Maddox
– 979.587.5880
• Seth Hirst
– 979.393.3210