Page 11 - MWC 9-14-2023s

BULL DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT FOR

OPTIMUM BREEDING SEASON PERFORMANCE

By Patrick Davis, Field Specialist in Livestock, MU Extension

Bull development and 6 which is a smooth appear-
management is important to ance of fat cover throughout.
promote optimum breeding Bulls that are developed to a
season performance. Opti- higher body condition score
mum breeding season per- need to be brought down to
formance promotes optimum that 6 score prior to entering
herd pregnancy rates which the breeding pasture for opti-
is important to cattle herd mum breeding performance.
productivity and profitabili-
ty. Therefore, this article will Bulls need to be adapted to
provide tips in selection, de- a high forage diet prior to en-
velopment, and management tering the breeding pasture.
of bulls for optimum breed- Sometimes bulls are fed a
ing season performance. high concentrate diet during
Bulls need to be structural- performance testing. These
ly sound, have good feet and bulls need to be adapted to
legs to do their job during the a high roughage diet prior
breeding season, and trans- to entering the breeding sea-
mit these traits to offspring son to reduce stress of breed-
that are retained in the herd. ing pasture diet transition.
Poorly structured bulls may Using this strategy should
perform poorly during the also help bulls be in proper
breeding season. Further- condition and plane of nutri-
more, if replacements are tion as they enter the breed-
retained, these poor struc- ing season which will help
ture genetics are propagated promote optimum breeding
through the herd. When de- season performance.
veloping and selecting bulls, Consult your veterinarian
always evaluate structure to develop a proper vacci-
and cull bulls that don’t have nation and parasite control
optimum structural sound- program for your bulls. This
ness. helps a bull develop to his full
Manage bulls to be in prop- potential. Furthermore, this
er body condition during de- reduces the chance of bulls
velopment and the breeding bringing health and parasite
season for optimum breeding problem into the cattle herd.
performance. Body condition Bulls should have a breed-
score, which is evaluated at ing soundness exam done
the topline, tail head, hooks, prior to the breeding season.
pins, and brisket, is an indi- During this exam, a veteri-
cator of energy status. The narian evaluates the bull’s
ideal body condition score for reproductive tract and semen
a bull during development quality to make sure the bull
and the breeding season is a is acceptable to breed cows in
the upcoming breeding
season. Additionally,
at this time the cattle
producer can evalu-
ate structural sound-
ness, body condition
score, and provide an-
nual vaccinations and
parasite control. This
checkup makes sure
that the bull is healthy
and ready to breed
cows during the breed-
ing season.
Optimum bull to
cow ratio is important
for optimum breeding
season performance.
The rule of thumb on
young bulls is one cow
per month of age up to

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