Study the background to learn if a bull would be a good bull for your herd

Cowboy logic says, “Don’t expect the scenery to change if your sittin’ on the fence.” There is a lot of truth in this simple saying. As the cattle industry evolves into a new phase like none other we have ever seen, it’s easy to catch yourself just sittin’ on the fence.

As a whole, most cattle producers are more comfortable continuing to do the same thing over and over. This is a good thing if your norm is being open to change, but can be a detrimental hazard if you’re one of those that just does something because “well that’s the way I’ve always done it.”

On a recent trip to the local sale barn I was standing outside the holding area looking at a black bull in a pen by himself. To me he was a very common bull that had no neck, poor hind quarter muscling, long hair, and to be quite honest should have been steered the day he was born.

Another cattleman walked up to us, looked at he bull, and commented “pretty nice bull. He would make me a good bull.” He then walked away pleased with his comment on the bull.

I thought to myself, this guy probably buys most of his herd bulls with this approach. He actually knows nothing about this bull that would come close to confirming if he was a “good bull” to be used on cows or heifers.

Most older bulls are in the stockyard for sale for a reason. And usually not a good reason. If they were doing the job with no problems they would still be back on the farm.

A smart bull buyer will need to know a few things about a bull before he can deduce that he is truly a “good bull.”

First off, a good knowledge of the cow base is very important. What is the average size of the cows the bull will be breeding, are they first calf heifers that have been pelvic measured, and what is their general genetic make-up? By answering these questions a producer can begin to narrow down the type bull he needs to be looking for.

For the commercial producer, crossbreeding should be strongly considered when selecting a bull. To add extra pounds to the next calf crop, selecting a bull of the same breed make-up of the cows is not helping one bit. To use an Angus bull on Angus cows will only produce Angus calves. If your goal is simply to have a black calf, then you have basically accomplished that goal. However, you have given away those extra 15-20 of pounds of growth those calves would have put on through breed complimetarity of heterosis.

EPDs of bulls provide us with sound information about the expected progeny results of how the bull will perform. It’s easy to get caught up in the “over information” of EPDs but a good bull buyer needs to know the basics of calving ease (CE), weaning weight (WW), and yearling weight (YW). These three EPDs are vital to knowing if the bull you choose is the right one for your cow base. Learn how to use EPDs to your advantage.

And probably most important, has the bull completed a breeding soundness evaluation (BSE)? This bit of information must be performed by a veterinarian through testing and visual observation. Does the bull have adequate sperm levels, too many abnormalities, and what is the motility. Only by viewing a sample under the microscope can this be determined. At a cost of $50, this may be some of the best spent money you can spend when buying a bull.

In conclusion, I hope its obvious now that just looking at a bull in a pen does not give a bull buyer enough information to determine if he is “a good bull for me”, or not. The more you can learn about a bull before you buy it will help make your decision a wise one or not.

Till next time, keep putting on the pounds,

Steve