Bulls
Cattle producers have been successful applying selection pressure to maintain calving ease while improving the additive genetic merit for weaning and yearling weight performance.
It takes bulls longer than cows to improve body condition due to their increased weight.
A recent study at Kansas State University highlights some of the benefits.
Five-hundred-sixty-three bidders registered for the annual sale with 264 buyers from 31 states and Mexico competed for 670 lots.
Turning out a subfertile bull means some cows in the herd won’t get bred or bred in a timely manner. Both problems are costly, says Chance Armstrong, DVM, Auburn University. Check out the two scenarios he outlines here.
This example evaluates five potential bull purchases and how a rancher can determine which one will provide the most potential return on investment.
Bulls passing all four parts of a BSE are set up for reproductive excellence. The best achieve a 60% to 65% conception rate every 21 days on healthy, cycling cows, says Dr. Chance Armstrong. Subfertile bulls are costly.
Whether you are buying out of a live auction or private treaty it is critical to access your own unique operation in order to determine the attributes your next bull needs to add value to the calf crop he will sire.
Gardiner Angus Ranch’s seventh Early Bird Sale saw a total of 474 head sell to 122 buyers from 22 states and Mexico in four hours.
While most cows are in larger groups, bulls tend to be in small groups, resulting in more exposure to the elements. Keeping them protected from the elements is crucial.
A little cowboy math to help you determine what that next herd bull is worth in your cow herd.
Determining the value of a bull is an important question, and one that is a challenge to answer. Mark Johnson, Oklahoma State University, offers some calculations to help determine a value.
Bulls are often a part of the cow herd that slips through the cracks during the winter months as breeding seasons end. Bull management strategies can impact a bull’s performance in the upcoming breeding season.
Bulls new to their job need extra attention to get acclimated to their role on the farm or ranch. Beef veterinarians and Extension specialists at Kansas State University offer some management practices that can help.
The germplasm collection at the National Animal Germplasm Program is an invaluable asset for understanding the genetics heritage of U.S. livestock and preventing the loss of genetic diversity.
Castration of bull calves prior to marketing has long been encouraged. Here’s a look at why this practice is important from a health, animal welfare, beef quality and cow-calf producer’s perspective.
Gardiner Angus Ranch’s 8th Annual “Meating Demand” sale was held May 1, 2023, at the ranch, Ashland, Kansas.
Bull breeding soundness exams offer the opportunity to identify and remove bulls from the breeding herd that have a low probability of siring calves.
More than 500 bidders from 35 states, Canada and Mexico competed for 772 lots at Gardiner Angus Ranch’s 44th Spring Sale held on Saturday at the ranch near Ashland, Kansas.
A defined breeding season is important to permit meaningful record keeping, timely management and profit potential.
Bull shopping season is upon us and in full swing. It’s time to think about the goals of your operation, and which traits need to be improved in your herd to get there faster.
When you invest in bulls this spring, it is a good idea to pen bulls of similar ages and size together for several weeks prior to start of breeding season to allow for social ranking of bulls.
Gardiner Angus Ranch hosted its 6th Annual Early Bird Bull sale on Monday with buyers from 22 states and Mexico.
The past year has been no walk in the park for producers. As we prepare to close out another year on the calendar, here’s a look back at the top production stories that cow-calf operations found helpful this year.
With the turn of the calendar year, bull sale season hits the ground running across cattle country. Be sure to consider all the options when it comes to attaining a bull.
Producers will often ask about the magnitude of the price premium for steers over bulls. In short, the answer is... just not that simple.
Assess the ages of your herd bulls and current feed costs. Culling older herd bulls now and re-populating with young bulls next spring can add long-term genetic advantages beyond just the savings in winter feed bills.
Heading into the next several winter months, how will you keep your “breeding athletes” prepared for the season to come?
Gardiner Angus Ranch’s 18th fall production sale saw 169 buyers from 26 states and Mexico acquire 1,178 head.
Check out the photographs of nine common problems Dr. Ahmed Tibary, Washington State University, says he most often sees in the sperm of bulls that fail breeding soundness exams.