mation of cow/calf operations running between 200-500 head reveals an investment of over $2000.00 being made for each breeding cow in land, equipment, facilities and animal unit price.1 When herd bulls are used at 1:25 to 1:40 ratios, this represents an investment of $50,000 to $80,000 which is annually dependent upon the satisfactory reproductive potential of each breeding age bull, regardless...

The importance of the bull in a cattle breeding program often is underestimated. A cow is responsible for half the genetic material in only one calf each year, while the bull is responsible for half the genetic material in 20 to 50 calves. The bull’s ability to locate cows in estrus and breed them is clearly vital to a successful breeding program. Bulls differ in physical appearance, fertility ...

The breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) is a practical method to identify bulls with less than satis­ factory breeding potential. This evalu­ ation should be conducted on every bull at least 30 to 60 days before each breeding season to allow enough time for replacement of deferred or unsatis­ factory bulls. The first step in a BSE is to select a veterinarian in your area who is competent in con...

The present study was undertaken to determine the fertility soundness of unselected bulls used for breeding based on a standard breeding soundness evaluation technique (BSE) and trans-scrotal ultrasonography (TSU). A total of 8 bulls, with the mean age of 51⁄2 years (ranged from 31⁄2 8 years) and the mean weight of 651.5kg (ranged from 480-840 kg) were evaluated. Three bulls were Friesian Sahiw...

Bali cattle still represents 27% of the total cattle population in Indonesia, and it is considered the pillar breed for small farmers. Moreover, it is a breed of evolutionary importance regarding its direct ancestry from Banteng. However, there is a need for the establishment of a rational system for the evaluation of breeding soundness for indigenous Bali bulls to be used as sires for artifici...

This work aimed to study the correlations between the physical characteristics of semen, sperm morphology and the biochemical integrity of the plasmatic membrane of raw sperm in young Nelore bulls (Bos taurus indicus). A total of 420 bulls between 18 and 22 months of age were examined for breeding soundness according to the criteria established by the Brazilian College of Animal Reproduction. A...

A total of 51,161 records of scrotal circumference measurements at 18 mo of age (SC18) and 17,648 records of sperm defects and breeding soundness of Nellore bulls (mean age of 22.5 mo), raised under extensive conditions, were analyzed to estimate coefficients of heritability and genetic correlations of morphological semen traits by Bayesian inference. The observed semen traits were classified a...