Connection Winter 2015 | Page 16

SUPPLY CATTLE Herd bull conditioning critical for successful breeding season Don’t forget the bull W By Michael Grahmann ith weaning time winding down and calving season just around the corner, herd bull conditioning for the breeding season should be addressed on your ranching operations. Even though the herd bull is responsible for 50 percent of the calf crop annually, herd bull conditioning is often overlooked by operators. However, condition of the herd bull battery has as much to do with a successful breeding season as the body condition score of your cow herd at calving. The process of herd bull reconditioning is something that should begin four to five months prior to breeding season. By starting this process early, ranchers have the opportunity to fully evaluate their herd bull needs for the next breeding season long before the run of late fall and winter bull sales. Emergency bull purchases because of a bull not passing a breeding soundness exam, lameness or not being in condition to breed never seems to work out as well as carefully planned bull purchases that target the traits the operation needs in next year’s calf crop. Proper bull conditioning, along with a Breeding Soundness Exam 30 days prior to breeding season, helps ensure maximum reproductive success in the herd. As with the cow herd, body condition score of herd bulls is extremely important. Bulls entering the breeding season need to be in a body condition score of 6.0 to 6.5. 16 Ideally, the desirable 6.0 body condition score should be reached 60 days prior to turn-out to insure optimal sperm production. Remember, sperm production in the beef sire is a 64-day process, thus the need for proper body condition at least 60 days prior to turn-out. The first step in conditioning bulls is to evaluate the current body condition of the bulls. The current body condition will help determine how much weight the herd sire needs to gain prior to turn-out. For most Continental and Brahman influenced cattle, one body condition score equals an estimated 150 pounds. For English breeds, one body condition score equals an estimated 100 pounds to 125 pounds. For example, if Brahman influenced herd bulls are in a body condition score 5.0 and the desired BCS prior to turn-out is 6.5, then the necessary gain to reach this