Beef Improvement Ontario :: Bull Evaluation Requirements

All bull and heifer calves must have data submitted to BIO's Genetic Evaluations: Herd Recording Service or HERD-LINK. Note that:

	This service provides complete Genetic Evaluations on cows and calves. These complete evaluations* will then appear on the bull and heifer reports. (some conditions apply);
	If you need a Herd Recording Start-Up Kit, call the office at 519-767-2665 ext. 311 or ext. 306; the kit also available on-line.
	If no data is submitted to BIO's Genetic Evaluation Services, then the bull or heifer will be regarded as UNOFFICIAL. Unofficial bulls/heifers appear last on the report and will not receive genetic evaluations, Prime Plus/Beef Builder or certificates. Unofficial calves will be changed to official, once full and complete information is submitted and processed by BIO.
	When to submit records? Why not use the genetic evaluations to determine which calves move on to consignment centres? Simply submit your calving worksheets, complete with National ID tag numbers, the day after the last calf was born in your usual calving season. These records will be processed and the BIO's Herd Save and CCIA age verification databases updated. Then at weighing time, you have less reporting to do; just send your weights that night! Now, you can use the weaning report with complete genetic evaluations to make the final choice on which calves go to the evaluation centres.
	When to Weigh? A Jan 1st born calf is 200 days old on Jul 20th and 250 days old on Sept 8th. Remember, the age range cannot be more than 90 days from the oldest to the youngest calf within the management group.

Vaccination Protocol and Reserving Space:

	Check the Consignment Centre Listing to ensure that the calf's birthdate fits the age range for the centre you want.
	Call the Centre Manager: 1) to reserve space and 2) for details on the specific terms and conditions, fees and pricing information, vaccination requirements for their particular centre and
	Vaccination requirements are at the sole discretion of the Centre Manager. Calves need to be vaccinated according to the Centre Manager's protocol.

Getting your Calves Ready and Requirements:

	These include giving the complete vaccinations for the centre, weaning, dehorning and tattooing - tattoos must be legible and are the client's responsibility. Check to ensure bull calf have two normal testicles.
	Calves need to be weaned four weeks before the delivery date.
	For the Delivery Date, calf need to weigh at least 500 lbs, be in good health and be properly dehorned and healed.

Taking your Calves to the Centre:

The BEP/HDP Client Consent Form has to be completed with your vaccinations and the calves' tattoos. Call the office if you need this form mailed to you, otherwise click on the link to access the form. This form needs to be completed by you and sent with the calves on Delivery Day and given to the Centre Manager. Each calf that you are taking to that centre must be listed in the Tattoo Section of the form. Use one form per centre. The Centre Manager will use this form to verify vaccinations and record the delivery weights and BIO tag numbers. This form is the reference that the office will use to link your calves from your herd to the evaluation reports.

Arrange trucking to deliver your calves to the Centre and calves need to be delivered on the scheduled delivery day.

Fees:

	Bull and Heifer Evaluation Service and Ultrasound Fees are the responsibility of the Centre Manager and are payable to the Centre Manager.
	BIO's Herd Recording and HERD-LINK Service Fees are payable to BIO.
	These fees also include the submission of your birth records (with RFID) to BIO's Herd Save and CCIA age verification databases.
	Poorly completed calving worksheets and/or cow worksheets will be subject to an additional fee.

The Centre Manager shall be entitled in emergency situations as determined by the Centre Manager to retain veterinary services, including the right to have an animal destroyed if in "extreme suffering".

Bull and Heifer Health/Insurance is the sole responsibility of the client. BIO will not be responsible for any damages or losses, however incurred. Clients are advised to obtain the appropriate insurance coverage prior to the entry of the calves into the centre.

Release of Information - Information about the bulls and heifers, their measurements, the evaluations, client name and phone number will be published on reports and the internet for promotional purposes. You should notify BIO in writing within 14 days of the bull and heifer delivery if you do not want BIO to release information including, but not limited to the publishing on the internet.

Late Submission of Data Policy - No changes or additions to information on Bull Evaluation or Heifer Development Reports will be accepted after the scheduled end-of-test date. No groups will be re-evaluated after the end-of-test report has been generated.

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