Developing bulls for commercial producers

DEVELOPING BULLS COMMERICAL CATTLEMAN for the

by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen

Though often reserved and kept to themselves, you’d be hard pressed to find someone more educated than today’s rancher. Not only are they inquisitive students of the industry, they are often more aware of the environment than a meteorologist, as adept at animal health protocols as some veterinarians, and are as reliable at predicting the success of a mating as many genetic formulas. Like any specialist, experience in their field – coupled by a willingness to adapt – is what determines their level of proficiency.

When it comes to raising breeding bulls, seedstock cattlemen are learned experts who don’t come by their knowledge easily. Unlike more ruthless industries, time and time again purebred beef producers share what they know to help other cattlemen and women prosper. For commercial cattlemen, their seedstock suppliers are one of the most important parts of their business.

As bull sale season lies directly before us, seedstock producers across the state are gearing up for the finale event of a long list of preceding events.

In fact, the most important aspects of a successful bull sale happen years, sometimes even decades before the culminating bull sale. From developing a reliable cowherd to learning the best way to feed high-performing herd bulls, the most intricate details of sale season are the parts no one ever sees.

For commercial cowcalf producers looking to invest in genetics this spring, California’s seedstock producers have a great deal to offer and you need look no further than your backyard to find a seedstock operator who is not only willing to help you find what you are looking for, he has already been hard at work doing just that long before this year’s bull offering hit the ground.

Bryce Borror of Tehama Angus Ranch in Gerber says it takes years of building a functional cow herd to produce bulls that will go to work in any environment. “It takes generation upon good generation of good mother cows mated to the right functional sires. Then you put those genetics to work in your environment,” Borror said.

In addition he says it takes countless hours pouring over A.I. stud catalogs, making calls to other breeders who have used similar genetics or run cattle in similar environments. Getting feedback from past buyers and potential customers is also important in knowing what producers want in a bull is also a critical step, Borror says.

He emphasizes there is also the never-ending list of herd health protocols and management steps that have to be met to get a bull calf all the way to being a sire prospect. This includes everything from pre-breeding cow vaccines all the way to the breeding soundess exam and everything in between, he says.

GOALS

A good bull development program has to include an attainable game plan. For some producers this may mean beginning by evaluating the resources they have available. Facilities, labor and land are just a few of the resources that have to be considered when it comes to raising and developing young bulls. A proper bull development program involves a lot of cost management and a welldesigned nutrition and herd health program – not to mention people who can be on hand to implement such a round-the-clock program. So capital is also a concern.

In addition to the physical goals needed on the operation itself, seedstock producers also need to know what they are aiming for in terms of the bulls they are seeking to produce. Some questions they likely ask themselves on a routine basis are: Who am I raising bulls for? What are some consumer trends in the beef industry I need to be aware of? What does the commercial cattleman need? What will it take for me to develop bulls for him or

her?

GENETIC SELECTION

Not only does raising a functional, broody cowherd take a lot of trial and error, but utilizing breed genetics and expected progeny differences (EPDs) that will appeal to bull customers is also important for a successful calf crop. Seedstock producers should start with careful evaluation and selection of sires that will complement the cow herd and are expected to produce a desired type of bull calf.

Ron Gilliland is a seedstock producer in Davis who also runs a large commercial herd which allows him the opportunity to see his genetics go to work.

“Bulls have to be able to travel and have the stamina to breed!” Gilliland said. “Moderate frame, moderate milk, good growth, eye appeal and stayability have to be main characteristics of the mother cow.”

I want a fully functional cow that breeds back on her first cycle and carries a functional calf to weaning while traveling large distances when out on paster. She ahs to repeat that cycle year after year. The goal is to raise females that will work for a commercial producer no matter where their operation is located.”

Anymore, genetics can change your bull calves immensely from year to year so it is important for a purebred manager to do their homework before they ever order a single straw of semen or make a herdsire purchase.

Deforest Livestock is a Hereford and commercial cattle ranch and Quarter Horse operation in the high elevation area of Modoc county near the small town of Adin. According to Kathy Deforest selecting genetics to implement in their herd and to sire bull calves, requires a good deal of caution because as longevity is of utmost importance to most producers, including themselves.

“For us, in both buying bulls and producing them, good feet and legs a imperative. If we don’t think we can get four years out of a bull, we don’t even look at him,” Deforest says.

“There in no compromise for soundness, not only does it hurt your bottom line, but selling an unsound bull can hurt your repuration and the possibility of customers coming back,” she explains.

Balance is something that Deforest says she weighs heavily as well.

“We don’t just look at EPDs. Phenotype is important but we also look at carcass traits and mothering ability,” Deforest says. “We aren’t big enough that we can use one bull on a group of cows for one trait or another bull on a different set of cows to improve that trait. We need bulls that cover all the bases.”

While phenotype m atters to the Deforest family, Kath says she is leery of excessive body condition.

“Fat is pretty and pretty animals – whether we’re talking about catttle, horses or even dogs – make life more fun. But you have to be cautious because it is usually when bulls slim down and get to work that you really see what they are made of.

CULLING

Not every male born on a seedstock operation will be the kind and quality needed to make it as a breeding bull. For this reason, seedstock producers should start taking

...CONTINUED ON PAGE 28

...CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

note of a calf’s potential the day he hits the ground. From the size of the calf at birth to his markings, structure and the way he moves and eats, everything about a new calf catches the eye of a seedstock beef producer.

Nursing problems for bull calves may lead to problems that may result in culling. Early identification of these calves could necessitate castration.

Weaning is also a good time to cull low-performing, unthrifty, structurally unsound or genetically inferior bull calves and select those bull calves that will continue on in a breeder’s bull development program. Bulls are also evaluated throughout their development for temperament. For bulls that exhibit poor disposition, culling may be considered.

When it comes time to market bulls, those who are fast-gaining, structurally correct, free of genetic defects and easy to get along with are sure to fetch a better price tag. Culling bull calves is not the only aspect of culling that a good seedstock producer considers. Routine evaluation of a cowherd is also an important part of bull development as a quality bull is only as good as the factory he came from and he will pass on her genes as much as his sire’s.

Though culling isn’t any rancher’s favorite part of the job, it is one that pays them back in the long run.

It regards to selecting “keeper bulls,” Deforest says she thinks it is quite simple. “If we wouldn’t use a bull on our own commercial cows, we make the tough choice to casterate him. I think the hardest part of being a good seedstock producer is that you can’t be afraid to use a knife. In the end, it is the best thing to do even if it means having fewer bulls to sell.”

NUTRITION

Postweaning development of beef bulls is imperative to their success as breeding bulls. It is also one of the more costly parts of being a purebred beef producer, making it one of the parts of bull development that separates mediocre breeders from the best ones. Different management is essential for bulls of different stages. Bulls are usually separated and managed according to age. For example, weanling bull calves, yearling bulls, gain-tested bulls, two-year-old bulls, mature bulls, etc., each demand a different ration in order to reach their full potential. Separating younger bulls from older ones may not be convenient but is vital for preventing injuries. Dividing bulls into specific age categories also allows for easier for ration formulations at feeding time.

As bulls grow and mature, their feed requirements subsequently change. Younger bulls require less quantity, higher quality diets. While daily dry matter intake typically increases with body weight, the protein requirement as a percentage of dry matter intake declines. Younger bulls require a higher percentage of protein for the rapid lean muscle growth that is occurring during early in their development.

Snyder Livestock’s Lucy Rechel, Yerington, Nev., says everyone knows that fat sells but getting bulls fat is not necessarily the best thing for the longevity of the bull.

“I sometimes hear commericial producers say about bulls they might have purchased from some production sale, ‘He looked real good on sale day but I got him home and he fell apart.’ But the key thing about young bulls that commercial producers should remember is that these are growing bulls so they need to be cared for differently than mature bulls. They can have a couple more years of growth left and should be fed that way,” Rechel said. “Young bulls need forage and fiber to gain well but also so you won’t burn them up early.”

HEALTH

When considering vaccination protocols for breeding bulls, it is good to know which diseases can lead to reproductive problems. Diseases that can result in abortion, infertility and reproductive performance in the cowherd are obviously detrimental to reproductive efficiency. These kinds of disease include leptospirosis, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Bovine Viral Diarrhea, vibriosis and trichomoniasis. Bulls should be vaccinated for these diseases prior to marketing.

Your local veterinarian has the most complete knowledge on diseases in your area and can make more specific recommen¬dations for developing a vaccination protocol for your specific herd. An individualized approach to disease risk and management is the most effective.

Breeding soundness evaluations (BSE) prior to marketing or breeding is one tool that helps ensure that only bulls with likelihood of successful breeding will be sold and used. Breeding soundness is very important in herds of all sizes, regardless of the number of bulls utilized in a cowherd. While few bulls are completely sterile, some do generally have a fertility level that ranges from very high to very low. A BSE helps determine which bulls will not perform satisfactorily for potential culling from the herd.

According to Merck Animal Health, approximately one in five bulls will not pass a BSE. A breeding soundness evaluation performed by a veterinarian one or two months prior to the breeding season is an important management procedure. This involves a complete physical examination, a scrotal circumference measurement and a semen evaluation of the bull. Scrotal size is directly correlated with actual volume of sperm production. In addition to a BSE, observing the bull during service is necessary for monitoring cow cycling activity and ensuring that cows are being serviced timely and properly. A BSE is not only in the best interest of the breeder, it is also essential to good customer service and a satisfied cow-calf producer.

MARKETING

When it comes time to merchandise breeding bulls, seedstock producers can take a variety of steps to ensure

an optimal audience of bull buyers. Whether marketing cattle online, private treaty or through a live auction, each seedstock producer should pursue the avenue that is best for them.

Factors that may be included in making this marketing decision are: Bull offering – how many bulls do you have to market? The more bulls you have, the more likely you are to need a larger audience and a big event. A smaller number of bulls may give you the ability to sell them private treaty or via an intimate online event. Facilities – do you have the means and ability to hold a live, in-person sale event? Budget – What kind of capital you have on hand may determine where and how often you can advertise your sale offering. Budget may also dictate if you can afford to entertain a sale audience, afford an auctioneer, etc. But if one thing is for certain in any business, including the cattle business: You have to spend money to make money. Cutting corners likely won’t glean the sale results you want.

Regardless of what kind of sale event you plan to have, if you want to access a wider base of potential buyers, advertising – whether online or through print marketing, or ideally through both – is extremely important to getting the best price for your bull offering.

Similarly to the factors impacting the decisions of seedstock producers, commercial cattlemen also have decisions to make when it comes time to buy bulls. It can be easy to get lost in all of the information that is available to commercial cattlemen. If you are a commercial producer, how do you know what kind of bulls are available? How do you know where to look? How do you know exactly what you need? As a producer of any kind, exposing yourself to as much material as possible will give you access to a wide range of breeds, a variety of genetic trends and seedstock suppliers.

While print advertising in conventional journalism is becoming less of a necessity in today’s world, the beef industry still relies heavily on print advertising and marketing, coupled with digital advertising to appease certain portion of buyers.

No matter how a seedstock producer markets their bull offering or how a commercial cow-calf rancher chooses to buy bulls from year to year, one theme will generally continue to ring true: You get what you pay for. This theme applies to every facet of cattle marketing from what a purebred breeder is willing to pay for a straw of semen or quality vaccine or advertising your bull offering. This philosophy applies to commercial cattlemen as well. While the price for bulls has increased exponentially in the last decade, it is important to remember all that goes into producing a good bull and the dividends he will pay back when it comes time to sell his calf-crop. “Breeding with the commercial cattleman in mind” we will work hard for the opportunity to earn your business! a sample of this year’s offering... H3L 382 DOMINO 171 H3L 8213 1ET DOMINO 185 Sire: MH 9126J DOMINO 382 1ET Sire: H5 6128 DOMINO 8213 1ET MGS: HH ADVANCE 1003Y MGS: CHURCHILL RANCHER 592R CED BW WW YW RE MB $CHB CED BW WW YW RE MB $CHB 7.2 2.6 63 98 0.20 0.11 98 8.3 1.3 53 87 0.29 0.35 132 H3L 8213 DOMINO 189 H3L 382 DOMINO 166 Sire: H5 6128 DOMINO 8213 1ET Sire: MH 9126J DOMINO 382 1ET MGS: CHURCHILL SENSATION 028X MGS: CHURCHILL ROCKET 938W CED BW WW YW RE MB $CHB CED BW WW YW RE MB $CHB 5.6 1.9 56 92 0.40 0.20 124 11.1 1.2 54 93 0.16 0.21 107 indicates traits better than breed average

THESE BULLS AND 45 OTHERS WILL BE PICTURED AND PRICED ONLINE SEPT. 1, WWW.HUFFORDSHEREFORDS.COM.

Free wintering until March 1, 2022 and Free delivery up to 200 miles. HUFFORD FAMILY 79337 SOTO LN. • FORT ROCK, OR 3L KEN 541-403-1044 • 541-576-2431 Private Treaty Bulls www.huffordsherefords.com • ijhufford@yahoo.com available at the Ranch