Cattle should always be fed an adequate ration that allows them to thrive in their given environment. Our bulls are on a 130 to 140-day gain test on this feed, then the 70 days before they go into our sale we feed more hay and just coast them so they can make a transition to grass and not melt. This also enables rumen microbes to change from the more concentrated ration to grass (cellulose) more easily than from a higher starch diet. Older cattle may reach finish weight on pasture alone (or with only a few pounds of grain/day) or after 6090 days in the feedlot on high-grain rations to improve market grade and to remove any yellow tinges from their body fat (due to stored carotene from pasture forage). There is a risk of toxicity from oversupplying minerals. Visit www.aces.edu/directory. Accuracy is influenced by the heritability of a trait and what data is available on each animal and its relatives. Breeding soundness exam research has reported that bull with scores greater than 71 have a dramatically higher conception rate than those scoring 70 or less points. In addition to gaining back this weight during their first rest, they must also gain enouch body mass as to achieve 75% of their mature weight by their second birthday. You can also choose to search for a bull by its name or part of its name (See figure 1). In general, a high-energy and moderate-protein feed source often is used to support these production goals. A workable system is to maintain bulls in breeding groups that will be rotated into the breeding herd for 1-2 weeks, fol-lowed by 1-2 weeks of rest. We use cookies to help us improve this website and your visits to it. Providing bedding during winter and spring storms will protest testicles from frost bite. The 90 day removal will allow adequate time for the gossypol to be metabolized and sperm production to occur without the potential negative influence of gossypol. Liveweight should be gained over this year targeting 90% of mature liveweight at 22 months and 5.5 body condition score pre-calving. EBVs are one of the most accurate measures we have to strip out all that noise, and give you an objective measure of that animals breeding value, and they exist for both maternal (e.g. If nutritional needs of a bull from weaning to yearling are not met, bull growth rate will be reduced and pubertal development can be delayed. This raises the temperature, thereby retarding the development of viable sperm. Setting absolute guidelines for cow-to-bull ratio is difficult because there are several variables that have an impact on this number. the newly purchased bull should be at least 13 months old and weigh a minimum of 1,100 pounds before being turned out for the first time. Mature bulls primarily use nutrients for maintenance, whereas younger bulls require nutrients to support both growth and maintenance. A system of creep feeding can be practiced in which suckling calves are allowed access to a grain mixture in a self-feeder in an enclosure or to high-quality forage in an adjacent pasture where only calves have access. In general, bulls should reach 75 percent of their mature weight by 2 years of age. Following are nutritional factors to consider when developing bulls post-weaning to the yearling stage. Structural Soundness Structural soundness and conformation is an important factor because the bull must be physically able to service cows during breeding. A bull needs to be athletic, not fat. Together weve come up with a target goal of having them gain about three pounds a day, and we dont get too aggressive. Nutritional management is essential for proper bull development and maintenance. An adult will need 46% of nutrients and 7% of proteins. We really like fall calving for developing those calves. "The thinking used to be that if a bull is not fat he must be a hard keeper and poor doer. For example, a 700-pound bull calf gaining 2 pounds per day requires 16 pounds of dry matter intake daily, which includes 1.8 pounds of crude protein (CP) and 10 pounds of total digestible nutrients (TDN). All management processes performed after the genetic choices are done to optimize the genetic potential of the resulting calf. Feeder blends used in self-feeders should either (1) be a complete feed source, which provides adequate roughage for rumen function, or (2) provide bulls access to at least 0.5 percent of animal body weight per day in long-stemmed fiber. In many areas, producers follow a late winter/early spring calving program (February to May in the USA), depending on the available feed, growth of early pasture, and prevailing climate. Silage is particularly useful during the development phase and can be used during the transition phase. Roughage consumption usually is limited to approximately one-fourth to one-third of the total concentrate consumption after cattle are on full-feed. This can be prevented by ensuring that heifers are fed a balanced ration that will allow them to calve in body condition score 6.57 (09 scale). Generally, bulls should have scrotal circumferences of 32 centimeters or more by their first birthday for breeding considerations. growth rate and carcase) traits. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. For bulls that have lost more than the 0.75 condition score points, (a lot of condition), start feeding earlier to allow them more time to regain weight at a moderate daily liveweight gain and concentrate input. The usage of urea in formulated diets or pre-formulated protein supplements may provide an economical source of nitrogen if the diet contains adequate energy. The lack of adaptation leads to poor performance of bulls both physically and during the breeding season. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 2018 | Use of this site is subject to our terms of use and our privacy policy. Limited amounts of grain fed to yearling cattle on pasture during the late summer may increase their market value. Opportunities to capture increased value and revenue may be missed if beef cattle producers do not routinely examine their production system with an eye towards improving the uniformity and marketability of the calves they produce. ( See table: Nutrient Requirements of Pregnant Replacement Beef Cows a Nutrient Requirements of Pregnant Replacement Beef Cows a through Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cows a Nutrient Requirements of Beef Cows a . It may be advantageous to cull those bulls now instead of waiting to see how they pull through the winter season. Nutritional requirements must be met to properly develop growing bulls from weaning to yearling. As a result of this decision, producers need to consider utilizing bulls that will produce calves that will meet industry carcass standards. This is because a layer of fat will reportedly line the scrotum and insulate the testes. Growth trait EPDs include calf weaning and yearling weight. Velasquez-Pereira et al. Wintering the lactating cow presents a much greater nutritional problem than does wintering the pregnant, nonlactating cow. UF/IFAS EDIS document. Prepubertal development of the male reproductive organs in Nilli Ravi [35], Egyptian [36-38], Surti [39] and Murrah [40,41] buffalo calves revealed that the reproductive organs develop in buffalo calves by 6-12 months of age. A free-choice feeding program can reduce labor needs during bull development by reducing frequency of feeding required. Selenium is also implicated in sperm viability, quality, and overall reproductive health. a Ingredient cost and availability will allow a wide array of correct diet formulations to be used. Young bulls will gain at least 3 pounds a day just on pasture and also have plenty of exercise. Trade and brand names are given for information purposes only. This document is AN218, one of a series of the Animal Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. After coming off of test, and until they are turned out with females, they should continue to gain around 2.0 pounds per day. The link you have selected will take you to a third-party website. Bull fertility can be negatively affected if body condition scores are excessively high or low. This allows for re-testing and replacement of bulls failing the examination. The total cost of these vaccines are minor when compared to the cost of the diseases. Growing bull calves should also receive a balanced ration. Back then, seedstock producers fed their young bulls practically a feedlot ration, to achieve impressive gains and see how fast they gained. There has been extensive study on that, going back to the 1970s when Dr. Glenn Coulter (my former colleague at the Lethbridge Research Centre) and other people did a lot of the research, says Kastelic. Following some simple steps can help reduce risks. This not only allows time to replace bulls if necessary, but also minimizes the time between examination and start of breeding. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/AN210, Hersom, M. and T. Thrift. Nutritional Strategies for Bull Development and Maintenance, Nutritional Strategies for Bull Development and Maintenance, ANR-2660, Sand Mountain Elite Heifer Development Program, Alabama Besides their purchase price, they are the future genetic material of the herd that can influence several generations of stock. Many management decisions must be considered when selecting and raising replacement heifers. A commercial 14%16% protein creep feed may be used as an alternative. EBVs change over time as more information comes in, the higher the accuracy value, the lower the likelihood of variation. Feeding excess energy may reduce both semen quality and serving capacity. Research shows that when bulls are run together in a breeding pasture, they should be as close to the same size and age as possible. Developing a supplementation program for bulls using commercial or blended feeds should always begin with a forage analysis. Often in suckler herds, we dont have EBVs to assess the dams genetics, so sire choice becomes even more important. We put tubs out for them, and found that this supplement helps with scrotal development and semen quality, he says. Yearling bulls should not be pastured mated to cows that are extremely larger than themselves. Accuracy is expressed between 0% and 100%. A good recovery period is essential for bulls to be fit and ready for next year's breeding season. Similarly, the need for roughage in the diet may necessitate the use of medium to good quality forages to support the desired growth level. Forage testing and balancing the diet will pinpoint supplemental needs. Developing bulls on high-grain diets for rapid weight gain is often used as part of performance evaluation, and it promotes the expression of genetic differences among bulls. This document is AN210, one of a series of the Animal Sciences Department, UF/IFAS Extension. 19 refers to the calving year set as the benchmark, so this will change over time. Feedstuff selection for feeding bulls should be based upon the necessity of meeting the nutrient requirements of the growing bull and the unit/price of the important nutrients (energy, protein, minerals). One of the most common complaints of yearling bull purchasers is the run down condition these bulls can exhibit after their first breeding season. Selection: The breeding bulls should be selected from good pedigree Feeding: The properly balanced ration should be given which contains adequate energy, protein, minerals & vitamins. Kansas State University, Manhattan. Phase 3 is a transition back to a more forage-based ration. Many times yearling bulls need to harden up prior to the breeding season and the best accommodations are outside lots, fields or pastures. A complete BSE includes a scrotal circumference measurement, a semen exam and a physical exam. A creep-feed mixture of high-fiber co-product feeds such as corn gluten, dry distiller's grains, and soyhulls can be combined with a salt-vitamin-mineral mix to provide a palatable ration for the calves. The F1 (Brahman x Angus) cows mated to a terminal sire-type bull are the most productive cattle breeding programs in terms of cattle reproduction and calf weaning weight (Cross Breeding Systems in Beef Cattle, AN165). If he weighed 1,250 pounds at turn-out time as a yearling and lost 200 pounds during the breeding season, he would need to gain about 2.0 pounds per day during the nine months until his second birthday. Visually evaluate bulls at least 60 days prior to the breeding season, and make nutritional adjustments as needed for maintenance of body condition. If legume roughage is fed, no protein supplement is needed. Third, libido and social dominance influence a bull's ability and desire to service cows. Accuracy Each trait is accompanied by an accuracy value, which shows you how close the EBV is to the animals true genetic value. NRC. Visit the EDIS website at, https://agnr.osu.edu/sites/agnr/files/imce/pdfs/Beef/BullNutritionAndManagement.pdf, UF/IFAS Electronic Data Information System, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. We dont have the fattest bulls in the spring, but hopefully theyll be good ones. Boyles, S. Bull nutrition and management. give a daily ration for each calf over 2-weeks-old - starting with at least 100g at 2-weeks-old and increasing to at least 250g at 20-weeks-old. By using this site you agree to our Terms of use and our privacy policies. For example, a 600-pound bull with a projected mature weight of 1,800 pounds should weigh 1,350 pounds as a 2-year-old (1,800 pounds 75 percent of mature weight = 1,350 pounds). 2020-41595-30123 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Using them can help us to choose bulls that are genetically compatible with our herds breeding objectives. Performance Records/Pedigree What is the performance or record of the bull's siblings or half-siblings? ), Feeding and nutritional management for three systems of beef production are discussed separately. For example, some producers will allow bulls to graze cereal grain pastures with minimal supplementation, while others will have to feed a complete diet in a drylot situation. Traditional management of beef calves (including bulls) is to maintain them on their dam until normal weaning at 6 to 9 months of age. Bulls should also follow similar nutritional diets for the approximate 120 days from yearling age until breeding time. Based on forage analysis results, a supplementation strategy can be developed to help growing bulls achieve moderate rates of gain. When cattle producers purchase and turn the bull out, they have made one of the largest decisions dictating carcass merit for the subsequent calves. In general, mature bulls can be maintained on moderate- quality pasture during the off-season. To be most effective, any supplement must be patterned to fit the kind and quality of roughage available. Type in the AI code of a bull or its tag number and click "Search". Emma Steele on, Simon and Rhodri Lloyd-Williams, Welsh Mountains, Duncan Nelless - Thistleyhaugh Farm, Northumberland, Russell & Rhys Edwards, Hendre-Ifan-Goch Farm, Bridgend, Adrian and Lyn Coombe, Dupath Farm, Cornwall, Mark & Lynne Exelby, The Hutts Farm, Ripon, Charles Sercombe - Sandlands Farm, Leicestershire, ChazCompare - Andrew Walton and Jamie Wild, Rutland, Chawton Park - Genetics influence speed of finishing, Hutts Farm - High genetic merit rams enhance carcase value, Dupath Farm - Flock profitability influenced by carcase weight and conformation, Hendre Ifan Goch Farm - Consider the benefit of faster finishing versus carcase value, Thistleyhaugh Farm - Genetic influences on carcase conformation shine through, Bowhill Farming - A clear financial benefit in using recorded rams, Chawton Park - Making faster finishing pay, Dupath Farm - Benefiting from increased carcase weight, Thistleyhaugh Farm - Speed of lamb growth vital, Hutts Farm - Hitting market specifications every time. The newly purchased bull should be vaccinated against IBR, BVD, PI3, leptospirosis, and vibriosis. During the breeding season it is not uncommon for bulls to lose condition. Collection and microscopic evaluation of a semen sample. With on-farm arrival after purchase, many yearling bulls fall off nutritionally upon entering into a new herd. We feed a high-fiber low-fat ration, a wheat mid based pellet. These bulls can end up with liver abscesses, damaged claws and feet, and in some cases permanent reduction in number of sperm produced and often poor semen quality. Fall calving has become more prevalent, particularly in the south. No guarantee, endorsement, or discrimination among comparable products is intended or implied by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Outside of development, conditioning, or early breeding, the use of organic minerals is unwarranted. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer. Table 1. Jack Holden of Holden Herefords, Valier, Montana, raises registered Herefords in northwestern Montana. The grain (concentrate) allowance for finishing cattle should be increased gradually over 23 wk from the time they are started on a finishing program to get them on full feed. In general, this requires a growth rate of 2 to 3 pounds per day during this time period from weaning to yearling stage. The selection of any particular roughage option will depend upon the age, bodyweight, and growth requirements of the bull. Spring-born calves commonly are weaned at 67 mo, and their dams bred back while on pasture. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions. A 1,500-pound bull gaining 2 pounds per day requires a diet consisting of around 34 pounds per day of dry matter intake that includes 2 pounds of CP and 21 pounds of TDN. amount of grain should increase to reflect the 1% of body weight unless it's obvious that they need more high-energy feed. An important step is to evaluate the bull's potential to get a cow pregnant. Proper feeding and development of yearling bulls should continue following the breeding season in order to maintain bulls in good body condition and keep them on an increasing plane of nutrition. To best design a bull nutritional development strategy, producers must first evaluate available resources. This information can be gathered by examining his pedigree. Daily nutrient requirements of growing bulls and 2-year-old bulls are presented in tables 1 to 5. Feeding less milk than this . There are three phases of diet adaptation in this system: Phase 1 includes a transition onto a high-concentrate diet, which allows the rumen time to adapt and reduces the chance of acidosis or digestive problems. In most cases, energy-dense feedstuffs will be some type of cereal grain or co-products (corn, oats, corn gluten feed, dried distillers grains). If the bull scores very low or fails the BSE, the bull should be re-checked in 60 to 80 days. Buyers realize a bull should be fit, not fat, but they still tend to think there is something wrong with a bull thats not carrying extra weight at sale time. 2. Cattle have been reported to over-consume soybean hulls in self-feeding scenarios, potentially leading to bloat problems and possible death. Older cattle, particularly if they enter the winter in fleshy condition, may just maintain their weight. Feeding young bulls is always a balancing act, walking a fine line between over-feeding and providing nutrition for optimum growth. Carcass trait EPDs that are often considered are carcass weight, backfat thickness, ribeye area, marbling, and retail yield. Beef bulls must be developed properly after weaning to become productive herd sires. Improved genetics arent a silver bullet, but choosing bulls with good maternal EBVs to breed female replacements will lay a solid foundation for progress. Occasionally, however, foot rot, toe ulcers, and abscesses develop and require immediate attention. This still sorts out the most efficient ones. Many traits that we value in cattle breeding cant be fully assessed by eye. Likewise the ability to produce a calf crop that is capable of garnering a greater price per pound would be an important consideration when purchasing a bull. The body condition of the cow herd should be monitored, as should the condition of the bulls. Therefore, selecting and implementing a genetic program with specific goals is important. As bulls increase in body weight, they require a greater amount of daily dry matter intake to meet the same production goal. The Ehlke pastures contain some legumes and provide adequate nutrition. The bulls are continually monitored; your eye will tell you a lot, he says. If he is getting too thin and rundown, he needs a rest. Carcass traits are important because they are used to determine the value of a carcass. Nervous cattle become stressed, eat less, are more prone to sickness, and perform poorer. As bulls mature, their daily energy and protein requirements are used more for maintenance. Because yearlings still have a significant amount of growth and development ahead of them, they require a higher level of care and management than their older counterparts. To achieve this goal in most cases, yearling bulls may require 1.5 to 2.0 pounds per day gain following a 60-day breeding season. Overall goals for bull development will vary from one operation to another due to differences in management, marketing, and other factors. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Producers should consult with a veterinarian to develop an appropriate vaccination plan during this transition period (refer to Vaccinations for the Beef Cattle Herd, Extension publication ANR-0968). Adequate quantity and acceptable quality forage will go a long way to meet the nutritional requirements of herd bulls. Relationship of bull age to service capacity during the breeding season. A BSE per-formed at the end of breeding can determine whether a bull has undergone any changes that may have compro- o [alopecia OR hair loss ], , DVM, DABVP, Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, Feeds for beef cattle vary widely in quality, palatability, and essential nutrient content ( see Table: Mean Nutrient Content of Feeds Commonly Used in Beef Cattle Diets a Mean Nutrient Content of Feeds Commonly Used in Beef Cattle Diets a ). Original publication date June 2009. Accessed February 1, 2022. Feedstuff considerations for feeding bulls. The newly purchased bull should be vaccinated against IBR, BVD, PI3, leptospirosis, and vibriosis. Similarly carcass traits, primarily carcass weight, but also marbling and yield grade potential are important considerations. A mineral mix and salt should be provided. There are a number of considerations when selecting a bull to purchase. There are some cattle that can handle a little more feed and performance and still stay sound and fertile, while others cant, says Holden. Proper management leading to acceptable growth in yearling bulls ensures that newly purchased bulls have a more productive future as a herd sire. One way to produce heavier calves with improved carcass traits is through hybrid vigor. Therefore sound feet and legs, particularly hind legs, are critical for a long service life of the bull.
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