Gators Rule
Well-known member
On a non-Brahman bull, what age range would you semen test a young bull?
Semen test question
- Thread starter Gators Rule
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Gale Seddon
Well-known member
My guess is about 15 months, but that is just a guess! When the vets I worked for would go do 30 or so BSEs, the comments on the forms suggested retesting some of the younger bulls (12-13 months old). I know other people here will have a more reliable answer for you!
pdfangus
Well-known member
I pretty much agree with Gale.
when I was on the BCIA committee it was an issue we wrestled with often. some time a yearling bull just won't test well and others will ace it. Usually retesting a couple months later improves passing scores.
when I was on the BCIA committee it was an issue we wrestled with often. some time a yearling bull just won't test well and others will ace it. Usually retesting a couple months later improves passing scores.
hillsdown
Well-known member
It is not so much as the age you test them but when you test them. You want to test them as close to when they will be used as possible. Especially if in really cold or hot weather.
So I would test after about 13 months old and try to do it right before they are to be turned out with the cows . My boys are tested usually the week before they sell .
So I would test after about 13 months old and try to do it right before they are to be turned out with the cows . My boys are tested usually the week before they sell .
James T
Well-known member
The last two bulls I bought were tested at 18 months and then let into the herd. I agree that testing just before herd performance is the way to go. You could go one step further and test again just after breeding season.
Gale Seddon
Well-known member
hillsdown":34nhlr1t said:
I recall the vets saying that it's difficult to test in extreme cold so not to schedule them.
OP
OP
Gators Rule
Well-known member
Thanks for the responses. My scenario is i placed half down on a 13 mo old bull. The breeder wants all his bulls semen tested at 14 months. If they pass, the new owner comes to pick up their new bull(s) and pays the second half. Today, my now 14 mo old bull was told by his vet he needs to wait for 30 more days before he can date my ladies. I was curious what ages others tested
I wanted him to breed 6-10 of my commercial cows in Nov/Dec before i introduced him to my purebreds. I Guess i will AI them too.
I wanted him to breed 6-10 of my commercial cows in Nov/Dec before i introduced him to my purebreds. I Guess i will AI them too.
hillsdown
Well-known member
Gale, extreme cold or extreme heat will effect the scrotal measurement ,as one they will be tucked in and one they will be hanging way low. Mine are tested in March usually ,just about the perfect temp .
hillsdown
Well-known member
Gators Rule":1xyukw38 said:
Sounds to me like his scrotal measurement did not pass the breed minimum . Have you asked the vet why he wants to wait, I would and see what they say . But the whole scenario does not sound very good .
OP
OP
Gators Rule
Well-known member
I think he said the bull's scrotum was 35 or so cm's...
hillsdown
Well-known member
Gators Rule":agynwm0d said:
Then I would contact the vet for sure as to why he cannot breed right away, a young bull usually has great motility and low morphology.
Dun I have never heard of a breed adjusting scrotal for age .
The only reason I heard about it was because we have some people that want to buy 9 month old bull and I won;t sell one that hasn;t passed a BSE. I asked the vet about it and he said there is some adjustment but he hasn;t done anything withit or even seen the table in years.hillsdown":11s2f288 said:
Cattleman200
Well-known member
A 35 cm scrotal measurement is passing in any breed on a 14 months old bull. If the vet said he needed to wait about breeding now I would be asking him why. A lot vets are members of the "society of theriogeneology". They pay to dues to be a member and it provides them guidelines based on the ages of bulls. I thought it a little crazy but they also have another formula to pass or fail bulls based on scrotal size by breeds. I would be concerned as to why this bull would not be able to breed now.
Circle H Ranch
Circle H Ranch
HOSS
Well-known member
Some breeds mature very early compared to others. I tested my Gelbvieh bull at 11 months or so and he passed with very high motility and morphology scores. The Gelbvieh females are the same way. I had a Gelbvieh heifer start cycling at 4 months old. I would say that 15 months is plenty on most breeds. Back a long time ago I used an 18 month old Gert bull on a few red angus cows. All came up open. He had a BSE and failed but passed with flying colors as a 2 year old..........go figure.
hillsdown
Well-known member
Cattleman200":1lb63cvl said:
I too would be asking why he needs to wait, very strange for sure.
Let us know if you find out more Gators. Good luck .
Dun I am going to ask Dr D or U about that too, as I have never tested any younger than around 13 months old. I thought minimum for RA is 31 cm as well, can't be sure though.
When we first tested dour bull (RA) he was 11 months and 37cm. We had some folks looking to buy him a mont hago when he was 20 months and it was still 37 cm. But last year when we turned him in he got all of the girls he was with bred, that was around 10 or so. We had AIed his mother and she was with him and when we had her palapeted the vet put her exactly half way between the AI date and the first date she would have come back in. So we may have tried some "line breeding" without planning too.hillsdown":iz9bdhzw said:
His sire was 43 cm at 13 months so apparantly the cow noced some off of the scrotal.
