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Tag Archives bulls

These two Black Angus bulls are used on the writer's ranch in Idaho as easy calving heifer bulls.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Females figure strongly in maternal bull selection

Look at calves, heifers and cows to get a better idea of maternal traits

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There are several factors to consider when selecting a bull to sire replacement females. The bull makes a lasting contribution to the herd (good or bad). The quickest way to change genetics of a herd is through sire selection. You want that contribution to be beneficial, moving the herd in the best direction to meet […] Read more
bull
Cattleman’s Corner

Getting bulls prepped for breeding season

Bulls in optimum body condition have high sperm count and sex drive at breeding

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Beef bulls are prepared in different ways before the upcoming breeding season. Some are ignored, maybe left on some distant stubble field or in a drylot pen, and inadequately fed. Other bulls are fed too well, so they waddle with fat. The rest are properly prepared for the breeding season, putting them in the best […] Read more
Bulls can lose up to 300 pounds during the breeding season, so they need to be in good body condition and in good health (proper nutrition) before heading out to pasture for the season.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Producers share ration tips for breeding bulls

It’s important to prepare bulls for the demands of breeding season

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Beef bulls make up only a small portion of the average beef herd, yet contribute to nearly all its genetic progress. Such responsibility dictates that we want to give bulls the best possible chance to be fertile and healthy, just before being released onto breeding pastures. This means that certain nutritional goals must be met […] Read more
bulls in pen
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Managing the stifled cow or bull

Animal Health with Roy Lewis: A condition that can be treated, but culling may also be best option

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A stifle condition is more commonly seen in older cows and in bulls that suffer breeding injuries. Many of these lamenesses are probably diagnosed incorrectly and in many cases treated inappropriately, often resulting in an animals being kept too long. When we talk about a stifled cow or bull, we refer to injury to ligaments […] Read more
Breeding bulls need time and proper rations to recover after the breeding season.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Bulls need lots of TLC during the post-breeding season

Check for any health problems and make sure they have proper feed, including minerals

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As a beef nutritionist, I recommend that bulls during the post-breeding season be given lots of attention, namely a physical exam, a good summer/fall-feeding program (winter programs to follow) and implementing other timely considerations. This will help both mature bulls maintain and young ones achieve body condition and health, which will contribute to next year’s […] Read more
The recommendation is to figure out the objectives for your beef herd, and then select uniform breeding genetics, as best possible, to help you reach those goals.
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Quality, uniformity needs to be planned when breeding cattle

A willy-nilly approach to breeding will produce willy-nilly results

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Strategies for breeding cattle must be reinforced by multiple targeted objectives that factor in operational goals, marketing possibilities, environmental demands and resource availability. For the cow-calf producer, the two basic objectives are quality and uniformity. One of the leading factors affecting calf uniformity is distribution throughout the breeding and calving seasons — a long breeding […] Read more
Mixing it up — benefits of crossbred bulls
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Mixing it up — benefits of crossbred bulls

Hybrid bulls are a good way to achieve several improved performance parameters

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It’s common knowledge that crossbreeding produces heterosis — the hybrid vigour with qualities superior to those of both parents. Crossbreeding is often reserved for females in the herd, but more producers are looking at the males to identify potential benefits and profit opportunities. Breeding sires not fitting the purebred slot are considered hybrids or composites. […] Read more
CBOT March 2021 soybeans with Bollinger (20,2) bands. (Barchart)
Corn, Crops, Markets, Soybeans

CBOT weekly outlook: Corn, soybeans may see seasonal slowdown

However, more upside remains possible

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MarketsFarm — Corn and soybean futures at the Chicago Board of Trade, now trading at their highest levels in years, could come under some pressure over the next month, although the longer-range outlook remains strong, according to a broker. Crop insurance levels in the U.S. are based in part off of new-crop futures prices during […] Read more
Once breeding season is over, bulls need to be on decent grass with proper minerals so they can rebuild body condition for next year.
Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Bulls need to rebuild after breeding season

A proper feed and mineral program prepares them for next year

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By midsummer, most producers pull their bulls from the spring cow herd, mainly to maintain a desirable 60-day breeding season and to avoid any temporary sterility caused by heat stress. As a beef nutritionist, I advocate that bulls be treated with lots of attention during the post-breeding season. They should be put on a good […] Read more
All these yearling Simmental bulls look pretty good. How do you know which will work the best for your beef operation?
Beef Cattle, Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock

Contractors can help to fill the bull roster

Experts have the contacts and understand the terminology

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It’s a tried-and-true saying: “Plan for a healthy calf per every reproducing-age female each year.” But that strategy may at times demand that to get all females covered at breeding season, it becomes necessary to purchase bull power. For some cow-calf producers this can be a time- and energy-consuming task for which they are ill-prepared, […] Read more

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