Every cow-calf producer has either lived it or knows someone who has. Breeding season wraps up and everything looks fine, until fall preg-checks tell a different story: open cows, late calvers and a breeding window that slipped wider than planned. While cow nutrition, body condition and management are frequently evaluated, one critical factor is often underestimated—the bull.
Most frustrating is that there are often no obvious warning signs during breeding. The bull was turned out, was covering cows and looked the part. On the surface, everything appeared normal.
That’s exactly why a bull breeding soundness evaluation (BBSE) matters more than many producers realize. It is one of the few opportunities to take some guesswork out of bull performance.
On a cow-calf operation, bulls get a lot of attention for a couple of months out of the year and very little once breeding season wraps up. The reality is that a bull’s value doesn’t start on turnout day, and it definitely doesn’t end when he finishes up breeding season. Year-round management is what keeps bulls working when it counts.
Pre-Breeding Conditioning Phase (approximately two months before breeding)
Before your bull ever sees a cow, his soundness should be evaluated, not assumed. A BBSE, paired with regular body condition scoring, is one of the simplest and most effective tools available. Many producers schedule BBSEs six to eight weeks prior to breeding, allowing time to address problems without testing so early that late-winter issues like frostbite affect the results.
Body condition plays a large role in bull performance. Bulls that are too thin often lack stamina and libido, while over-conditioned bulls can struggle with mobility and fertility. Either way, conception rates can take a hit. Ideally, bulls should head into breeding season with a body condition score of 2.5 to 3—fit, mobile and ready to work.
Click here to see more...