The USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), intends to negotiate solely with Lovers Lane Farms in Moorefield, West Virginia, to furnish and deliver 34 beef steers, FOB destination to the USDA, ARS, Appalachian Farming Systems Research Center in Beaver, Raleigh County, West Virginia. Pending availability of funds, the contract shall cover one base year and three option years. Steers must be source-verified (from a single source/farm and not comingled with other cattle, with a record of known sires, known birth dates, and known vaccination schedule); not implanted with growth-promoting hormones; average body weight not less than 675 pounds and not more than 750 pounds; medium-1 frame size and muscling score (based on U.S. Standards for Grades of Feeder Cattle); of like genetics (Angus breeding); castrate males (no stags); castrated between birth and six months of age and healed; naturally/genetically polled; of calm and tractable nature; from similar managements, similar winter plane of nutrition, similar backgrounding, similar vaccinations (IBR, P13, 7-way, etc.); vaccinations/injections must be given in accordance with BQA (Beef Quality Assurance) guidelines. Animals are required to have the following vaccinations prior to weaning and boostered in accordance with Quality Assurance Cattle Health Program protocols: BVD (bovine viral diarrhea); IBR (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis); PI3 (para-influenza 3); Pasturella vaccine; 7-way Clostridial (Clostridium chauvoei, Cl. Septicum, Cl. Noryi, Cl. Sordellii, Cl. Perfringens types C and D) (to include but not limited to blackleg, malignant edema, overeting disease); Haemophilis somnus (shipping fever); BRSV (bovine respiratory syncytial virus); Lepto 5; and Moraxella bovis (pinkeye). Animals are to be healthy with no overt signs of disease and free of injury, active lameness, respiratory disease, warts, pinkeye and ringworm upon delivery. The Contractor shall be required to dispose of and replace the quantities for any nonconforming animals within 7-10 days after the animal is returned. The Contractor shall be responsible for weighing the animals on certified scales, tested by appropriate authority. The animals will be used in a pasture-based finishing research project to evaluate nutrient-use efficiency in beef steers. The Animal Welfare Act is applicable.

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