One of the traditional highlights during the Gelbvieh activities at the National Western Stock Show is the Gelbvieh and Balancer® Pen show. This year’s show saw 15 pens exhibited on Sunday, January 12, 2014. Donnie Robertson of Yukon, Okla., judged the pen bull show.

Judd Ranch, Inc., of Pomona, Kan., exhibited the grand champion and reserve champion pen of three Gelbvieh bulls. The champion pen included two February- and one January-born bulls. They combined for an average weight of 1,163 pounds with an average weight per day of age of 3.51. All pen bulls were ultrasound scanned at check-in time. This champion pen had average actual scan data of 14.93 ribeye area, 3.03 %IMF, and 0.25 back fat.

The reserve pen of three Gelbvieh bulls were August-born and had an average weight of 1,558 pounds, posting an average weight per day of age of 3.03 pounds per day. Their ultrasound scan data was as follows: 16.04 ribeye area, 3.13 %IMF, and 0.26 back fat.

Judd Ranch also exhibited the grand champion pen of five Gelbvieh bulls. The January- and February- born pen had an average weight of 1,225 pounds with a 3.57 average weight per day of age. They also combined for very impressive ultrasound scan data, averaging 16.22 ribeye area, 3.20 %IMF, and 0.29 back fat.

In the Balancer pen show, Judd Ranch struck again claiming champion pen of three Balancer bulls. These January-born bulls had an average weight of 1,242 with a 3.54 weight per day of age on show day. Their average actual ultrasound data was as follows: 16.73 ribeye, 3.57 %IMF, and 0.57 back fat.

The reserve champion pen of three Balancer bulls was exhibited by Warner Beef Genetics, Beaver City, Neb. Their pen of January- and February-born bulls weighed 1,128 pounds posting a weight per day of age of 3.33 pounds per day. The three bulls combined for the following ultrasound data: 14.94 ribeye area, 3.29 %IMF, and 0.26 back fat.

Bar Arrow Cattle Company of Phillipsburg, Kan., claimed the grand champion pen of five Balancer bulls. All March-born bulls, they pressed the scales down at an average of 1,130 pounds for a 3.66 weight per day of age. The pen also posted equally impressive average actual ultrasound scan data of 16.65 ribeye area, 3.57 %IMF, and 0.32 back fat.

The reserve champion pen of five Balancer bulls was exhibited by Judd Ranch. This pen of January- and February-born bulls combined to weigh 1,174 pounds, giving them a weight per day of age of 3.40 pounds per day. The pen’s ultrasound data was as follows: 15.45 ribeye area, 3.23 %IMF, and 0.25 back fat.