Take the Bull by the Horns

Bull sale season will soon be in full swing, meaning now is the time to determine the bull selection criteria and budget for purchasing your next herd sires.

Considering that a bull’s contribution to the genetic makeup of a beef herd in a single breeding season is more than a cow may contribute in her lifetime–a bull may sire 25 or more calves per year while the average cow produces fewer than 10 calves–selecting genetically superior bulls is the quickest way to improve herd genetics. But how do you determine which bull is right for your operation?

Match Your Breeding Program to Your Operational Goals

The first step in identifying which bull or bulls are right for your farm is to clearly establish both the long- and short-term goals of your operation. These goals, along with the management practices and infrastructure that fit those goals, will determine the breeding programs and genetics required to achieve them.

There are a variety of breeding programs available, and effective sire selection requires an understanding of the characteristics of your own operation and the genetics available for purchase. Intentionally aligning a bull’s genetics to your operation’s goals will contribute to enhanced revenue and reduced costs.

As an example, let’s look at three scenarios with different operational goals and what breeding program might be suitable for each:

George retains ownership of all his calves (steers and heifers) through slaughter. Because he doesn’t retain replacement heifers, a terminal crossbreeding system is probably best suited to meet his goals. Both two-breed and three-breed terminal crossbreeding result in 100 percent of offspring heterosis, leading to calves with higher growth performance.

For producers like Susan, who are selling their entire calf crop at weaning, increasing weaning weights is a primary focus. Choosing a crossbreeding program with high calving ease and the added benefit of hybrid vigour would likely be ideal for her operation.

Jeff retains replacement females for his breeding herd. To support his goal, he could focus on crossbreeding to develop F1 crosses that should result in higher reproductive efficiency and longevity. Alternatively, he could focus on outcrossing (breeding to non-relatives or distant relatives) within a single breed. This system can be used to maintain performance levels and restore lost performance due to inbreeding depression.