The NABEC was started in 1972 by Lauderdale County Agent, Mr. Charles Burns, Extension Animal Scientist, Richard Deese and Lauderdale County cattleman Mr. Emory Behel.  Located on Behel Stock Farm, Greenhill, Alabama, NABEC was then called the North Alabama BCIA Bull Test Station.  The station tested October – February-born bulls that were sold on the farm each year in March.

In 1991, the station was moved to a new facility on Donaldson Farms in Cullman County and the name was changed to the North Alabama Bull Evaluation Center.  Bulls are fed and managed in outside paddocks located on steep inclines making for better physical condition at sale time.  NABEC has gained a reputation of developing sound, hardened yearlings.

Since 1991, more than 800 bulls have been evaluated and sold at annual sales held at the Cullman Livestock Auction. Sales usually average from $1,700 to $2,000.  Prices have ranged from $700 in earlier days to $25,500 for the highest selling bull ever offered at NABEC.

NABEC is owned and managed by Tim and Stephen Donaldson, both Auburn University Animal Science graduates.  Extension Animal Scientist, Butch Blaylock supervises the evaluation, data collection and sale of the bulls.

A BCIA performance-documented heifer sale was added to the sale in 2001.  Limestone County Agent, Gerry Thompson assisted with the data analysis and selection of 45 top-end heifers from BCIA enrolled herds from Lauderdale, Limestone and Morgan Counties.  The excellent offering was sold in five-head groups and averaged $775.76 per head.