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Bull Management

Bull Management. Why have a breeding season?. To know what is going on Produce a more uniform, calf crop Make money. As calving season length increases 1 day: cost of producing each hundredweight of calf weaned increases $0.047.

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Bull Management

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  1. Bull Management

  2. Why have a breeding season? • To know what is going on • Produce a more uniform, calf crop • Make money

  3. As calving season length increases 1 day:cost of producing each hundredweight of calf weaned increases $0.047. Reducing calving season from year-round (365 daysto 75 days associated with $13+ less cost per cwt. Key Factors Contributing to Cow-calf Costs, Profits, And Production Ruslyn Parker, Damona Doye, Clement Ward, Derrell PeelJames McGrann, Larry Falconer and Stan Bevers Southern Association of Agric. Scientists, Tulsa, Okla. 2004

  4. “What we use is about 2 acres per bull with a 5-strand High Tensile fence with wires at 10/10/10/10/10 which is 50 inches tall and a GOOD Charger. One that will keep 5-7000 volts on the fence. Hot wires are (from ground up) 2,3 & 5 with 1 & 4 being well grounded… I have seen 3 bulls in a fight in a 5- acre+- trap like this and they would actually quit fighting when they got close to the fence.”

  5. May want to electrify bottom wire and also use the pen for calf weaning

  6. Growing Phases of Young Bulls • Pre-puberty -- Pre-weaning milk capacity and nutrition of the mother • Do NOT implant

  7. Growing Phases of Young Bulls • Pre-puberty -- After-weaning Growing programs aimed at 2.0 to 2.5 pounds per day • Diet that is 40% to 60% concentrate:

  8. Growing Phases of Young Bulls • Complete diet should be 12 to 13% Crude Protein • If hay is 10% CP: Grain mix is 16% CP (4 parts corn:1 part SBM)

  9. Mineral Programs for Bulls • Simple but still effective 1/2 Dical:1/2 Salt • Complicated if concerned about trace minerals:

  10. Mineral Program (including TM) • Salt 44.10 • Dical 44.10 • CSM 6.61 • Zinc Sulfate 0.59 • Se 600 2.20 • Cu Sulfate 0.18 • Mineral oil 2.20 100 • Ca: 9.4% P : 8.3%

  11. Growing Phases of Young Bulls • Gain tested bulls are often fed at higher percent concentrate • Rate of gain often exceeds 4 lb/d • KSU data shows bulls have normal fertility if allowed to reduce condition gradually

  12. Effects of Sudden Decline of Nutrition on Cycling of Heifers Treatments 1.2 M 0.4 M Day 0 Day 14 Day 0 Day 14 9 9 10 10 • 711 691 658 100 100 100 30 # Heifers Weight % cycle

  13. Step Down Procedure for Young Bulls on High Concentrate Diets % of lb for lb for Week Type Body wt 1000 lb bull 1500 lb bull 1st bull ration 1.5 15 23 hay 1.0 10 15 2nd bull ration 1.0 10 15 hay 1.5 15 23 3rd bull ration 1.0 10 15 hay 1.5 15 23 4th bull ration .75 7.5 11 hay 1.75 17.5 27

  14. Consider the Protein Content of the Ration as Step-down Add a pound of soybean meal pellets as concentrate is reduced 2nd Choice—Substitute 20% range cubes for high concentrate

  15. Growing Phases of Young Bulls • Conditioning prior to breeding • 30 to 60 days before breeding • Bulls should be gaining 2 lb/day • Young bulls should be BCS=6

  16. Before the Breeding Season • Put bulls together to establish social order • Check feet and legs; trim feet early • Breeding Soundness Exam

  17. Wedged 1% Satisfactory Normal neck 72% Satisfactory Straight sided 27% Satisfactory Scrotal Shapes Study - 958 bulls Scrotal Circumference

  18. Effect of Scrotal Circumference on Semen Quality Percent Satisfactory Bulls Scrotal Circumference

  19. Effect of Scrotal Circumference on Semen Quality Age Min SC (cm) Good < 15 months 30 >34 15 - 18 months 31 >36 18 - 21 months 32 >37 21 - 24 months 33 >38 > 24 months 34 >39

  20. Heat Stress Can Cause Reduced Fertility • Very hot ambient temperatures • High body heat due to fever disease infection • Excessive fatness

  21. Sperm Cells Take 60 Days from Initial Development to Maturation and Ejaculation

  22. Bull Rotation During Breeding • Use mature bulls FIRST, young (yearling bulls) last 1/3 • If ALL young bulls, consider rotating in and out in 2 weeks • Bulls may lose 100 - 200 lbs

  23. Growing Phases of Young Bulls • Nutrition during breeding • Limited opportunity; Prior nutrition is key • Monitor young bulls closely

  24. Cow to Bull Ratio Bull age in months Number of females 12 -15 10 - 12 15 -18 12 - 18 18 - 24 18 - 25 More than 24 25 - 35

  25. Percent 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Number of Females Exhibiting Estrus per Bull Percentage Pregnant by Each Bull in Single-sire Mating of Estrus Synchronized Females.

  26. Mature Bulls

  27. Management after Breeding Season • Nutrition after breeding • Mature bulls may need to regain lost condition • Gradually increase grain to 1% • Bulls in good condition need protein and forage

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