Page 11 - MWC 9-10-20s

BULL MANAGEMENT The Midwest Cattleman · September 10, 2020 · P11

By Bob L. Larson, DVM, PhD, Courtesy of KSU Beef Cattle Institute
It is pretty obvious to state able traits, management to pro-
that bulls play a tremendously tect health, breeding soundness
important role on cattle ranch- examination to remove bulls
es. In the first place, obtaining with questionable breeding abil-
a high percentage of cows preg- ity, and appropriate bull-to-cow
nant in a controlled breeding breeding ratios are required to
season requires bulls that are optimize the investment ranch-
fertile and have the ability and ers make in their bulls.
desire to mate cows and heif- According to a USDA sur-
ers that are in heat. It is also continued on page 25
clear that the genetic makeup
of a cowherd has a tremendous
impact on profitability. In order
to ensure that a bull is adding
considerable value to the herd,
he must fit within the herd’s
genetic goals for low production
costs and high demand for the
offspring. The importance of
the bull battery to the genetic
profile of the herd is apparent
when one remembers that this
year’s bulls control 50% of the
genes in the marketable prod-
uct and that in commercial
herds, greater than 90% of the
genetic progress of a herd is via
bull selection. Careful attention
to selection based on predictions
of genetic contribution to desir-

Callaway

Livestock

Center, Inc.

On I-70, 4 miles east of
Kingdom City, MO on outer road

573-642-7486
Feeder Sale

Monday
12:30 p.m.

1st Thursday Night
of Each Month
6:00 p.m.

Special Cow Sale

David Means

573-642-9753

Jack Harrison
573-386-2138
John P. Harrison

573-386-5150