Bull Care Seminar

Cow Calf Seminar-UW Extension Livestock Team

Elk Mound- March 23

Almond-March 25

Platteville-March 26

Prepared by Keith Vander Velde, UW Extension Agriculture Agent, Marquette County

Bull Care Seminar

Bulls are the source of New Genetics and•Can Change Herd Color•Will Affect Growth Rate•Do Affect Herds Future Milk Production•Can Affect Disposition of Calves•Are Capable Shorten or Lengthen Breeding Season•Can Infect Herds with Reproductive Diseases•Do Require Some Management Different from Cows•Are A Major Capital Investment

Bull Care Seminar

Cow Herd Investment 30 cows at $800=$24,000 One Bull at $1,800=$1,800

The Bull contributes 50% of genetics in the calf crop

Bull Care Seminar Yearling Bulls Use on the Increase

Bull Test Stations sell as yearlings More breeders sell Bulls as yearlings Currently larger-weighing 1200 lbs + Sexually mature Most current genetics Aggressive breeders

Bull Care Seminar

Yearlings Vs Two Year Olds Yearlings sire more calves lifetime

Fifteen additional calves as yearlings Assume five years of 30 calves/year

Yearling will produce 165 calves Two Year old will Produce 150 If yearling cost $1,800, 2 yr old will be

$2,000 Direct Cost/calf yearling=$10.90 Direct Cost/calf 2 yr old =$13.33

Bull Care Seminar

Yearling Bulls Weigh 60-70% of mature size Raised and evaluated to show

differences Should be purchased 60 days before

used Require letdown period Need some physical conditioning Should sire 100-150 calves in lifetime

Bull Care Seminar

Nutrient Requirements of Bulls Weight Daily Gain DM Protein

%TDN 1600 0.0 26 1.8 48 1600 1.0 30 2.2 56

Bull Care Seminar

Yearling Bulls Are Active During Breeding Season Lose 100-300 lbs during 90 day period Need management to insure they

reach 75% of mature size by 24 month This requires some additional feeding

Bull Care Seminar

Developing Bulls Example: 1350 lb yearling bull

Losses 200 lbs in 90 day breeding season Mature size is 2100 pounds Needs to Weigh 1575 at 24 months Needs to gain 425 lbs (1575-1150) in 275

days Needs to gain 1.55 lbs per day once

removed from cow herd

Bull Care Seminar

Management During Breeding Season

In multi-bull pastures group bulls by Size Age

Avoid situations where dominance can happen

Dominant bull may be sterile or sub-fertile Dominant bull will keep other bulls from

serving cows

Bull Care Seminar

Limit the Length of Breeding Season

Most producers have a defined calving period

A 60-90 breeding season is recommended

Remove bulls at end of breeding season

Very important for young bulls

Bull Care Seminar

Leaving the Bull Out Too Long Length of breeding season matters Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico Study, Glenn Selk,

OSU Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist 394 Ranch Records Positive relationship between number of days of

breeding season on cost per hundred weight of calf weaned

For each additional day of breeding season the cost per cwt increased by 4.7 cents and pounds of calf weaned per cow decreased by 0.158 pound

Bull Care Seminar

Leaving the Bull Out Too Long Conclusions: 365 day breeding season results in additional

cost of $13.63 per hundred weight of weaned calf as opposed to the 75 day breeding season.

365 day breeding season results in 46 fewer pounds sold per cow per year when compared to 75 day breeding season

On a 50 cow operation the impact is: Two thousand ninety one (2291) less lbs sold An increased cost of $68.15 per head for 500 lb calf $3408 increased cost assuming 100% conception rate

Bull Care Seminar

Observe Bulls During Breeding Season Insure cows are cycling Check bulls for signs of over dominance Check bulls for signs of injury and lameness Remove bulls getting too thin Consider using a bull breeding stall

6-8 lbs of grain at $0.05 per day for 75 days(8 x .05 x 75=$30)

Bull Care Seminar

After the Breeding Season Remove Bulls Pen Away from Cows Here Dominance is Useful

One Bull in Charge=Little Fighting He stops all fights-Many producers keep one older bull

for this reason, some use burro jack or billy goat Always put electric fence around pen or pasture

Keeps bulls in and helps when fighting occurs Consider a safe corner for bulls with electric wire

overhead

Bull Care Seminar

What About Next Year Vaccinate bulls for:

IBR BVD PI-3 Lepto Vibro Other diseases local veterinarian

recommends

Bull Care Seminar

What About Next Year Conduct Breeding Soundness Exam(BSE)

Visual evaluation of eyes, feet leg, and external genitalia

Palpation of accessory organs, seminal vesicles and prostate

Semen sample evaluated for motility and abnormal sperm cells

Scrotal circumference measurement and palpation of testicles and epididymis

Exam the extended penis

Bull Care Seminar

What About Next Year One of the biggest problems affecting bull

fertility is frost bitten testicles This occurs when bulls lay down and the scrotal wall

touches the ground. Common occurrence in older bulls with large scrotums Can be prevented by giving bulls a straw pile to lay on

the gives separation direct contact to frozen ground Reduces fertility since the epididymis that stores the

sperm as it matures is damaged and temporarily renders the bulls infertile. Sperm is area of the scrotum for 60 days so what happens today does not show up in semen samples for 60 days.

Bull Care Seminar

How Many Cows or Heifers Per Bull This is one of the most common

questions asked The recommended answer is one female for

each month of age However, every bull is different and the

scrotal size and levels of maturity seem to be increasing with age

Bull Care Seminar

Thank you for your attendance Please take a moment to complete the

evaluation form We will be around for questions after

the session Have a safe trip home