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Tag: bull

Supplementation Considerations for Bulls Following Breeding

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

Jason Warner, extension cow-calf specialist

For cow-calf producers that limit the length of the breeding season, the period of rest after removal from females is key for management of herd bulls.  During this time, it is not uncommon for bulls to be observed less frequently and attention to them often falls, albeit unintended, to the bottom of the priority list.  As with females, the time in between breeding seasons represents the opportunity to regain body condition and weight if needed, and this length of rest is certainly reduced when bulls are used in multiple breeding seasons. Continue reading “Supplementation Considerations for Bulls Following Breeding” →

Breeding Soundness Exams Identify Bull Fertility Issues from Frostbite

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

By Sandy Johnson, Extension Beef Specialist, Colby

The impacts of the cold weather experienced in Kansas and surrounding states in early February will not be forgotten anytime soon and will leave lingering effects.  The bull battery often does not get close attention during the winter months and some may have lacked adequate bedding or wind protection needed to prevent scrotal frostbite.   Older bulls with pendulous scrotums seem more prone to issues than yearling bulls.

Continue reading “Breeding Soundness Exams Identify Bull Fertility Issues from Frostbite” →

How many natural service sires are needed after estrous synchronization?

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

By Sandy Johnson, extension beef specialist

More and more producers are taking advantage of opportunities to incorporate targeted, high accuracy genetics using artificial insemination (AI) and estrous synchronization.  While some may AI for two heat cycles, a majority will follow one round of AI with natural service bulls for the remainder of the breeding season.   This brings up the question of how many bulls are needed for the remainder of the breeding season following an estrous synchronization program.  If the AI program is successful, there should be correspondingly fewer females yet to be bred and fewer natural service sires needed  However, some are concerned more bulls are needed to cover the subsequent cycle since return heats will be synchronized from the prior treatment.

Continue reading “How many natural service sires are needed after estrous synchronization?” →

Avoid unpleasant surprises, monitor bull and estrous activity during the breeding season

Posted on by Sandy Johnson

by Bob Weaber, Ph.D., cow-calf specialist

Over the winter, I’ve had several discussions with extension agents and producers trying to sort out what went wrong last summer during breeding season. Although the ‘wreck’ happened last spring or summer, the high percentage of open cows wasn’t discovered until preg check or, worse yet, calving. Accurate diagnosis of the problem is difficult at this stage but the circumstances give us pause to consider our production system and the critical control points. All too often when producers and specialists talk about ‘fertility’ we gravitate to a discussion of reproductive failure in cows and subsequent culling or management strategies. It is, however, important to recognize the importance of bull fertility as well, especially in commercial operations that rely heavily on natural service sires. Continue reading “Avoid unpleasant surprises, monitor bull and estrous activity during the breeding season” →