Instructions
Ensure the bull is eating enough as weight-gain is encouraged for the bull to endure the 60-day breeding season. Provide proper nutrition to ensure the bull stays healthy. A healthy bull is more willing to breed.
Conduct a breeding soundness examination (BSE). Examine the bull internally and externally to determine if health conditions exist that would hinder the bull's ability to impregnate cows.
Assess the structure soundness of the bull. Strong feet, working legs and healthy joints all contribute positively to a bull's ability to access cows in the pasture.
Perform a libido test with the '"one bull" or "multiple bull" methods. The "one bull" method allows the bull 10 to 15 minutes to mount a restrained cow. If the bull does not mount the cow, it is considered a failure and indicates a lower libido. The "multiple bull" method allows five bulls in a pen with four cows. Each bull must mount three times in 40 minutes. As each bull finishes its third mount, it can be moved out of the pen to avoid issues of bull dominance. A lower libido is indicated by bulls that do not mount at least three times.
How to Test a Bull's Willingness to Breed
Healthy bulls with strong libidos are economically important to cow breeders. One bull is responsible for impregnating up to 50 cows during the 60-day breeding season. Unfortunately for breeders, 10 to 25 percent of bulls are considered subfertile. These bulls can significantly hinder profitability for the cow breeder. It is essential to test a bull's willingness to breed. Testing can happen before or after the breeding season and at weaning time. Other factors such as nutrition, capability of reproductive organs, quality of semen and structural soundness all contribute to the bull's ability to reproduce. Subfertile and unproductive bulls should be removed to help protect the profitability of the herd during breeding season.