Herd Health

from February 2023 Charolais Connection

dans nos champs

A lot has been written on vaccines, deworming, and fly control over the year for the bull. Of course, we want to have all that in place come breeding season and have the bulls semen tested to remove infertile ones. Most producers in this country do this very well in my opinion. Some even go the extra mile and footrot vaccinate and really attend to foot care when trimming is necessary.

There are also some preventative things we can do when it comes to injuries from breeding, or by other bulls, or during processing, or transport. There is nothing that frustrates me more as when big bulls get injured unnecessarily. This happens a lot when bulls are introduced or reintroduced to one another. Also when bulls are transported together in trailers. Our bull pens must be big enough and allow areas for the bulls to get away from one another. Every time we move bulls, whether it is out of the pen for foot trimming or semen testing, or simply move pens because we are cleaning, fighting can start. If we are ever diligent about the reintroductions or mixing bulls, we may be able to keep injuries to an absolute minimum.

When we have to disrupt the whole pen, we need to take advantage of the time and introduce new bulls to the pen, so they can blend into the group. Lots of space in the bull pen and distractions for them are helpful. I have seen big rocks in some bull pens, brushes or oilers. Ideally, a field in the off season where they can get lots of exercise. A practise tip that has been recently tried is when introducing bulls together is to spray an amount of vinegar on their backs (usually a couple ounces) put on with a spray bottle or applicator gun. This is something I heard from a group of producers and the principle is making all the bulls smell the same. This can also work when purebred producers are delivering bulls and need to put bulls from different pens in the same compartment of the trailer when necessary.

The right choice is always trying to separate bulls when transporting and with multi compartment trailers that is often possible. If being introduced to each other, they must have room to get away, or if introduced into breeding pastures, it is nice if they have run together in the off season. Bulls introduced into breeding groups for the first time will spend a few days sparing and potentially cows are not getting bred.

I prefer to run different ages of bulls together as the propensity to fight is averted because of the big size difference.

Sparring and fighting injuries can quickly take a bull out with damage to the feet and legs broken ribs etc. Some bulls that become poor doing are the result of scaring peritonitis and/or non healable foot or leg injuries involving bones, tendons, joint capsules, etc. We need as sound a moving bulls as we can and we have a finite breeding season to get the job done.

With injured bulls, if and when they do happen, act on them quickly. Pulling them is best to let them convalesce and receive treatment, sometimes no more than NSAIDs on prescription from your veterinarian. This is why sound feet and legs are a necessity when starting the breeding season. If any foot care is necessary, get it attended well in advance. Get the breeding ratio right for your operation. Too little bull power and missed breeding opportunities result and yet too many bulls and fighting can be a problem.

I always end by saying on bull health, purchase bulls from reputable purebred breeders (virgin bulls) to eliminate any risk of venereal transmitted diseases and make sure they have a satisfactory semen evaluation (all purebred breeders should be semen evaluating before or after the sale depending on timing and age of the bull).

A great number insure their bulls for the first season but let’s do all we can to be diligent at avoiding that injury from sparing and fighting.

I want you to keep in mind early recognition and treatment of problems can many times yield a favourable outcome. The bull may need to be replaced for a time but the long term outcome can be good. Conditions like lumpy jaw, wooden tongue and abscesses can all be treated with great success. Also very many cut penises or sheaths with minor medical intervention and time will heal. Many lamenesses may be things like sole abscesses, cracks, and single corns in older bulls. This is where preventative hoof care can prevent these ailments. If true footrot does happen treat as quickly as possible. It is the fever that develops and not the treatment with the antibiotic that will affect the sperm quality.

Also, do recognize when something serious has happened and if irreparable shipping as quickly as possible. Many a broken legged bull has been treated with antibiotics rendering salvage slaughter out of the question. Have a great breeding season everyone and let’s keep bull health at the top of our minds this year. They are a very valuable asset to the herd and worth looking after before, during, and after the breeding season. For preventative vaccinations, they are treated very much like the cow herd, but with the absence of scour vaccines ,and often the addition of footrot vaccines, which has been mentioned.