The Cal Poly Bull Test will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at the Cal Poly Beef Center at Escuela Ranch. The Cal Poly Bull Test started in 1956 and was one of the earliest performance bull tests in the country. It was designed to be a proven source of range-ready bulls available for sale to commercial cattle producers, provide valuable management experience for students, and as a service to the beef cattle industry. Sixty-six years later, the Cal Poly program is the only student-run bull test of its kind in the country. This weekend the students hard work will culminate with with the annual sale.

What is the Cal Poly Bull Test?

Each year more than 100 bulls are consigned to the student-run program from all over the country, arriving at Cal Poly’s Bull Test and Beef Center at the Escuela Ranch in May. Using targeted genetic and performance testing, students seek to improve beef cattle herds across the western United States by providing the beef cattle industry with top-notch, performance-ready bulls. The bulls, which are used for breeding, are sold at the auction in October to ranchers throughout the country. Each year, more than 50 Cal Poly students take part in the enterprise course in the spring and fall quarters, doing everything from daily healthy assessments and monthly weight checks to herd management and working with consigners and potential buyers.