Ranchers’ Choice 13th Annual Bull Sale – S & V Livestock
Date: Mar. 29, 2014
Location: Gordon Livestock Market, Gordon, Neb.
Auctioneer: Seth Weishaar
Reported by: Dan Piroutek
Averages: 33 ylg bulls – $3,825
The 13th annual Ranchers Choice Angus Bull Sale was held on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in western Nebraska. S & V Livestock is owned by Don and Mary Vannatta, along with herdsman, Matt Peters. Don Vannatta has been on all sides of the cattle business, from buying fed cattle and feeder cattle, to building this good herd of Angus cattle.
This was a very well-grown set of bulls, averaging just under 1,300 lb. on sale day. The bulls possessed a lot of size and growth, along with excellent carcass numbers.
The two featured sires are both resident herd bulls in the S & V Livestock herd. They are HA Thick 1670 and GDAR CJD Justice 1717.
The performance numbers for these bulls were reached without creep feed. All of the bulls were semen checked ahead of the sale, and they were backed by a first year breeding guarantee.
The “top selling bull of the day” honors were shared by two bulls, Lot 7 and Lot 16, each at $6,500. The Lot 16 bull was SV Justice 3091, a son of GDAR CJD Justice 1717 and out of a daughter of SAV Adapter 2213. He had EPDs of BW -0.8, WW 63, YW 108, MILK 25, MARB 0.40, and REA 0.35. With a 72 lb. birth weight, he weaned at 723 lb. to ratio 111. He posted a yearling weight of 1,269 lb. to ratio 107.
Lot 7, also at $6,500, was another son of GDAR CJD Justice 1717. Out of a daughter of E & B Dominett 814, he hit the ground at 83 lb., and then grew to a weaning weight of 650 lb. and a yearling weight of 1,239 lb. His EPDs were BW 0.3, WW 50, YW 98, MILK 26, and MARB 0.31. He had a 41 cm. scrotal measurement and a 13.1 sq. in. rib eye.
Shorty Campbell, Hemingford, Neb., bought Lot 1 at $5,500. He was a son of GDAR Justice and out of a daughter of HA New Design 4535. With EPDs of BW 1.7, WW 58, YW 104, MILK 33, MARB 0.44, and REA 0.21, he was born at 90 lb. He grew to a weaning weight of 766 lb. to ratio 117. He had a yearling weight of 1,360 lb. to ratio 115. His carcass numbers included an IMF of 4.98 percent and a rib eye area of 13.6 sq. in.
Lot 2 sold to Keith Milliken, Rushville, Neb., for $5,500. This bull was sired by HA Thick 1670, and out of a daughter of HA Rainmaker 4444. He had EPDs of BW 4.1, WW 59, YW 103, and MILK 24. He weaned at 695 lb. and had a yearling weight of 1,298 lb.
Jim and Sandy Abbott, Hay Springs, Neb., selected a bull sired by SR Higher Up 0073, going back to Sitz Upward 307R. At $5,250, the Lot 3 bull was out of a daughter of HA Future Direction 6672 and was born at 85 lb. He weaned at 693 lb. and reached a yearling weight of 1,303 lb.
Lot 15 brought $5,250 from Colby Lacompte, Winner, S.D. He was sired by GDAR Justice and was out of the cow, Dixie Erica of SV 869, who is a Pathfinder. He had a birth weight EPD of -0.5 and a birth weight of 86 lb. His IMF was 5.39 percent to ratio 128.
Since this is the first time I had seen this set of bulls, I have to say I was very impressed by their size and growth. I’m very confident they will sire outstanding calves.
