  BeefTalk:
Bull Examination Is as Important as Cow Reproduction Preparation
By Kris Ringwall, Extension Beef Specialist,
NDSU Extension Service
Keeping track of your health is important, and as you get a little older,
periodic checkups shift from being voluntary to recommended and eventually
mandated. It pays to keep records of not only our surroundings, but also
ourselves as well.
For whatever reason, in the male sector of the population, the periodic
annual checkup seems to get brushed aside. This procrastination often results in
missing early diagnosis of a problem, that in some case can be life threatening.
The annual checkup is important for humans’ overall well being and stamina
and a thorough examination is required. The reproductive tract seems to be
particularly prone to malfunctioning.
The same evaluation needs to be applied to all living things, including
animals in the beef production world. It’s interesting that the same attitude
prevalent in the male sector of the producer world is carried over into the male
sector of the production world.
When was the last time you heard a bull get blamed for an open cow? Rather
than "How many cows didn’t settle?" should it be "How many cows did the bull
miss?" How many meetings do producers go to make sure cows are cycling? A great
deal of time and effort is spent to make sure cows’ reproductive systems are
healthy and functioning.
Not only are cows thoroughly discussed, but producers set about plotting to
interfere with the natural cycles to improve what nature has spent thousands of
years developing. Most producers could quote a rhyme with Ovsynch, Co-Synch,
Presynch and Heat Synch, as well as, the ration required to make sure the cows
are cycling.
The old saying, "it takes two to tangle" is true. When you stop to think of
some of the logic used in the business, a cow is expected to settle 100 percent
of the time, and yet a bull remains in the herd while only getting about 50
percent of the cows settled the first cycle. (The CHAPS five year rolling
average is 58.4 percent of the cows conceived on the first 21 days of the
breeding season.)
What is a typical producer response? "I need to get more cows cycling so the
bull can get them bred." Perhaps an alternative response would be, "I need to
find a bull that can get all the cycling cows bred."
Awareness and expectation of bull fertility needs to be increased. This week,
the North Dakota State University Dickinson Research Extension Center is busy
evaluating bulls. The bulls have had adequate nutrition, but age takes its toll
and some bulls are incapable of a vigorous breeding schedule.
Structural problems and injuries created by the day to day jostling are
evident. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the typical couch potato. These
bulls are over-pampered and over-fed and lack the physical conditioning or
desire to get the job done when turned out with a group of cycling cows.
A lot of effort is wasted on good cow management, when bull management is
lacking or non existent.
Bulls need to be in physical condition to met the rigors of an active
reproductive life. Exercise doesn’t hurt. A thorough breeding exam is still
required, even in the healthiest-appearing male. The exam should include
physical evaluation of body condition, feet and legs, eyes and any indication of
illness. A rectal examination for evaluation of the prostate and other internal
reproductive organs, plus an external examination of the testes, scrotum, penis
and prepuce is required. A semen evaluation based on volume, color, motility and
morphology should conclude the breeding soundness exam.
All these evaluations need to be done now, one to two months prior to bull
turn out to not only acquire the needed replacements but also to correct needed
deficiencies in the existing bull pen. The last evaluation is done at bull
turnout when you should observe bulls for mating desire.
May you find all your ear tags.
Your comments are always welcome at
www.BeefTalk.com. For more information,
contact the North Dakota Beef Cattle Improvement Association, 1133 State Avenue,
Dickinson, ND 58601 or go to
www.CHAPS2000.com on the Internet. In
correspondence about this column, refer to BT0139.
###
Source: Kris Ringwall, (701) 483-2427, kringwal@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu
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Graphic --
Breeding Soundness
Evaluation of Bulls
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Physical Examination
- Feet and legs
- Eyes
- Body condition
- Indications of illness
Rectal Examination
- Prostate
- Seminal vesicles
- Ampullae
- Internal inguinal rings
External Examination
- Testes
- Scrotum
- Penis
- Prepuce
Semen Evaluation
- Volume
- Color
- Motility
- Morphology
Mating Desire
- Present
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