Bull Care Seminar

1. Bull Care Seminar Cow Calf Seminar-UW Extension Livestock Team Elk Mound- March 23 Almond-March 25 Platteville-March 26 PreparedbyKeith Vander Velde, UW Extension Agriculture Agent, Marquette County

2. Bull Care Seminar • Bulls are the source of New Genetics and • Can Change Herd Color • Will Affect Growth Rate • Do Affect Herds Future Milk Production • Can Affect Disposition of Calves • Are Capable Shorten or Lengthen Breeding Season • Can Infect Herds with Reproductive Diseases • Do Require Some Management Different from Cows • Are A Major Capital Investment

3. Bull Care Seminar • Cow Herd Investment • 30 cows at $800=$24,000 • One Bull at $1,800=$1,800 • The Bull contributes 50% of genetics in the calf crop

5. Bull Care Seminar • Yearling Bulls Use on the Increase • Bull Test Stations sell as yearlings • More breeders sell Bulls as yearlings • Currently larger-weighing 1200 lbs + • Sexually mature • Most current genetics • Aggressive breeders

6. Bull Care Seminar • Yearlings Vs Two Year Olds • Yearlings sire more calves lifetime • Fifteen additional calves as yearlings • Assume five years of 30 calves/year • Yearling will produce 165 calves • Two Year old will Produce 150 • If yearling cost $1,800, 2 yr old will be $2,000 • Direct Cost/calf yearling=$10.90 • Direct Cost/calf 2 yr old =$13.33

7. Bull Care Seminar • Yearling Bulls • Weigh 60-70% of mature size • Raised and evaluated to show differences • Should be purchased 60 days before used • Require letdown period • Need some physical conditioning • Should sire 100-150 calves in lifetime

8. Bull Care Seminar • Nutrient Requirements of Bulls • Weight Daily Gain DM Protein %TDN 1600 0.0 26 1.8 48 1600 1.0 30 2.2 56

9. Bull Care Seminar • Yearling Bulls Are Active During Breeding Season • Lose 100-300 lbs during 90 day period • Need management to insure they reach 75% of mature size by 24 month • This requires some additional feeding

10. Bull Care Seminar • Developing Bulls • Example: 1350 lb yearling bull • Losses 200 lbs in 90 day breeding season • Mature size is 2100 pounds • Needs to Weigh 1575 at 24 months • Needs to gain 425 lbs (1575-1150) in 275 days • Needs to gain 1.55 lbs per day once removed from cow herd

11. Bull Care Seminar • Management During Breeding Season • In multi-bull pastures group bulls by • Size • Age • Avoid situations where dominance can happen • Dominant bull may be sterile or sub-fertile • Dominant bull will keep other bulls from serving cows

12. Bull Care Seminar • Limit the Length of Breeding Season • Most producers have a defined calving period • A 60-90 breeding season is recommended • Remove bulls at end of breeding season • Very important for young bulls

13. Bull Care Seminar • Leaving the Bull Out Too Long • Length of breeding season matters • Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico Study, Glenn Selk, OSU Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist • 394 Ranch Records • Positive relationship between number of days of breeding season on cost per hundred weight of calf weaned • For each additional day of breeding season the cost per cwt increased by 4.7 cents and pounds of calf weaned per cow decreased by 0.158 pound

14. Bull Care Seminar • Leaving the Bull Out Too Long Conclusions: • 365 day breeding season results in additional cost of $13.63 per hundred weight of weaned calf as opposed to the 75 day breeding season. • 365 day breeding season results in 46 fewer pounds sold per cow per year when compared to 75 day breeding season • On a 50 cow operation the impact is: • Two thousand ninety one (2291) less lbs sold • An increased cost of $68.15 per head for 500 lb calf • $3408 increased cost assuming 100% conception rate

15. Bull Care Seminar • Observe Bulls During Breeding Season • Insure cows are cycling • Check bulls for signs of over dominance • Check bulls for signs of injury and lameness • Remove bulls getting too thin • Consider using a bull breeding stall • 6-8 lbs of grain at $0.05 per day for 75 days (8 x .05 x 75=$30)

16. Bull Care Seminar • After the Breeding Season • Remove Bulls • Pen Away from Cows • Here Dominance is Useful • One Bull in Charge=Little Fighting • He stops all fights-Many producers keep one older bull for this reason, some use burro jack or billy goat • Always put electric fence around pen or pasture • Keeps bulls in and helps when fighting occurs • Consider a safe corner for bulls with electric wire overhead

17. Bull Care Seminar • What About Next Year • Vaccinate bulls for: • IBR • BVD • PI-3 • Lepto • Vibro • Other diseases local veterinarian recommends

18. Bull Care Seminar • What About Next Year • Conduct Breeding Soundness Exam(BSE) • Visual evaluation of eyes, feet leg, and external genitalia • Palpation of accessory organs, seminal vesicles and prostate • Semen sample evaluated for motility and abnormal sperm cells • Scrotal circumference measurement and palpation of testicles and epididymis • Exam the extended penis

19. Bull Care Seminar • What About Next Year • One of the biggest problems affecting bull fertility is frost bitten testicles • This occurs when bulls lay down and the scrotal wall touches the ground. • Common occurrence in older bulls with large scrotums • Can be prevented by giving bulls a straw pile to lay on the gives separation direct contact to frozen ground • Reduces fertility since the epididymis that stores the sperm as it matures is damaged and temporarily renders the bulls infertile. Sperm is area of the scrotum for 60 days so what happens today does not show up in semen samples for 60 days.

20. Bull Care Seminar • How Many Cows or Heifers Per Bull • This is one of the most common questions asked • The recommended answer is one female for each month of age • However, every bull is different and the scrotal size and levels of maturity seem to be increasing with age

21. Bull Care Seminar • Thank you for your attendance • Please take a moment to complete the evaluation form • We will be around for questions after the session • Have a safe trip home