How to Breed Cows With Bulls

Getting the cows to bred efficiently and on time is an important aspect in both dairy and beef farming operations. Cows should have calving intervals of 11 to 12 months, meaning that they should be bred 60 to 90 days after calving. The health of both the cow and bull is essential in maintaining high conception rates, as well as keeping accurate breeding records. It is also important that the bull isn't required to breed more cows than he is capable of during the breeding season.

Things You'll Need

Breeding records

Instructions

- 1
  Contact a veterinarian to complete a breeding soundness exam, or BSE. This is a physical examination that ensures the bull is healthy and fertile.
- 2
  Separate the cows and heifers to be bred into one group in a pasture, a section of freestalls, another barn or whatever housing is used on the operation. Expose the cows to the bull 60 days after they have calved. Do not over-populate the breeding group. Adhere to the rule that a bull can only breed as many cows in one season as the number of months old he is --- up to 50 months. For example, a 24-month-old bull should not be asked to breed more than 24 cows or heifers.
- 3
  Observe the breeding pasture every morning and night. Look for signs of estrus such as cows mounting other cows, cows standing to be mounted or bloody mucous on their vulvas. Record the date that estrus was observed in a cow.
- 4
  Check the records daily for cows returning to heat 18 to 24 days after a recorded sign of estrus. If they do not return in heat, they may have been bred by the bull. Remove any cow or heifer from the breeding pasture that consistently shows no signs of estrus in order to make room for another cow to be bred, if necessary.
- 5
  Change bulls in the breeding system at least every six to nine months. This keeps the amount of genetic diversity at sustainable levels in the herd and prevents the negative traits of a bull from becoming too dominate in offspring born on the farm.