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Stock bull advice for breeding season 2022

Stock bull advice for breeding season 2022

With four out of every five calves born on beef farms sired by a stock bull, a stock bull’s fertility is vitally important. Catherine Egan, Teagasc Beef Specialist outlines 10 tips to consider to ensure your bull's fertility. Also get advice on what to consider in advance purchasing a new bull

As the calving season on many farms is nearing an end the thought of the breeding season is just around the corner. Calving season 2023 will depend on when you start breeding season in the coming weeks. 

With four out of every five calves born on beef farms sired by a stock bull, a stock bull’s fertility is vitally important. The stock bull on your farm is key to maintaining a compact calving period, maximising the genetic potential and value of the calf crop, and overall herd profitability.

Below are 10 tips to consider to ensure your bull's fertility.

Bull fertility check

A bull’s fertility status can change, from year to year. Therefore, it is good practice to have a fertility test carried out on the stock bull, prior to start of breeding season. It is estimated that twenty five percent of stock bulls are sub-fertile. The cost of the test is very low if you compare it to carrying empty cows for the summer and results are available to you before the technician leave the yard.

Body Condition score

A bull must be able to maintain body condition score (ideally BCS 3), repeatedly mount and serve cows for 12 weeks and have a long working life in the herd. If you have bought a bull find out from the seller what diet and current concentrates he is being fed and vaccinations he has received.

Health

A blood test might be useful to check for BVD, IBR, Johnes Disease and Leptospirosis. If vaccinating or treating for parasite these should be administered at least six to eight weeks in advance of the breeding season as they could lead to reduced fertility. Consult your vet for advice on the health of the bull. Remember a young bull in his first season should serve no more than 20 cows.

Nutrition

It is important to avoid sudden changes and not to over feed the bull as this can reduce fertility and lead to feet problems. He needs to be fit but not over-fat.

Visual check

In advance of the breeding season check feet and legs well and take remedial action if required.

Observe

Watch the bull working to check he is serving cows correctly.

Rotate

If possible rotate bulls or scan cows early so that an infertile bull or sub fertile bull can be identified early.

Records

Record when you see a cow being mated and watch for signs of cows coming on heat repeatedly.

Issues

If a large number of your cows are repeating, you need to take action to find out what is wrong. You must be prepared to start using AI or if you have a second bull with another group of cows, he may be utilised to serve more cows. 

Pregnancy scanning

When it is at least 35 days since the last cow in the herd could have been served then you should consider scanning the cows. It offers many advantages.

Are you thinking of buying a new stock bull?

 

Teagasc advisor David Argue has all the tips of what to consider in advance of any purchase. You can have a listen to David on the Beef Edge podcast below 

The Teagasc Beef Specialists issue an article on a topic of interest to Suckler and Beef farmers every Wednesday here on Teagasc Daily.  Find more on Teagasc Beef here  Teagasc provides a Local Advisory and Education service to farmers. Find your local Teagasc office here