Care & maintenance
Check your bulls regularly
I cannot reiterate enough the importance of the information on “Caring for your Bulls” below, especially the bit about how important it is to check them once they are out with the cows.
By this I mean to spend a bit of time with them in the paddock until you observe them actually serving a cow or two. You may have to be patient and do this over a couple of days.
It is within your interests to do this as it might mean the difference between 100% conception and 0% which is no good for anyone’s breeding programme.
Points on caring for your new bull
- A Turihaua Sire that you select and purchase will be leaving the security of a mob situation (up to 20)
- Once you get him home ensure that you give him a mate. This could be a steer or an old cow. This will help him settle. Avoid placing him straight into a mob of older bulls. Ensure too that the paddock you place him in is sufficiently big enough for him to have adequate feed requirements. He will be used to a little good quality hay if required.
- Our bulls are vaccinated, drenched and dipped prior to sale. They have also been Vet checked and Service Capacity tested.
- A 2 year old bull is still a teenager in our terms. He needs a bit more time and care than a 3 to 5 year old bull.
- Avoid placing young sires with old experienced ones in the same mating groups. The older bull will dominate the mating.
- Where possible mate sires to similar aged heifers or cows.
- Always keep an eye on them while they are out with the cows. Observe him serving so that you know the job is being done.
- If you are single mating your cows I suggest you use a fresh bull to follow for the second cycle.
- If you are concerned about him observe him more closely over a couple of days. Bulls can develop colds or other infections that could cause a drop in his semen count. If you're still concerned call your vet and have him checked. You cannot afford to have a non-performing bull out with your cows. If the vet suspects problems with the bulls fertility, please get in touch with me as we may be able to lend you a bull in the meantime.
- After the mating season has ended bulls should be drenched and put into a paddock with enough feed in front of them. Adequate feed will help settle them and eliminate fighting if in a mob situation.
The bull buyers guide
Some important questions to ask your bull breeder before buying a bull.
Management and environmental issues
- Are the bulls from a TB accredited herd?
- Have the bulls been tested for BVD and/or EBL?
- Have the bulls been checked for breeding soundness by a vet?
- Have the bulls been service capacity or service capability tested?
- On what class of country have the bulls been born and raised?
- Have the bulls been raised in a commercially focussed farming environment?
- What is the stocking rate on the farm?
- What is the average incalf rate for the herd in the last 5 years?
- For how many cycles are the cows/heifers exposed to the bull?
- What is the average weaning weight in the herd for the last 5 years?
- What is the average herd weaning percentage for the last 5 years?
- What supplements have the bulls received?
- What type of bull guarantee does the breeder provide? After considering management and environmental factors, the bull breeder's herd must be outperforming your herd to ensure genetic progress
Genetic improvement issues
- What are the breeding objectives for the herd?
- Is the breeder recording with a recognized performance recording service provider (e.g. Breedplan, CSU)?
- Can the breeder provide evidence that genetic progress is being made in the traits in which you are interested i.e. by showing you a favourable genetic trends table?
- What is the average genetic merit of the breeder's herd in relation to the breed average?
- Can the breeder supply you with percentile band information, enabling you to rank his bulls?
- Can the breeder supply you with $ Indexes (EBVs for Profit), which rank bulls according to their profitability, in different production systems?
- From where does the breeder source the herd sires and what are their EBVs/lndexes?
- What are the breeder's main criteria for sire selection?
- Does the breeder mate yearlings - heifers and/or bulls?
- What proportion of bulls are sold in relation to the number born?
For your herd to improve, the breeder's herd must have higher genetic merit and rate of improvement than yours.
Three year guarantee
When you purchase your bulls each year, what guarantee do you have that the bull will perform for you and what are the costs of protecting that investment?
When you purchase Turihaua sires they are automatically guaranteed for three years for Fertility and Soundness. View details.
All bulls must pass a rigorous Serving Capacity Test for fertility before they make the sale. They must also pass a rigorous test for structural soundness, testicle size and conformation carried out by Eastland Vets.
Our Three Year Guarantee protects your investment against structural defects and infertility.