RESULTS ARE IN
CALIFORNIA RANCHER’S SELECTION AND MANAGEMENT OF HERD BULLS SURVEY UPDATE by Zach McFarlane, Ph.D., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo; Tracy Schohr, M.S., University of California Cooperative Extension; and Kasey DeAtley, Ph.D., California State University, Chico Raising cattle in California comes with a multitude of challenges when considering the environment alone. Producers need cattle that can adapt to the state’s diverse regional climates, topography and rangeland conditions. Specifically, bulls need to be able to successfully breed cows and remain sound in extensive rangeland conditions. Few research studies have investigated factors related to the selection, purchase, management and longevity of bulls on California’s rangelands. Therefore, the objectives of this research study with Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California State University, Chico and University of California Cooperative Extension were to assess the factors related to bull purchasing decisions, management and culling decisions of California beef producers. A total of 1,410 surveys were mailed to the California Cattlemen’s Association membership. Approximately 220 individuals have mailed in their responses or completed the online version, resulting in a 16 percent response rate to date. Surveys are still being collected and we encourage the membership to respond in the online version (ucanr.edu/bullsurvey) or complete the mailed catalog. Preliminary results of this study are discussed below, with a select highlight of the 35 total questions from the survey. Keep in mind that the results may change as more data are collected from producers. Please check your mail for a postcard that provides a QR code and the link for the online version of the survey. Demographic Findings The average California beef producer is approximately 61 years old with 27 years of experience. Respondents manage cattle on more than 1.7 million acres of owned, privateleased and public leased rangelands in California and surrounding states. Most respondents were cow-calf producers that managed a herd size of 378 head on average; however, herd sizes were highly variable across the state. California producers had a bull battery that averaged 18 head of bulls with an average longevity of five years. The survey results showed 60 percent of respondents purchase a 74 California Cattleman September 2020
bull every year. The preferred purchase method was at a bull sale (44 percent), by private-treaty (26 percent) or a combination of sales and private treaty purchases (25 percent). Producers attended an average of two sales per year, while 80 percent of survey respondents do not attend any online sales during the year. Respondents preferred to purchase long-yearlings (56 percent of respondents; bulls aged about 18 months). The predominate breed of bull purchased was Angus (66 percent). Bull buyers paid an average price of just over $5,000 in the last two years, while the average highest price reported by producers to have paid in the last five years was just below $7,000. In all, 71 percent of survey respondents indicated that limited bull guarantees were important for their bull purchasing decision. Selection Criteria Expected progeny differences (EPDs) have been used as selection criteria in order to promote genotypic selection in the most utilized breeds of beef cattle. Breed associations and research scientists are constantly working on increasing the accuracy of these genetic prediction tools for producers. In this study, we wanted to ...CONTINUED ON PAGE 76
