Bulls - Articles - Page 7

Schedule breeding soundness exams prior to turnout

Breeding soundness exams can uncover potential problems with young bulls that were just purchased and older bulls that have already sired calf crops.

May 9, 2023

Karl Hoppe, Lisa Pederson, and Gerald Stokka

This spring season has seen colder-than-normal temperatures in many parts of the country. Cold temperatures and wind can result in damage to bulls’ ability to produce viable semen. Bull breeding soundness exams offer the opportunity to identify and remove bulls from the breeding herd that have a low probability of siring calves.

Tips for success when starting an A.I. program

The success of an A.I. program depends on a number of variables. Developing a specific 'equation of reproduction' for your ranch will go a long way toward implementing a strong, profitable program.

April 26, 2023

Dan Busch

As with everything in the beef industry, there is no magical potion or protocol that will guarantee achieving maximum success with an A.I. program in all management scenarios.

Is cottonseed going to make my bulls infertile?

In some corners of the industry, whole cottonseed as a feedstuff has a bad reputation for negatively affecting bull fertility due to its abundance of gossypol. But research has proven that, when utilized at recommended rates, this is not the case.

March 1, 2023

Dylan Davis, Lee Jones, and Lawton Stewart

As the winter is winding down, many producers are getting ready to turn out bulls. Often, the supplement used for the cow herd contains whole cottonseed, and this prompts questions such as, “Can I feed whole cottonseed to my bulls?” and, “Will it make them infertile?” Our answer to this question is always, “Absolutely not, if you stay within the recommended feeding levels."

Picking a winning bull by the numbers

Understanding what goes into determining expected progeny differences (EPD) numbers can go a long way toward helping producers better know which bulls will work best in their herds.

February 24, 2023

David Callister

Picking sires is where producers can make the greatest impact on their herds. Bulls are responsible for many calves a year, while cows usually contribute one calf a year.

Benefits of estrus synchronization with A.I. or natural service

Estrus synchronization has more benefits than just a compressed calving season. It also creates more potential for heavier weaning weights and more cow longevity, among other things.

February 24, 2023

Dan Busch

Rising operating costs, global competition and societal concerns about energy and the environment have created many economic challenges for the U.S. beef industry.

8 tips to prevent trich in your herd

Biosecurity and testing are crucial to keeping trichomoniasis out of your herd and avoiding reproductive and economic losses.

February 24, 2023

Tony Hawkins

Understand the risks of trich and the colossal impact the disease can have on your herd.

What are indexes, and when should you use them?

When selecting breeding stock, producers often ignore information such as $ Index value simply because they don’t understand the data. When used in concert with EPDs, these indexes can help determine different animals’ true reproductive value.

February 7, 2023

Randie Culbertson and Patrick Wall

In bull selection, indexes and EPDs are often used as an either/or type of question: “Do I use indexes when I select bulls, or do I stick with EPDs because our operation focuses on _____?” Without a doubt, the answer is always: “Use both.”

Reducing disease risk on a cow-calf operation

Many cow-calf operations are considered closed herds and only bring new animals onto the property with the addition of new herd sires. However, with any new addition, the greater the risk for disease and the need for biosecurity.

February 6, 2023

Lisa Pederson

Many diseases enter our herds when we acquire new animals and commingle them with our herd. In a cow-calf operation, this often occurs with the addition of new herd sires, replacement females or calves you intend to graft on a cow who lost her calf.