Page 27 - MWC 02-04-2021s

MAINTAINING wet snow that lead to wet hair
continued from page 9 coats on bulls. Wet hair, like wet
clothing, cannot insulate effec-
performance. Some important tively. Providing protection from
minerals to consider include, se- wind and cold temperatures can
lenium (Se), which plays a key help bulls maintain body condi-
role in spermatogenesis, as well tion rather than using provided
as zinc (Zn), which also plays a nutrition to maintain body tem-
role in male fertility, and is crit- peratures.
ical for sperm cell plasma mem- Preparing for Next Breeding
brane integrity. In addition, io- Season
dine (I) can be added to alleviate Following winter, it will be
any foot rot issues. As you devel- important to make sure we
op rations, including a quality think about scheduling a breed-
vitamin and mineral source will ing soundness exam (BSE) at
be important to consider. least 60 days prior to the start
Cold Weather Management of the breeding season. If there
With cold weather approach- has been an insult (i.e., frostbite)
ing, ensuring that our bulls have occurring between the end of
appropriate housing/shelter, last year’s breeding season and
bedding, and feed to progress the start of the next, it will take
through the winter will be key at least 60 days to recover and
for future success in the spring. make new sperm. The 60-day
Bulls need appropriate housing benchmark gives bulls time to
to provide protection during se- recover and be rechecked (usual-
vere cold weather, which can ly 2 to 4 weeks later). This will
lead to fertility problems. also guarantee that he won’t
Tissue damage due to frost- be impacting the next breeding
bite will appear as a scab, dis- season and gives you time to
coloration, and/or sloughing of find another bull.”
the lower portion of the scrotum. Final Thoughts
Scrotal frostbite will hinder the Because weather insults and
bull’s ability to raise or lower the injuries can all impact a bull’s
testicles for proper thermoregu- ability to breed cows, planning
lation, which ultimately will af- to schedule a breeding sound-
fect sperm production and result ness exam before each breed-
in reduced fertility. Frostbite ing season is important. Pro-
can be prevented by providing viding protection and adequate
heavy bedding (i.e., straw), a bedding for bulls during cold
shelter, or windbreak for bulls to weather will ensure scrotums
get out of the weather. Bedding are protected and help maintain
is important to help mitigate body condition over the winter.
the cold by providing insulation Maintaining weight or gaining
from the frozen ground or snow the weight back that bulls lost
and keeps cattle clean. Storms over the breeding season will be
with bitter cold temperatures important to manage during the
and wind are an obvious time winter.
of weather stress. Perhaps less
obvious as a cause of weather University of Nebraska-
stress are the moderately cold, Lincoln
windy storms with rain, ice or

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