Page 7 - MWC 8-25-2022s

Preparing bulls for the fall
Preparing bulls for the fall The Midwest Cattleman · August 25, 2022 · P7

breeding season
breeding season

By John B. Hall, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist, University of Idaho

Fall calving continues to nutrient analysis can help you Exercise
increase in the U.S. Approx- decide if supplementation is Putting
imately 30% of the herds in needed. Stored forages, total bulls in large
the U.S. are calving in the fall. mixed rations (TMRs) or sup- pastures with
Depending on where you are plementation of crop residues water and min-
in the country, calving could may be needed in colder cli- eral at differ-
start in late August, mid-Oc- mates. Plan for pasture short- ent ends of the
tober or anywhere in between. ages or cold weather. Your pasture can en-
That means bulls will need extension professional or con- courage them
to be turned out with the sulting nutritionist can assist to travel more.
cows 60 to 80 days after the you with developing a supple- continued on
start of calving season (late mentation program. page 22
fall to early winter). Bulls in
fall-calving herds may need
slightly different management
than bulls for spring calvers. SOARING EAGLE OF THE OZARKS
Body condition and
nutrition
Bulls should be body condi-
rd
tion scored (BCS; 1 = emaci- 3 Annual We are offering:
ated to 9 = obese) in August, 18 MONTH 2 YEAR
regardless of when the breed- FALL BULL SALE 45 OLD BULLS 10 OLD BULLS
ing season starts. This timing
allows for managers to alter SATURDAY | OCTOBER 1, 2022 | 1 PM AI BRED COMMERCIAL HEIFERS COMMERCIAL
body condition if needed. Ex- Springfield, MO. at the SEO Sale Facility 35 DUE LATE OCTOBER 30 FALL PAIRS
amination of bulls by a Cana-
dian veterinary clinic demon-
strated that optimum BCS for ALL BULLS ARE PROMOGEN TESTED
bulls is 4 to 6 (Figure 1).
Bulls can suffer from being
too thin or too fat. Fat bulls SEO Promogen Score:
(BCS 7 or greater) have re- ULTRA PROVIDER 4.5 Selling 12 sons
duced fertility due to impaired REG #: *19495995
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Bulls for fall calving usu-
ally are carrying more condi-
tion than needed due to good #1 $B Sire
summer forage. These bulls in the Angus Breed
need to lose weight, primarily
through exercise.
In contrast, due to drought
this year, some bulls may need SEO GVC
THUNDER
SEO GVC
additional nutrition. Also, THUNDER
bulls that are used in both REG #: 20095926
spring- and fall-calving herds
will usually need to recov-
er body condition before the
fall breeding season. It takes
about 100 pounds of gain to
increase each BCS. Depending
on the diet fed to bulls, it may
take 30 to 60 days to gain a Selling as Lot 1
BCS.
Young bulls (15 to 20
months) need to continue to
gain 1.5 pounds per day to
maintain normal growth. Nu-
trient requirements in bull
diets are illustrated in Table Marketing powered by Soaring Eagle
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In temperate areas of the Joel Judge & Kourtney Judge Dr. Jeff Gower
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or keep young bulls growing.
Taking a pasture sample for