How many cows per bull

In addition, more efficient cow supplementation and effective herd health programs are a product of a short breeding season. How do we get more cows settled earlier in the breeding season? By having adequate bull power on hand to get cows pregnant. Can be answered with another question: How many cows should I expect my bull to cover?

For example, a bull that is 12 months old should be able to cover about 12 cows in his first breeding season. An 18 month old bull should be able to settle 18 or 19 cows. While a two-year-old bull could be expected to cover up to 25 cows.

Mature bulls normally should be expected to cover 25 to 35 cows per season. They need be sound, fit, and athletic to cover terrain and settle cows. Bulls past the age of 6 are more likely to breakdown.

It is beneficial that bulls to be combined in multi-sire pastures are penned together for at least a few weeks prior to turnout to allow time for a pecking order to be established. With a controlled breeding season, bulls are allowed time to rest and regain body condition that might have been lost during the breeding season. Not having bulls running with the cow herd year-round may also reduce the risk of injury to bulls. The key to implementing a controlled breeding and calving season is to be diligent about putting bulls up on schedule.

Bull Confinement and Culling Herd bulls should be kept in a separate paddock or pasture away from cows and heifers during the non-breeding season with plenty of exercise room, protection from severe weather, adequate shade, access to clean water and access to a mineral supplement. Provide ample feeder space if there is competition for feed from other animals in the paddock. Decisions on bull culling and acquisition will need to be made well in advance of the next breeding season.

Reevaluate your herd sires on a regular basis as goals change, selection criteria is modified and new information becomes available. The conclusion of the breeding season is an excellent time to perform BSEs on bulls to aid in determining which bulls to replace in the breeding herd. Bulls may need to be culled for failure to pass a BSE, lack of libido, injuries, poor vision, undesirable conformation or inferior calf performance.

Management Groups Bull management needs change throughout the year. Managing bulls properly during the non-breeding season is important because bulls need this time to rest and regain condition. Maintaining adequate nutritional and health programs is a year-round challenge. Monitor pasture conditions and seasonal health concerns throughout the year and adapt nutritional and health programs to the changing production environment.

Bulls may be divided into management groups in order to more effectively meet the different nutrient needs of each group. Total weeks of mating AB period plus bull mating period.

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