Post-sale solitary not best way to treat bulls
Post-sale solitary not best way to treat bulls
Ensuring a full working life
for bulls bought at next
weeks Perth sales depends
largely on the care they
receive in the three
months after sale.
Emma Penny reports
Ensuring a full working life
for bulls bought at next
weeks Perth sales depends
largely on the care they
receive in the three
months after sale.
Emma Penny reports
Ensuring a full working life
for bulls bought at next
weeks Perth sales depends
largely on the care they
receive in the three
months after sale.
Emma Penny reports
FIVE star treatment followed by solitary confinement and a starvation ration is the fate of many bulls bought at pedigree sales.
But the short, sharp shock treatment – in an attempt to slim bulls down after purchase – can adversely affect fertility. That could radically reduce a bulls working life – a particular blow now that the maximum payment for cull animals is little more than £300 a head.
So says SAC beef specialist Basil Lowman, who warns that the first three months after purchase are the most important in ensuring bulls have a long working life.
"High levels of pre-sale management mean buyers are often tempted to go as hard as they can in negative management in an attempt to slim bulls down before work. But this short, sharp shock will reduce fertility. Infertility has increased over the last 20 years and I am sure this negative post-sale management is to blame," warns Dr Lowman.
Attempting to slim down young bulls is wrong, he says. "Even if a bull is too fit, it will grow out of that. Young bulls are not fully mature, and still have to grow their frame. Their maintenance requirement is high without growth requirements, so they shouldnt be starved to get the fat off them. Aim to maintain a liveweight gain of 0.8kg/day."
Some of the responsibility for ensuring bulls breed successfully lies in the hands of the vendor, he says.
"The bulls breeder should explain pre-sale management – whether it has received hay, silage, grass or five-times-a-day feeding. Continuity will reduce stress and therefore infertility risk."
According to Dr Lowman, few pedigree breeders feed silage prior to sale, with most relying on hay. "If bulls are used to hay, then feed that for the first two to three weeks before gradually changing onto silage if that is your main forage."
The same is true for concentrate feeding. Before sale, bulls will receive at least 2.5kg of concentrate fed twice a day, he explains.
"Its likely they will be offered 12-15kg concentrate a head prior to sale, split into four or five feeds. Risk of acidosis decrees that no more than 2.5kg concentrate should be fed at any one feed. If you cant run to four or five feeds a day then ensure that you offer at least two feeds of 2.5kg of a high quality concentrate."
Ideally, the bull should continue to receive the same concentrate as it was fed pre-sale, but that is more difficult than it sounds. "There is still a lot of myth and magic employed in pedigree rations, but it would be a good idea if the vendor could supply half a dozen bags of feed to ensure continuity."
Besides minimising stress by feeding the same ration, buyers should also be cautious about how quickly and widely they use a newly purchased bull, says Dr Lowman.
"Bulls should be purchased two to three months before they are expected to work.
"The worst thing is to put a fit young bull out with a herd of cows. This will risk his working life as he will be fat, and therefore less fertile.
"Enthusiastic young bulls will also serve cows four to five times, and they tend to have lower semen reserves, increasing the risk of barren cows."
He recommends young bulls are run with no more than 15-20 cows. The best option is to put him in as a sweeper bull for the second cycle following a mature bulls which should have served at least two-thirds of the cows.
"Running a young bull with a limited number of cows will prolong his working life. Also, even though estimated breeding values are a good guide to performance they are no guarantee. For instance, if the EBV for birth weight is +5kg this might be just enough to give calving difficulties in your herd. Its better to find out you have concerns with 12 cows rather than 40."
Prolonging a bulls working life also depends on good care throughout its life, warns Dr Lowman.
"Routine management of bulls is sadly lacking. They are expensive animals, and, rather like a Rolls Royce, should be kept clean and dry over winter. Although I dont believe in investing capital in cow accommodation, a purpose built bull pen is well worth the investment."
NEW BULL MANAGEMENT
• Dont slim down.
• Maintain feeding.
• Use with caution.
• House over-winter.
Buy bulls two to three months before you expect them to work and restrict the number of cows they run with in th first season to prolong their working life.
NEW BULL MANAGEMENT
• Dont slim down.
• Maintain feeding.
• Use with caution.
• House over-winter.
Attempting to slim bulls after purchase can adversely affect fertility, warns Basil Lowman.