Specialist outlines considerations for all-important herd bull

By KRISTY HEMMINGSEN | East Texas Edition

Dr. Jason Cleere, Extension beef specialist, explains how the herd bull will pass his traits, good and bad ones, to the calves. Cleere was one of the speakers at the recent beef cattle clinic held at 7P Ranch near Tyler. -Staff photo by Hemmingsen

November 6, 2003 -- Because a herd bull can typically sire 20 to 40 calves each year, but a cow can only produce half or less this many offspring in a lifetime, it's been estimated that 80 percent of herd improvement is directly attributed to bull selection.

During a recent beef cattle clinic at the 7P Ranch near Tyler, Dr. Jason Cleere, beef specialist with Texas Cooperative Extension, stressed the importance of bull selection and discussed what cattle producers should consider when buying a new bull(s) for their herd.

He said to, first of all, buy the bull from an accredited bull breeder that is known to have good, genetically-sound bulls, provides a good quality stock to choose from, and who also keeps performance records including weight gain and expected progeny differences (EPDs).

"Use both visual selection and data to get the best results in bull selection," he explained.

Cleere said buying a bull from a respectable dispersal sale could also be an option, but beef producers should stay away from buying herd bulls at sale barns. "These bulls may look good but they are cull bulls," he explained. "There's probably something not right with (many of the) bulls. They may be crippled, diseased, or simply continual fence jumpers."

The money used to buy a new herd bull should be looked at as an investment, according to the specialist. He said, typically, the more you spend on the better bull you will get.

But, because a bull can produce 25 head of calves that one day could bring as much as $1,000 each, totaling $25,000, Cleere said that doesn't mean one should spend $25,000 on a bull.

"Just try and spend your money on what you know is a good quality bull that will improve the quality of your herd," he explained. "But keep in mind that it takes a lot of the bull breeder's money to get that bull to a certain level, so you should expect to spend a good bit, but not an outrageous amount."

Cleere also said if the old herd bull is of any value, producers should figure the salvage value of this bull into the cost of the new bull.

When determining the type of breed a new herd bull should be, the Extension beef specialist suggested the bull should have less than one-quarter Brahman influence; less than one-quarter British (Hereford, Angus, etc.); one-half Continental (Simmental, Charlois, etc.); and less than one-quarter dairy or Longhorn.

"Get to a point, where you are producing mostly solid-patterned calves," said Cleere about figuring crossbreeding the new bull with the type of cattle in the producer's herd. "These are the type that the buyers want to see. More than likely, calves that are spotted will receive a discount."

When looking at a bull externally, Cleere said producers should look at several different things. He said the bull has to be in a good enough shape to mount the cows. "It's a lot of physical stress on the bull's body and he must be structurally sound," he explained.

For example, feet and legs are an important trait, according to Cleere. "If it can't walk well, it can't breed cows well," he explained. "Start at the ground up, look for good, straight, front feet and hind legs. There needs to be an adequate set to the legs. You don't want a bull that is too straight-legged or bow-legged.

Cleere said to also keep an eye out for swollen joints, and favor a bull with good bone structure with a front end that is at a 90-degree angle, which contributes to a good strong top.

"Stay away from buying any bull that has a swayed back," Cleere said. "This trait will more than likely be passed down to the offspring. Hooks to pins need to be level. Skeletal structure is very important."

Cleere also explained that calves with more muscle are going to bring more money, therefore buying a bull that has a nice, muscular shape is favorable.

"The muscle needs to be round in order to see that shape," he pointed out. "Look for most of the muscle to be in the back area, but look for the bull to be clean throughout the shoulders."

Once a cattle producer has chosen a new bull, Cleere said to take good care of it, because, again, it is an investment and a way to improve herd quality.

Usually, a breeder will guarantee fertility of the bull for one year, but Cleere said to continue checking the bull's fertility annually, because certain situations can cause that bull to become sterile at any time in it's life.