BSEs can Add Dollars to Producer Pockets, Thanks to Improved Calf Weaning Weights

Calves are worth their weight in gold these days. That’s a bit of an exaggeration but not much of one. Calf values are a big reason why thorough bull breeding soundness examinations (BSE) are so important. 

If producers turn out a subfertile bull this spring, it means some cows in the herd won’t get bred. A greater problem on farms and ranches today: many cows won’t get bred in a timely manner -- during the first third of the breeding season.

Those problems are costly to cow/calf producers, reports Dr. Chance Armstrong, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine.

“You’re losing 50 to 60 pounds of weaning weight every 21 days when the bull’s not efficient,” says Armstrong, who addresses the topic of BSEs, in partnership with Dr. Jennifer Koziol at Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine.

Remove Subfertile Bulls From The Herd:

Koziol and Armstrong want producers and veterinarians to focus on identifying subfertile bulls and removing them from the beef herd.

The best way to do that is with a breeding soundness examination, which is a four-part process involving: a physical examination, motility, scrotal circumference and morphology.

It's important to understand the value of assessing morphology. Veterinarians are able to evaluate sperm shape, the various elements that make up the sperm and how it moves. Morphology involves more than just looking at sperm to see if it "wiggles."

BSEs Are Good Insurance For Cow/Calf Producers:

Armstrong says the cost of a BSE offered by a bovine veterinarian in most parts of the country is usually under $100 per bull. That's good insurance, especially given the alternative. Not having a BSE performed by a qualified veterinarian can cost a cow/calf producer thousands of dollars.

Below are calculations from two scenarios Armstrong shared with producers at the 2024 National Cattlemen's Beef Association annual conference. The numbers are based on two 100-cow herds, one serviced by a fertile bull and the other by a subfertile bull.

When the final numbers were tallied, the herd serviced by the fertile bull delivered a whopping net advantage of $22,590.62 over the subfertile bull.

At least three things contributed to those additional dollars: more cows were bred, the cows were bred in a more timely manner so calves were born earlier in the season, the fertile bull's offspring were able to gain more pounds by weaning time.

Calving Timing Impact
1st third of calving season: 226 days x 2.1 #/day + 75# = 549.6#
2nd third of calving season: 205 days x 2.1 #/day + 75# = 505.5#
3rd third of calving season: 184 days x 2.1#/day + 75# = 461.4#

Pounds of Calf
Fertile Bull (94 cows bred)                 Subfertile Bull (78 cows bred)
60 head x 549.6 lb. = 32,976 lb.         40 head x 549.6 lb. = 21,984 lb.
24 head x 505.5 lb. = 12,132 lb.           24 head x 505.5 lb. = 12,132 lb.
10 head x 461.4 lb. = 4,614 lb.             14 head x 461.4 lb. = 6,460 lb.
Total lb. = 49,722 lb.                             Total lb. = 40,576. lb.

Dollars Per 100 Cows
Fertile Bull                                                                   Subfertile Bull
49,722 lb. @ $2.47/lb. = $122,813.34                      40,576 lb. @ $2.47/lb. = $100,222.72

Net advantage of the fertile bull: $22,590.62

For more information on BSEs, check out these additional articles:

Veterinarians Raise The Bar For Bull Breeding Soundness

Cattle Chat: Evaluating bulls for breeding soundness

Schedule Breeding Soundness Exams Before Turnout

Breeding Soundness Exam: A risk management tool 

The Importance of Breeding Soundness Exams