Sire selection--the bull is half of the herd
Untitled
By Richard C. Snell
Barton County Extension Agent--Agriculture
I was out to the Mid-Kansas Angus Breeders Sale at LaCrosse last week. Several of the sellers are from our county and all of them are friends of mine and I hope they feel the same way about me. They have good cattle and good reputations.
Anyway, I had the opportunity to witness a good sale, eat some good food and "shoot the bull" with a number of area beef cattle producers. This got me to thinking how I could maybe help you decide what bulls to buy.
Today, instead of just shooting the bull, I want to help you buy the bull to make your beef cowherd more productive.
For many cattlemen, this is the time of year when important decisions are made regarding the cow herd. A poor bull buying decision might leave a producer with a product they don't need or don't want in their herd. On the other hand, a good bull buying decision will increase that producer's chances of having a more profitable calf crop.
Sire selection, whether it be natural or using artificial insemination and purchasing semen, has a greater impact on genetic improvement of a herd than many producers realize. Even though most of you are using more than one bull, if you have a small herd and do only use one bull, he is half of your calf crop. Essentially the bull is half the herd. The sire is likely to produce a high number of calves in his lifetime compared to a cow. A cow may give you 10 or even 12 calves in her lifetime. But the bull, he may breed 20-25 cows minimum over say even over 4-5 years. So he may sire 100 calves. So a sire has a larger contribution to the genes in a herd and even more so, if you are raising your own replacement heifers.
Should price be the deciding factor? Probably not and here's why. Let's say you are debating whether to buy the $4,000 bull or the $2,000 one. Going back to the 100 calves he is going to sire, a $2,000 difference is only $20 per calf. If you save one extra calf per year, you have probably paid for the high dollar bull right there. If each calf weighs 20 lbs more at weaning, you have paid for him again. If you can get a premium because of the appearance or bloodline, you have paid the difference a third time.
So, having said all that, what traits should I emphasize in my bull selection? This is not a simple answer. Traits can be grouped into the following categories: Growth and production, maternal traits, carcass traits, reproductive traits, survivability and adaptability, and convenience traits. Does the trait contribute to reducing cost or improving revenues. Some of these traits might include: Structural soundness, sex drive, calving EPDs (Expected Progeny Difference), yearling and weaning weights, milk production, scrotal circumference and semen quality. One other trait you should look at is disposition. You want a cow with some motherly protectiveness, but you don´t want either a cow or a bull that might kill or injure you in a pen. This is even more important as you get older as a producer and can't move quite as fast as you used to (not naming any names).
EPDs are simply how a bull's parents have performed and how the calves he sires might turn out based on a breed average. They don´t always hold true to form but are good guideline. A lower number is generally good on birth weight while yearling and weaning weights should be higher.
If you are looking for a bull for heifers, you emphasis calving ease. If you are selling weaned calves, weaning weight is important. There are breed differences as well. Since I am a believer in crossbreeding, choose a herd sire different than your cows. EPD numbers are important but you want a bull that looks good as well. I still think muscling and structural correctness are important.
Performance tested bulls are bulls that have been on feed for awhile and checked for rate of gain in pounds per day, yearling weight, and feed efficiency. Some tests will check for rib eye area through ultra-sound measurement and fat thickness. Carcass traits are actually the most highly heritable and may be most critical if you are using retained ownership through the feedlot phase or being paid by someone for these traits.
How fat do you want a bull? He will probably lose weight when he goes to pasture so you want some condition on him so he can stand to lose some weight. If he is thin to start with you may have to fatten him prior to turn-out. On the other hand you don't want an over fat bull as this can lead to decreased fertility and stamina. He may fall apart if he gets in too tough of an environment.
Cattle prices are good, now that we've had some moisture to grow some summer grass, let's purchase profitable cattle.
Where the good bull and females sales are
--On Tuesday, March 28, at 1 p.m., B & D Herefords and Beran Brothers Angus will be selling 240 head of some of the best Hereford cattle around, Angus bulls and heifers, along with 50 black baldy heifers with calves at side. The sale will be at the ranch northwest of Claflin or just one mile east of Odin.
--The Kansas Limousin Breeders will hold a sale of bulls and females at the Salina Livestock Auction Barn on April 2.
--Green Garden Angus will hold their annual production sale on Monday, April 3, 1.5 miles south of Lorraine. The annual Kansas Bull Test Sale is coming up April 5 at the Fairgrounds in Beloit. It begins at 11:30 a.m. and there are 304 bulls on test with the top 170 selling. Breeds include Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, Tarentaise and some crosses.
--There are also many good breeders who sell bulls at their farm, private treaty only.
Date: 3/23/06
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