Bull Management Flashcards
Yearling bull opportunities
Less time for injuries/death to occur, faster implement of new genetics into herd, lower development cost for seedstock producers
Yearling bull challenges
Potentially over condition bull, imperfect rations may result in structural unsoundness, bulls often struggle to maintain condition when turned out on pasture
Ways to manage bull body condition
Manage grazing, length of breeding season, respectful cow to bull ration, have a BCS of 6 before turnout
What should the bull lot design do
Force exercise- put fee bunks, water in separate corners
Most critical component to manage heat stress
Access to water
How to manage bulls off season
Be mindful of parasite control, offer adequate nutrition for recovery, watch for scrotal frostbite in wintertime
Three results of a breeding soundness exam
satisfactory, unsatisfactory, deferred
What is evaluated in a breeding soundness exam
Semen quality (motility, morphology), scrotal circumference, reproductive anatomy, structural soundness, overall health
What cannot be evaluated but should be taken into account
Libido and social dominance
Conservative cow to bull ratio’s
Yearling- 15-20, mature- 25-60
Yearling bull ages
14-17 months
Mature bull ages
18-24 + months
Shade structures can cause
Loafing
How to stop loafing
Rotational movement of bulls into rested pastures with natural shade sources
Serving capacity of bulls factors
Age, libido, pre weaning nutrition, development program
Factors that contribute to how many calves are produced in multi sire pens
Age libido, serving capacity, fertility, dominance hierarchy
Using estrus synchronization guidelines
Conservative bull to cow ratio, multi sire operation, avoid inexperienced bulls
Pros and cons of single sires
All eggs in one basket, but less risk of bull injuries
Pros and cons of multi sires
Less control over mating’s, calves are not sire identified unless tested