Fall is so near, we can begin to count the days until those cooler nights. As the items on our summer to-do list are checked off, ensuring the proper care of your herd bulls after the breeding season is one that should be near the top of that list.
Optimally, your bulls were out for roughly 60 days earlier this summer to allow for a nice, tight breeding season and, as a result, a nice spring. During this time the bulls are out, they work hard and expend quite a bit of energy to breed cows. This will result in your bulls dropping some body condition. Body condition scores (BCS) of bulls in the spring prior to going to work should be at a 6 (scale of 1-9) and will drop to a 4 or 5 come late summer when they are removed from the cows.
It is at this time that better feed should be provided to these animals to allow for the return of that lost weight. Confining bulls to a smaller pasture with good-quality grass or a pen with access to hay is recommended. In doing so, remember that bulls do not need to be fed as if they were feedlot steers. A moderate amount of weight gain daily is preferred so that an excess of fat does not develop on bulls, which can cause some infertility issues. Two-year-olds should only be gaining about 1 pound a day. Bulls younger than 2 years old are still growing and will require a greater amount of feed to satisfy their increased nutritional need.
Younger bulls, especially yearlings, should be separated from older bulls. This ensures that these younger animals can have access to proper nutrition without being bullied away from the feed by their older companions. Separating these age groups can also cut down on injuries from fighting.
Since your bulls are an investment, conduct a physical exam of your bulls once the breeding season is complete. This includes a good look at the hooves and legs to ensure they held up during the summer. Getting a good look at the eyes and teeth is also recommended. Taking the time to deworm these bulls and catching up on any needed vaccines will put you in a good spot going into the fall season. If any bulls do not pass these exams, a treatment plan should be developed. If treatment is not feasible, it might be a good idea to cull these animals after allowing for some weight gain. All of these management practices are tools to help your investment stick around for future breeding seasons to come.
