Attached is the off-test summary for 120 bulls and 14 get-of-sire groups evaluated in the 2008 Summer Test. Bulls were weighed September 22 with the weight shown under the "Off Test" heading giving each bull's (or Get's) off-test weight and age. Bonnie Bradford, Premier Ultrasound, St. Mary's, Ohio, used ultrasound to determine rib eye area, and rib fat, and % intramuscular (IM) fat. Ultrasound measurements were taken such that all could be adjusted to 365 days of age. Most breeds adjust these data to 365 days.

Frame score (FS) is calculated from hip height and age on September 26. Scrotal Circumference (SC), also measured on September 22, is adjusted to 365 days of age. For sale eligibility, minimum SC is 33 cm (13.0 in) for Simmental; 32 cm for Angus and Gelbvieh; and 30 cm (11.8 in) for other breeds. IBEP Performance Index was computed by .6 (ADG Ratio) + .4 (WPDA Ratio) within each breed. If there were less than six bulls of one breed, ADG (4.06) and WPDA (3.37) averages for all 120 bulls were used to determine ratios and Performance Index. Likewise, % Retail Product and % Intramuscular Fat ratios are computed within breed unless there are less than six bulls of a breed. Carcass merit is the average of % Retail Product and % Intramuscular Fat ratios.

All 120 bulls averaged 1,340 lbs at the end of the performance test and gained 4.06 lbs per day while on test.

Congratulations to owners of these high-indexing bulls of their breeds:

Perf. Index	Ear Tag	Breed	%	Owner	City & State
120.6	232	Angus	PB	Betzold Farms/Austin	Nokomis, IL
118.7	246	SimAngus	50	Saxe Farm	Thompsonville, IL
114.3	239	Simmental	PB	Silverstone Simmental Farms	Crawfordsville, IN
100.5	4	Charolais	PB	RoBar Cattle Co.	Springville, IN
98.3	14	Gelbvieh Balancer	50	Kitley Gelbvieh	Flora, IL
87.3	39	Hereford	PB	Hayhurst Farms	Terre Haute, IN

Thanks for the help of many people on September 22 and 25 to weigh, measure, inspect, health test, conduct breeding soundness exams, and freeze brand bulls. Many Extension Educators, bull owners, IBEP Directors, producers, Feldun-Purdue Ag. Center personnel and volunteers assisted. We appreciate your help, interest, and cooperation. We especially appreciate the assistance of Greg Beavers, NorthStar-Select Sires, for providing liquid nitrogen used for freeze branding.

The Inspection Committee disqualified 10 bulls due to structural soundness problems relating to feet and legs. Three bulls were disqualified for disposition. Twelve bulls failed to pass the breeding soundness evaluations, eight for scrotal circumference, two for poor semen quality, one for tagged penis, and one for papilloma. One bull was disqualified because he did not have EPDs for Birth Weight, Weaning Weight, and Maternal Milk.

A total of 63 bulls are catalogued for sale. These include: 49 Angus, 8 SimAngus, 4 Simmental, 1 Charolais, and 1 Gelbvieh Balancer.

We are pleased with the quality of this set of bulls. This group of bulls is among, if not the best, we have had at IBEP for a Summer Test. Congratulations to Austin Betzold, Nokomis, IL for having the top indexing (120.6) bull, Angus #232 sired by MA Freedom 475-492. Other bulls with excellent performance indexes include Angus #98 at 119.0 sired by SAV 8180 Traveler 004 from Top End Angus, Taylorsville, KY; SimAngus #246 at 118.7 sired by ALC Objective-R435 from Saxe Farm, Thompsonville, IL; Angus #226 at 118.6 sired by Grubbs Newsbreak 85 from Grubbs Angus Farm, Hillsboro, IN; Angus #20 at 118.1 sired by GAR Center Pivot of CLA from Von Leer Farm, Santa Monica, CA; and Angus #81 at 117.3 sired by SS Objective T510 0T26 from Powell Farms, Worthington, IN.

Congratulations to Rural Venture Farm, Lawrenceburg, KY, for consigning the top get-of-sire group, Get #11 at 110.5 with Angus bulls #89, 90, 91, and 92 sired by Dalebanks Alliance 0872. Next was Get #2 at 108.9 with Angus bulls #19, 20, and 21 sired by GAR Center Pivot of CLA from Von Leer Farm. Next was Get #13 at 106.8 with Angus bulls #231, 232, and 233 sired by MA Freedom 475-492 from Betzold Farms and Austin Betzold, Nokomis, IL. Not far behind, was get #10 at 104.8 with Angus bulls #80, 81, 83, and 84 sired by SS Objective T510 0T26 from Powell Farms.

Sale catalogs should be available at the test station by October 10. Bulls will be penned by 11:00 a.m. at the Springville Feeder Auction on sale day. We need volunteers to bring trailers at 9:00 a.m. to transport bulls from the test station to Springville. Also, help is needed from bull owners during the sale. Buyers must remove bulls at Springville on sale day, or at the IBEP Test Station by 12 Noon, Monday, October 20. Sale day phone is (812) 279-1282.