Page 7 - MWC 10-21-2021s

BULL CARE BETWEEN The Midwest Cattleman · October 21, 2021 · P7

BREEDING SEASONS

K-State experts discuss health considerations for herds calving in spring and fall

While many beef produc- herds that calve in the fall cattle as two
ers only calve once per year, and spring, that is twice per subgroups
there are some who maintain year,” he said. of the same
both a fall and spring calv- The other consideration for herd, that is
ing system with the same set producers to watch relates to different from
of bulls. And with this herd the herd biosecurity, said vet- a biosecurity
management plan, special erinarian Brian Lubbers. continued on
care needs to be given to the “If you are managing the page 12
bulls, said veterinarians with
the Beef Cattle Institute at
Kansas State University.
“In large operations that
follow both a spring and fall
calving season, the cost per
pregnancy is reduced if they
use the same set of bulls for
both breeding seasons,” said
K-State veterinarian Bob
Larson on a recent Cattle
Chat podcast.
Between breeding seasons
is the right time to make
sure the bulls are ready to go
again, said the veterinarians.
“After coming off a breed-
ing season, he’s probably lost
body condition,” Larson said.
BCI director and veteri-
narian Brad White added:
“The more time you have be-
tween the breeding seasons,
the easier it is to change the
body condition of the bulls.”
Nutritionally speaking,
BCI beef cattle nutritionist
Phillip Lancaster said it is
important for producers to
be aware of their grasses for
those bulls that are being
maintained on pastures.
For bulls out on cool season
grasses, those are starting to
grow again and can provide
good nutrition said Lancast-
er, but for bulls grazing on
warm season grasses, sup-
plementation may be needed.
“This time of year, pro-
ducers may need to offer the
bulls a protein supplement
and possibly some additional
hay depending on how much
forage is still in the pasture,”
Lancaster said.
Along with body condition,
bulls also need a thorough
conformation examination
and semen quality test as
part of a routine breeding
soundness exam, according
to Larson.
“The breeding soundness
exam needs to be done once
per breeding season. So, for