Bull Fertility.

Bull Fertility

If you are planning on purchasing a breeding bull or planning to breed your own, fertility evaluation is crucial to ensure the future of your herd.

Thus, a bull soundness examination (BSE) is crucial for ensuring the productivity and profitability of your breeding program. This comprehensive evaluation assesses a bull’s reproductive health, including sperm quality, physical fitness, and overall breeding capability. Identifying potential fertility issues early through a BSE helps prevent breeding failures, reducing the risk of an unproductive season.

Since infertile or sub-fertile bulls can lead to significant economic losses by impacting conception rates, early pregnancy, and calf uniformity, a soundness exam safeguards herd performance. Conducted annually or prior to each breeding season, these exams are essential for maintaining herd genetics and maximizing reproductive efficiency. By ensuring only fertile, healthy bulls are used, you can optimize herd quality, reduce financial risk, and support sustainable livestock management practices.

Bull Expected Breeding Values (EBVs) are estimates of a bull’s genetic potential to pass on specific traits to offspring. Key traits measured include calving ease, growth rate, fertility, carcass quality, and feed efficiency. These values allow breeders to make informed decisions, selecting bulls that align with production goals, such as faster growth or improved meat quality. By comparing a bull’s EBVs against breed averages, farmers can enhance herd productivity, leading to better genetics and greater economic returns in future generations.