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