Spring bull buying season is near. The question that all potential bull (and semen) buyers need to ask is, “What do I need?” The operative word is need, not to be confused with want. To objectively answer, producers need to know how their herd currently performs. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Current rates of dystocia
- Current pregnancy rates
- Current age distribution of the cow herd
- Primary reason(s) for cows exiting the herd
- Weight of calves at the point of sale
- Post-weaning performance of calves
- Weight of mature cows
- Annual (variable) cow costs
Knowing the answers to the questions above helps identify the areas that require the most attention to improve profitability.
After a breeding objective has been formed and the answers to the questions above are in hand, bull selection can begin. The sometimes complex process of selecting bulls can be reduced to a few simple steps.
- Choose vendors that sell the products you need and trust.
- Choose bulls based on what is “under the hood”. In other words, the goal of bull selection is to improve genetics so select bulls based on genetic potential using Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs).
- Select more than one trait given more than one trait impacts profitability. Utilize economic selection indexes to do so.
- Value bulls (or semen) based on the potential to generate a return from the investment. In other words, if the “best” bull sells for more money than he could generate for your enterprise (based on genetic value and number of cows he would be exposed to, and cull value), then pass on him and buy a different bull that does have the potential for a positive return on investment.
Not everyone who raises cattle is profit-motivated, but utilizing proven tools such as EPD and economic selection indexes seems logical for those who are. With that in mind, here are pitfalls to avoid.
- Avoid overemphasizing calving ease (direct). The focus on this trait should depend on the extent of your dystocia issues.
- If you retain replacement females, keep an eye on mature cow weight EPD if available.
- If you retain replacement females, do not ignore female fertility. Sustained cow fertility (stayability, functional longevity) EPD represents the ability to remain productive in a herd.
- If you use economic selection indexes, use the ones that fit your breeding objective. Do not use terminal indexes if you intend to retain replacement females.
- Know, or ask, what certain EPD/indexes mean and what the breed average is. Do not buy a bull based on the assumption that he excels in a particular trait, only to find out later that he ranks near the bottom of the breed.
There are numerous articles on how to interpret and use genetic selection tools. For those wanting to learn more, I’d suggest visiting www.eBEEF.org and looking over the Sire Selection Manual.
Source: By Matt Spangler, Professor and Beef Genetics Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska Lincoln in Beef Magazine Jan 7, 2025
Photo: iStock
