Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/53509
4A Daily News – Wednesday, January 25, 2012 BULL & GELDING RED BLUFF Sifting and Grading By JULIE ZEEB Numbers up for 2012 Bull Sale DN Staff Writer While bulls have been arriving for the past several days, the bull sale officially kicked off Tuesday with sifting starting at 10:30 a.m. of the calving ease and range ready bulls. "We have about 384 bulls checked in so far and ready to begin sifting today," said Bull Sale Manager Adam Owens early Tuesday. "We have 460 bulls con- See SALE, page 5A Trade Show opens today By TANG LOR DN Staff Writer Hundreds of bulls will be sold Saturday but before they can even make it to the auction they must pass a rigorous sift- ing and grading test to ensure only the best bulls are sold. The quality control test takes place all the way up until a bull is sold. The first round of formal sift- ing and grading started Tuesday. During the sifting process a committee of no fewer than three people examine all physical aspects of a bull. Bulls are brought into a pen one at a time as the committee observe their gait and other features, making sure there are no defects. A bull can be out of the running by having a lame leg or a disabled back, as was the case with at least two bulls on Tuesday afternoon. Danny Chaves of Char- ron Ranch in Paicines brought six black Angus bulls to sell. Three had passed the test Tuesday morning and he was still waiting for the other three to go through the process. He doesn't go to any other bull sale but this one because it has a reputation for having good bulls, he said. "This is the top of the line bull sale," Chaves said. "The way they sift, they take nothing but the best." After passing the sift- ing test, bulls were taken indoors where they were graded. The highest score is a 92. A bull must score an 87 or higher for a chance at the auction. Bulls are graded on See SIFT, page 5A Deworming and parasites over breakfast at kickoff By JULIE ZEEB DN Staff Writer Several consignors and community members showed up for the 71st annual Bull & Gelding Sale Kickoff Breakfast Tuesday in the Don Smith Pavilion. Merck Animal Health Technical Services Man- ager Eric Moore, DVM, and local Merck represen- tatives Janessa Parker and Jeff Gates gave a talk on new and easy ways to deworm. "It could be the best dewormer in the world, but if it's used at the wrong time it's a waste of time and money," Moore said. Moore talked about production robbers, specifically parasites, that are growth limiters and cost people when not dealt with properly. "Growth limiters are like taxes," Moore said. "You know you have it, but you don't know how much." Growth limiters NORTH VALLEY Courtesy photo MATTRESS 20% off Entire Inventory 632 Main St., Red Bluff 527-5837 Several early risers who wandered down to the Don Smith Pavilion are rewarded with a pancake and eggs breakfast cooked by Vic Woolery Tues- day at the Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale Kickoff. include low milk produc- tion, respiratory disease, pink eye and parasites, both internal and external, he said. Internal parasites have been known to cause a 0.1-0.3 of a pound lost in average daily gain for weight and external para- sites can cause between a 0.1 and 0.25, Moore said. "The cost of a parasite is that it impairs immune function, can reduce feed intake, reduce daily gain, carcass weight and prof- See KICKOFF, page 5A SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Invitational FFA Calf Scramble Red Bluff Chamber of Commerce Cow Pie Classic Ranch Hand Saddle Bronc Riding Bull Riding Dance to the Country Western Star Chris Gardner & The Chris Gardner Band TICKET OUTLETS Red Bluff: Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale Office - Antelope Blvd., Pauline Davis Pavilion (January 24-28, 2012) Anderson: Boot Barn - Factory Outlets Chico: Boot Barn - Esplanade Los Molinos: Mill Creek Restaurant BUY EARLY SELLS OUT Exclusively featuring Kish Bucking Bulls JANUARY 28, 2012 GATES OPEN @ 5PM – RODEO @ 7PM Tehama District Fairgrounds, Pauline Davis Pavilion Held in conjunction with Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE @ WWW.REDBLUFFBULLSALE.COM This ad co-sponsored by D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY