Preparing bulls for the next breeding season
As the current breeding season starts to come to an end and producers begin to pull bulls from pastures, now is the time to give those bulls some extra care and attention. Livestock specialists recommend producers evaluate the bulls as they come out of the fields and formulate a plan to get them ready for the next breeding season.
Evaluate Body Condition
Breeding season takes a physical toll on even the hardiest of bulls, especially during the heat of summer. Once the bulls have completed their task at hand it’s time to help them get back in shape. This includes evaluating the bull to make sure he is structurally sound and free of feet, eye and other problems.
Additionally, the window between breeding seasons gives producers the opportunity to help their bulls regain weight. “A lot of times bulls will lose weight, 100 to 200 pounds, during the breeding season. This is also an opportunity to add some body condition to those bulls,” David Hoffman, field specialist in livestock at the University of Missouri Extension, said.
Livestock specialists recommend supplementing bulls with grain if they need it and provide good pasture for them to rebuild their body condition. Additionally, the break between breeding seasons gives herd bulls much needed rest.
Give Extra Care
Due to the drought conditions in much of the region putting a strain on the quality and quantity of forage, some bulls may be more stressed than years past and lost a little more weight than normal.
If this is the case, producers may want to consider taking the bulls out of the pastures sooner to give them more time to physically rebound. “Pulling them off earlier than normal would definitely help and that allows a longer time for them to have time to regain body weight,” Hoffman said. “We like to see bulls at a body condition score (BCS) of a 5 or 6 before they enter the breeding season and if they have lost a lot of weight it is going to take 100 to 150 pounds to increase that body weight where they can be thrifty when the fall breeding season starts here in two or three months.”
According to livestock specialists, bulls can easily regain the weight they lost with proper nutrition and supplements. During the interval when bulls are out of the pasture is a good time for the herd veterinarian to give the bulls a breeding soundness exam (BSE). “I am also going to advise producers if there are some concerns, they may need to do a breeding soundness exam (BSE) on those bulls maybe a little bit earlier to make sure the bulls are still producing quality semen. If not, then the producer will have to look at replacing that bull,” Hoffman said.
Observe and Record
Once the bull is ready and the next breeding season rolls around, livestock specialists recommend keeping a watchful eye to make sure the bulls are breeding the cows. “Also make some notes on which cows they are breeding and then check those cows and make sure they are not coming back in heat and being rebred three weeks later,” Hoffman advised. Producers who keep good records will have a better grasp of whether their bulls are getting the job done.
