UWRF hosts open house for St. Croix Valley Bull Test

The UW-River Falls Department of Animal and Food Science, St. Croix Valley Bull Test and UW-Extension will host an educational program and open house. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the formal program from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, for cow and calf producers at the Dairy Learning Center, on the UWRF Mann Valley Farm, 129 South Glover Road, northwest of River Falls.

The educational program will include an introduction on how to use Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) predictions to select bulls that fit the needs of a cow herd. The session will be conducted by Brian McCulloh of Woodhill Angus, Viroqua. A second session, presented by Amy Radunz, assistant professor of Animal Science, will focus on genetic defects and how they should be managed by commercial cow and calf producers. This past summer another genetic defect, Developmental Duplication (DD), was identified in the Angus breed. The Angus Association is allowing carriers of the DD defect to be registered.

Producers will also be able to preview the bulls available at the upcoming Bull Test Sale set for Saturday, April 26.

There is no charge for the program, but individuals are asked to pre-register by contacting the St. Croix County Extension Office at 715-531-1930. The UWRF Student Beef Management Team will be providing lunch for $6 per person.