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Marketing Bulls
Should every male calf born make it to "Herd Bull Status?"
How many cows are in the average size breeding herd? On average each year half of the calves will be bulls. Even if the herd is the "Best of Breed" will there be a premium market for all those bull calves as herd bulls?
Have you thought about how the recommended "Bull To Cow Ratio" and "Bull Culling Age" might figure into developing a program for marketing herd bulls?
College research says the standard recommendation for a bull-to-cow ratio is 1 bull to each 25 cows.This is pretty typical in the real world although it makes allowance for sub-standard bulls. Research has shown that this ratio can under-utilize bull power. Under-utilization of bull power with a 1 to 25 ratio is especially true in situations where the stocking density is high due to an abundance of high quality native forage, and when the bull is highly fertile. Libido and serving capacity of bulls are helpful components to assess in order to optimize the bull to female ratio.
College research says age is a major consideration when making culling decisions for beef bulls. Semen quality begins to decline after age 6 and this is also about the same age when mature bulls lose their social dominance rank to younger more aggressive bulls. If a bull over age 7 has exceptional value it is recommended to utilize that bull in single-sire pastures, or by hand mating, and ensure that he passes a thorough breeding soundness exam before each breeding season. Other factors that should be considered when making culling decisions are vision, conformation and disposition. Also bulls that produce poor performing calves should be ear marked for culling.
Now do a quick and easy math exercise. Keep it simple and use 1 bull for each 20 cows and only use him for 5 years.
Are you beginning to see the quality needed for a true "Herd Bull Prospect?"
It appears like a breeder with 20 cows will be a prospective bull buyer once each 5 years. On average a seed stock herd of 20 cows will produce 50 bull calves in 5 years. From this perspective we begin to get a clearer picture into selection and marketing bulls for breeding purposes?
About the Author:
Morris Halliburton was born in Hunt County, Texas in 1931, and has been around cattle ever since. Morris joined the British White Cattle Association of America as an Active Member on July 3rd, 1990 and has been active in the British White Cattle commuinty. He and his family operate a small ranch near Bells, Texas, where they have raised rare British White Cattle since 1989. Mr. Halliburton is very active in the British White community, and has served as Executive Secretary of the British White Cattle Association of America since 1994. Visit us on the web:
http://www.britishwhite.com
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Marketing Bulls