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How many cows for one bull?
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<blockquote data-quote="preston39" data-source="post: 94226" data-attributes="member: 1487"><p>From Cow and Calf 5/27/05</p><p></p><p>"Don't Forget About The Bulls </p><p></p><p>As breeding season approaches, generally everyone's thinking about getting cows and heifers in shape for the breeding season. A tight breeding season results in a tight calving season, which generally is the most economical for producers. </p><p></p><p>However, the cow is only half of the equation. Don't forget about the bulls! Here are some things to consider:</p><p> </p><p>One of the most important, often underutilized, tools is a breeding soundness exam (BSE). A BSE will allow the technician/veterinarian to assess the fertility of a bull based on scrotal circumference, sperm motility and sperm morphology. </p><p></p><p>When selecting herd bulls, emphasis is placed on growth performance, EPDs and soundness. These are all good criteria, and no one should try to use a lame or unsound bull for breeding. However, there's nothing wrong with putting a bull on the table for a good foot trim, if he needs it, a month before the start of the breeding season. If he's going to hit the ground running, he should have the best set of wheels he can get. </p><p>Vaccination/deworming. Herd bulls should be on the same vaccination/deworming schedule as the cows. Since vaccination schedules vary as much as production systems do, there's no "correct" schedule. If in doubt, vaccinate and/or deworm your bulls about two weeks before they go out to pasture. </p><p></p><p>Body condition. When a bull is out working the cows, his mind is only on one thing, and it's not feed. In the peak of the breeding season, some bulls will breed 6-8 cows/day, and hardly eat. Bulls should be in a similar body condition score as replacements heifers, ideally, from 5 to 6.5. </p><p>Bull:cow ratio. There's a lot of variation in producer opinion about how many cows a bull can service. Try this little rule of thumb: one bull can service as many cows as he is months old, up to 50 months. </p><p>For example: A 15-month-old bull can service 15 cows, a 24-month-old bull can service 24 cows, and a 50-month-old bull can service 50 cows. After 50 cows, you're starting to really push the limits of what even an older, more experienced bull can accomplish in a 60-day breeding season. </p><p></p><p>Fertility-Associated Antigen. Some bulls are inherently more fertile than others, due in part to a protein called fertility-associated antigen (FAA). The FAA protein is found on the sperm cells of some bulls and results in a higher percentage of sperm capacitation, and therefore a higher rate of fertilization. </p><p></p><p>Studies show FAA-positive bulls are about 17% more fertile, and get more cows bred in a 60-day breeding season. A chuteside test available from ReproTec, Inc. Tucson, Ariz., can test for FAA. It takes about 20 minutes/bull and can easily be incorporated into the routine bull breeding soundness exam. </p><p></p><p>For more info on bull management or to read this article in its entirety, visit the University of Minnesota Extension Service Beef Team website at <a href="http://www.extension.umn.edu/beef" target="_blank">http://www.extension.umn.edu/beef</a>. </p><p>-- Bethany Lovaas, University of Minnesota Beef Team"</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="preston39, post: 94226, member: 1487"] From Cow and Calf 5/27/05 "Don't Forget About The Bulls As breeding season approaches, generally everyone's thinking about getting cows and heifers in shape for the breeding season. A tight breeding season results in a tight calving season, which generally is the most economical for producers. However, the cow is only half of the equation. Don't forget about the bulls! Here are some things to consider: One of the most important, often underutilized, tools is a breeding soundness exam (BSE). A BSE will allow the technician/veterinarian to assess the fertility of a bull based on scrotal circumference, sperm motility and sperm morphology. When selecting herd bulls, emphasis is placed on growth performance, EPDs and soundness. These are all good criteria, and no one should try to use a lame or unsound bull for breeding. However, there's nothing wrong with putting a bull on the table for a good foot trim, if he needs it, a month before the start of the breeding season. If he's going to hit the ground running, he should have the best set of wheels he can get. Vaccination/deworming. Herd bulls should be on the same vaccination/deworming schedule as the cows. Since vaccination schedules vary as much as production systems do, there's no "correct" schedule. If in doubt, vaccinate and/or deworm your bulls about two weeks before they go out to pasture. Body condition. When a bull is out working the cows, his mind is only on one thing, and it's not feed. In the peak of the breeding season, some bulls will breed 6-8 cows/day, and hardly eat. Bulls should be in a similar body condition score as replacements heifers, ideally, from 5 to 6.5. Bull:cow ratio. There's a lot of variation in producer opinion about how many cows a bull can service. Try this little rule of thumb: one bull can service as many cows as he is months old, up to 50 months. For example: A 15-month-old bull can service 15 cows, a 24-month-old bull can service 24 cows, and a 50-month-old bull can service 50 cows. After 50 cows, you're starting to really push the limits of what even an older, more experienced bull can accomplish in a 60-day breeding season. Fertility-Associated Antigen. Some bulls are inherently more fertile than others, due in part to a protein called fertility-associated antigen (FAA). The FAA protein is found on the sperm cells of some bulls and results in a higher percentage of sperm capacitation, and therefore a higher rate of fertilization. Studies show FAA-positive bulls are about 17% more fertile, and get more cows bred in a 60-day breeding season. A chuteside test available from ReproTec, Inc. Tucson, Ariz., can test for FAA. It takes about 20 minutes/bull and can easily be incorporated into the routine bull breeding soundness exam. For more info on bull management or to read this article in its entirety, visit the University of Minnesota Extension Service Beef Team website at [url=http://www.extension.umn.edu/beef]http://www.extension.umn.edu/beef[/url]. -- Bethany Lovaas, University of Minnesota Beef Team" [/QUOTE]
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