Page 26 - MWC 9-10-20s

BULL MANAGEMENT due to injury, illness, or low li-
continued from page 25
multiple bulls). Young bulls
should be exposed to fewer cows
than mature bulls. For bulls less
than three years of age, a com-
monly used rule of thumb is that
a bull can successfully breed as
many cows as his age in months
(e.g. a 15-month-old bull should
be exposed to no more than 15
cows). The number of bulls re-
quired to adequat ely cover the
breeding females is related to
many factors. Environmental
factors include terrain, carrying
capacity of the pasture, and pas- severely cold or hot weather – teoarthritis, osteoarthrosis, and
ture size. Bull factors include
age, condition, fertility, and so- porary fertility problems. In
cial status. Social dominance of
bulls is important to consider in
multiple-sire breeding pastures.
Several studies have shown
that the most dominant one or
two bulls in multi-sire pastures
end up breeding a majority of
the cows.
Although a high ratio of cows
to bulls helps to reduce bull
costs, it also exposes the herd to
poor reproductive performance
risk if the bulls fail to maintain
good semen quality and quan-
tity, or if bulls have reduced
desire or ability to mate cows
bido. Close observation of bulls
during the breeding season is duced testicular development stress. At the same time, bulls
required in order to be assured early in life. Research has shown should not be over-conditioned.
that the bulls are getting cows that bulls fed medium-energy If bulls are too fat, physical ac-
bred. Injuries to bulls during diets from weaning to two years tivity is reduced and excessive
the breeding season are rela-
tively common. When a bull
does become lame or incapable
of breeding because of an inju-
ry to his reproductive tract, he
needs to be removed from the
breeding pasture and replaced
by another bull.
Bulls need appropriate hous-
ing to provide protection during
both of which can lead to tem- polyarthritis.
addition, bulls should be main-
tained in good body condition
throughout the year, becoming
neither excessively thin nor fat.
When developing bulls from
weaning until they are turned
out for their first breeding sea- son period because during the their ability to get a lot of cows
son, their diet should allow
them to express full growth po-
tential without becoming over-
ly heavy. Restricting energy,
protein, vitamins, or minerals
at any time between birth and
maturity can delay the onset
of puberty of young bulls and cate feeding and water areas as to protect them from injury risk.
possibly reduce lifetime daily far apart as possible to encour- In addition, bull fertility and
The Midwest Cattleman · September 10, 2020 · P26
sperm output because of re- ty does not cause physiologic
of age had greater reserves of weight loss during the breeding
sperm cells and higher quality season can occur. If bulls are in
semen than bulls developed on good body condition (BCS 5.0
high-energy diets. In addition, to 5.5) then a forage-based diet
young bulls grown at a rapid with supplemental concentrate
rate have a higher risk of bone will be adequate to build the
and joint problems in their legs. desired energy reserves. If the
This syndrome in bulls has also bulls are thin, then they may
been described as leg weakness, need substantially more con-
degenerative joint disease, os- centrate feed.
Because bulls are so import-
ant for the genetic progress and
The two to three months reproductive efficiency of cattle
leading up to the breeding sea- herds; and because bulls ac-
son is an important period of count for a significant expense,
time to ensure that bulls are excellent bull selection and care
in good shape to be “breeding are critically important for opti-
athletes”. Exercise is important mum herd management. Bulls
during the pre-breeding sea- should be selected based on
breeding season the bull may pregnant early in the breeding
travel several miles per day season that will result in the
and maintain long periods of birth of calves that will be high
physical activity. If given ample value when they are sold. Once
area, bulls will usually exercise bulls are selected for the herd,
themselves. In designing bull they need to be fed to maintain
facilities, it is a good idea to lo- good body condition and housed
age exercise. Bulls should have mating ability should be evalu-
adequate body condition at the ated prior to each breeding sea- T h e d i M w e l t t a C t s e m e S n a e t p m b 3 r e 2 , 0 0 1 1 0 6
start of the breeding season so son and monitored throughout
BSE Clinic Time
that weight loss during this breeding.
period of high physical activi- KSU
By Eldon Cole, University of Missouri Extension
Has your bull had a breeding We’ve scheduled four clinics of cows keep coming back in progeny differences (EPDs) and
soundness exam (BSE) since where you can get your bulls heat. There are no other out- breeding programs or whatever
you pulled him from the breed- completely examined, given ward signs of trich in the bull is on your mind. Ed Trotter with
ing pasture this summer? Fer- parasite control treatment and or cow for that matter. Pfizer will be at some of the clin-
tility and breeding ability can vaccinated and be ready to turn ics with information on their
fluctuate in bulls from year-to- out if everything checks out Here are the dates and loca- DNA evaluation program.
year and season-to-season. If okay. In addition, if you’d like, tions of our fall clinics. Call the above veterinary of-
you’ve preg checked your cows they can check your bull for the fices for your appointment time.
and found several open, it just sexually transmitted disease, October 11 - Barry County Vet Of course, there’s a limit to the
might be cause to check him trichomoniasis. Trich is on the Services, Cassville number of bulls the clinics can
out. rise in this part of the world. It’s Contact: Dr. Voyd Brown, 847- accept so you may need to pick a
suspected when a large number 2677 different time and/or a different
veterinarian. It’s just important
October 12 - Kent Veterinary to have your bulls checked out.
Buffalo Livestock Market Clinic, Billings A survey of cow-calf farms in
Contact Dr. Harvey Kent, 744- 24 states in 2008 showed that
2222 about 25% do a semen evalua-
Special Cattle Sale Special Sheep
tion on their bulls before turn-
Vaccinated Every Stock Cow & October 13 - Dake Veterinary out. I doubt if we’re that high
Watch our
Cattle Saturday sale live on the & Bull Sale Goat Sale Clinic, Miller in southwest Missouri. The
Internet at
Sale 12:00 Noon www.CattleUSA.com Contact: Dr. Chuck Dake, 452- October BSE clinics in the past
2nd Sat. of Selling all classes 3rd Tuesday 4th Tuesday 3301 few years have found more prob-
Each Month of cattle lems with bulls than the clinics
October 14 - Countryside Ani- in March. Hot weather could
Lyle Caselman - Owner-Manager: 417-345-7876 • Mobile: 417-533-2944 mal Clinic, Aurora be more of a problem than cold
Leon Caselman - Owner: 417-345-4514 • Mobile: 417-588-6185 Contact: Dr. Mike Bloss, 678- when it comes to bull fertility. It
Howard Miller - Owner -Manager: 417-345-8612
4011 could even be from fescue toxins
Call Lyle or r Leon to find out what we can do for you: consumed or a combination of
Bud Hansen 417-462-7828 • John Sanwald 417-588-9113 • Bobby Cole 573-674-3131 Besides the BSE, I will be at factors.
the clinics to answer questions,
Barn 417-345-8122 discuss bull sales, expected
Green Springs
Performance & Efficiency Tested
BULL SALE 90 BULLS
200 on test
Sunday, Nov. 21st, 1:00 P.m. Selected from over
at Mo-Kan Livestock, Butler, MO 8 Breeds
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pass the test”
• ANGUS • GELBVIEH • LIMOUSIN •
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Call 448-7416 for information
& sale Catalog
www.greenspringsbulltest.com • gsbulltest@gmail.com