The fall series of bull breeding soundness clinics are just around the corner during October.
“Appointments are being accepted at the participating veterinary clinics,” said Eldon Cole, field specialist in livestock, University of Missouri Extension.
According to Cole, herd bulls are the most valuable animals on the farm. Therefore, it makes sense to have your valuable animals given a thorough exam once or twice a year.
“The exam indicates if they’re capable of breeding and settling all the females they’re exposed to in a limited breeding season. As a rule, the breeding season is 75 days or less,” said Cole.
A breeding soundness exam is more than just collecting a semen sample and looking at it under a microscope. Other features include penile and prepuce check for hair rings, warts, adhesions and injuries; scrotal measurement; rectal palpation of the accessory sex glands; extension of the penis; hooves and legs; eyes and teeth.
“This may sound like a lot of work and be time-consuming but at these clinics we move right along. I usually do a body condition score (1 to 9) on a bull. I’ll also score hoof structure and overall soundness, also on a 1 to 9 system,” said Cole.
One trait not evaluated during the exam is libido. According to Cole, this is where the bull owner should watch the bull closely after turnout to see if he is getting the job done.
“In some cases, if you have a cow in heat that you’re selling, expose a young bull to her to see if he’s active and completes the breeding process,” said Cole.
One of the important factors in running a cow-calf enterprise is to have a well-bunched set of calves. Having the calves bunched together provides for more uniformity in the calf crop which helps the calves sell higher.
Call the clinic of your choice for an appointment. The bull clinic schedule is as follows:
Oct. 15 and 16—Dake Veterinary Clinic, Miller, phone 417-452-3301
Oct. 18—Animal Clinic of Diamond, Diamond, phone 417-325-4136
Oct. 16 and 18—El Dorado Springs Veterinary Clinic, El Dorado Springs, phone 417-876-5805
Oct. 22—Countryside Animal Clinic, Aurora, phone 417-678-4011
Other veterinary clinics may run special clinics during October. Cole says this is a good time to treat the bull for parasites and give him a round of boosters shots, the same as you would give your cows.
Genomic testing and trichomoniasis testing can also be done at this time for an extra fee.
“Bulls are a big investment so keep your bulls in shape so their usefulness can be extended over more years of service,” said Cole.
For more information, contact any of the MU Extension livestock field specialists in southwest Missouri: Eldon Cole in Lawrence County, 417-466-3102; Andy McCorkill in Dallas County at 417-345-7551; Randy Wiedmeier, in Ozark County at 417-679-3525; or Patrick Davis in Cedar County at 417-276-3313.
