Your best bet for the right bull

by Managing Editor Stevie Ipsen

Bull selection is one of the most important, if not the most important, decisions for cow-calf producers of any size or scope. Choosing which bulls’ genetics will influence future calf crops has implication for both immediate and future profitability of producers. The results of your bull buying decisions will be immediately seen in the first subsequent calf crop.

Whether a producer retains heifers or bull calves, the genetics in the selected bull have the potential to be passed down to future generations within the herd. Commerical and seedstock producers alike should consider that as they shop for bulls this fall, the new genetics they are looking to introduce to their cowherd will make a permanent impact on their herd. Other production decisions regarding nutrition or management may have temporary effects but mating decisions create a permanent outcome that will not just impact the production outcome for the year ahead but for literally generations to come. While bull selection can be and expensive endeavor, looking at it as a long-term investment into the operation, can make the expense easier to justify, but can also make the decisions more daunting.

Sierra Nevada-based commercial cattleman Chris Gansberg is known in the bull marketing arena for having a keen eye for good bulls. Though he runs a large number of Angus-based cows Chris is the first to admit that he still loves a good Hereford bull.

“We run in some different country so we need a bull battery that covers all the bases. I look for good feet, legs and structural soundness but I also need bulls that meet the demands of the consumers since the calves we raise will go on to the feedlot,” Gansberg explained. “But in all honestly, like all things in life you get what you pay for in today’s bull market. It’s hard to find $2,000 bulls anymore and if you do, they probably aren’t very good ones.”

Another factor that is important to Gansberg is how the bulls are raised and how they rank in terms of docility.

“I need to know the people I am buying my bulls from and know that they aren’t going to send me something that will run me down. Temperment is getting more important to me every day. I am not getting any younger and bulls at my place have to be safe to be around,” he said.

While a lot of considerations go into what the ideal bull may look like for your operation, the bull-buying process doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It is important to know your budget and the traits you should be considering in a prospective purchase. There are a myriad of other factors that can help you narrow down the perfect bull for you and your cowherd.

Access to scientific data for beef cattle genetics has grown exponentially in recent decades. What once would have just been a phenotypic decision with little reassurance is now a phenotypic choice backed up by genotypic evidence of what expected results of a mating might actually look like. Nothing is certain when it comes to cattle breeding but with the use of genomic data provided by today’s beef industry, the outcome is much easier to predict. This data, in the form of Expected Progeny Differences (EPDs) gives a clear picture to ranchers that they were not able to foresee until as recently as the 1990s and even at that the accuracy continues to improve.

“I try to stay on the forefront of genetics so my cowherd can continue to improve but things change so fast that it can be hard to understand what the numbers mean,” Gansberg said. “I think that is where it becomes really important to communicate with your seedstock suppliers and breed experts to make sure you are understanding the data. There will always be someone who knows more about the numbers than I do and if I reach out to them, they will always help me interpret the data. That is the best thing about this business. People will always help you.”

Even though there are opportunities to improve production and profitability through sire selection tools, there are still many other factors to consider. From a multitude of traits, breed differences, operational goals in different regions and management practices from one ranch to the next, bull selection leaves a lot to consider. Some ranchers feel like they are left to make these decisions alone, the fact is that those merchandising the bulls can be just as

helpful as the data behind the bulls.

Austin Flynn, who serves as the regional manager for the American Angus Association (AAA) in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona is an example of one of the most helpful tools a commercial producer – or a seedstock breeder, for that matter – has in his or her arsenal. The role of a “field man” like Flynn is not just to assist in association matters but also to be of service prior to sale day to help buyers and sellers succeed.

Flynn arrived with his job at the association from esteemed EZ Angus Ranch, based in Porterville, where he built on his knowledge of commerical and seedstock outfits. Not only do field men have real-world production experience that is valuable to the associations and publications they represent, but they can be a real asset when it comes to evaluating cattle and evaluative data.

“From taking bids for someone who can’t be at the sale to looking at a bull before the sale or on sale day, breed representatives and publication representatives can be a big help to people looking for the right bull,” Flynn said. “Not only do we understand EPDs and what they mean, but we cover a lot of ground, see a lot of cattle and know what else is out there to consider. I love sharing my honest opinion with cattlemen and women and helping them find the best bull for their buck that will bring the most benefit to their herd and bottomline.”

In reality, there is no one type of bull that is optimal for all operations. No matter how superior a bull is genetically, bull selection depends on factors such as management, calving season, on-the-ranch help, age of calves at marketing, potential for retaining heifer calves and nutrition program.

Before selecting bulls that might fit anyone’s needs, operational goals should be set and the management and breeding practices that fit those goals need to be determined.

For example, a full-time commercial producer with several hired hands who observe the cattle multiple times a day might not prioritize calving ease in a bull as much as an operation with limited help or vast calving ground. An operation with limited forage may desire more moderatesized cattle that are extra efficient at converting lower quality forage.

Before narrowing down your bull selections, consistent record keeping on the herd will help identify areas of strength and weakness in the herd and guide you towards the type of genetic change you want to see. Once operational goals and breeding programs have been determined a producer can focus in on specific traits and data to guide their selection options.

EXPECTED PROGENY DiFFERENCES (EPDS)

When selecting a bull, EPDs will help predict future bull performance. EPDs are the estimation of an animal’s genetic merit. They are compared to a breed average (not zero). It is cruicial to remember that EPDs cannot be compared across breeds.

A key trait that influences profitability and is considered by many bull buyers is calving ease as it has an immediate potential to influence profitability. The majority of calf loss is due to dystocia (difficulty calving). Dystocia not only leads to higher labor costs, but the loss of a calf is an obvious financial blow. Something else to consider is that dystocia can cause delayed rebreeding for a cow resulting in lighter, younger calves at weaning and/or marketing the following year.

The calving ease EPD takes into account numerous factors including birth weight. A common rule of thumb many producers follow is that a one pound increase in birth weight increases the probability of dystocia by two percent. Though birth weight is a clear indicator of calving ease, there isn’t always a direct connection. A larger frame score cow should have no problem giving birth to a larger calf but a cow with a smaller frame score cow might.

Someone who markets bulls for a living might tell you that focusing solely on low birth weights when selecting bulls can be misleading. While low birth weight might mean a drop in dystocia, low birth weight can also be followed by lower weaning and yearling weights, which isn’t something any producer wants.

“There is definitely a balance to using EPDs in your bull selection. Making your purchasing decisions soley on one trait can lead you astray if the other traits of the bull

are significantly worse than breed average,” Flynn explains.

Other traits that are common areas of interest are milk production and fertility.

Higher milk production may lead to increased weaning weights. But high milk production can also increase energy requirements for a cow even when she isn’t raising a calf. If the cow-calf operation has low forage availability, selecting for high milk production could lead to feed shortages and undernourished cattle. And for an operation that doesn’t keep any heifers that will go on to raise calves, the milk production trait would become far less relevant.

Bull fertility is linked to higher semen quality and quantity and also leads to lower age of puberty for that bull’s daughters.

PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS QUALITY

Again, there are potential trade-offs between birth weight and performance. A low birth weight may increase calving ease, but it is sometimes correlated with lower weaning weight. However, there are many cases where a low birth weight is warranted, i.e. breeding heifers. A low birth weight can be compensated for by selecting for higher milk production; however, as milk production increases, the nutrient requirement of cows will also increase, though that isn’t a direct 1:1 correlation. Selection for superior growth can lead to calving difficulty and cows too large for the existing grazing resources.

When calves are marketed also affects bull selection. If calves are sold at weaning, producers can focus on traits associated with a higher weaning weight, such as milk production and weaning weight EPD. When ownership is retained, weaning weight is less of a priority, and the focus may shift to traits like yearling weight and carcass indicators (carcass weight, ribeye area, fat thickness and marbling). EPDs can help remove some of the guessing game when it comes to carcass quality as visual appraisal of muscling does not have a strong link to carcass quality.

CONFORMATION & STRUCTURAL SOUNDNESS

Though a lot of this article considers scientific data when selecting bulls, the way a bull is built will directly affect his longevity. Structural soundness is also passed along to the cow herd. For these reasons, it is important for bull buyers not to rely too heavily on EPDs. Prior to the formulation of EPDs, visual appraisal was really all that a buyer had to considers. Today, conformation is still evaluated through visual appraisal. Key factors to look for are the bull’s ability to walk out easily without discomfort, the slope and angle to the joints of the legs, free from defects of the claws (like when the toes cross over each other or turn up) and joints free of swelling and inflammation. Healthy legs and feet are particularly important for operations that require cattle to cover a large amount of ground or rough terrain.

Body condition is also a factor to consider on sale day. If a body condition score is low, the bull’s performance will be reduced when they go to work and they lose weight during the breeding season. Conversely, if a body condition score is too high, sperm quality and stamina can be negatively affected.

“Body condition will also depend on when you plan to turn the bull out with cows,” Flynn says. “If he is going out to breed the day after the sale, then how the bull looks on sale day definitely matters. But if he is a big fat bull who isn’t going to be turned out for a month, he has time to get in the condition that will work for your particular operation. But no seedstock producer wants to pay to feed a bull unnecessarily just like no commercial producer wants to bring a bull home and put weight on him before turnout.”

Temperament is another consideration for bull selection. This trait can be evaluated through EPDs as well as visually. Aggressive, nervous or waspy bulls may be undesirable due to safety concerns and can cause damage to facilities. On the other hand, as temperament is moderately heritable, overly docile cows can pose a problem if calving on pasture where predation could be a concern.

At the end of the day, it is clear there is no one-size-fitsall model or a bull that is best for all producers. The right genetics depend on the individual operation. The west coast has quality seedstock available for all operations. There are many different types of bulls and breeds available to allow all commercial producers the opportunity to find the right bulls for them.

Effective bull selection requires an understanding the available genetics as well as an integral understanding of your own operation. Bull buying time is a great opportunity to re-evaluate your program, set goals and reach out to the seedstock suppliers who you think are able to work with you to make those goals reality.

Colt Cunningham recently joined the American Hereford Association (AHA) and Hereford World team as the field representative for the Northwest. He will attend Hereford sales and events in the region and help AHA members with genetics and marketing. Along with promoting the breed, Cunningham will also help Hereford breeders and commercial users of Hereford genetics leverage available AHA programs.

“We are pleased to have Colt Cunnignham join the AHA field staff for the northwest –Territory 1,” says Joe Rickabaugh, AHA director of seedstock marketing. “Colt has participated in many facets of the seedstock and commercial cattle industry through high school and college. It is exciting to have a young man with his interests and strengths join our team. He will be a key individual for the Hereford breeders in the Northwest.”

Cunningham is the third generation raised on a centennial ranch in northeastern Oklahoma, which produces commercial and purebred cattle. He earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science at Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Cunningham served numerous leadership roles in youth organizations, such as FFA, and has a long list of success in livestock judging, showing cattle and saddle bronc riding. Cunningham also has work experience in the cattle feeding sector.

“I’ve always liked good cattle and good people, and I know this territory is filled with both,” Cunningham says. “I’m really looking forward to working with some of the best cattle producers in the United States.”

The American Hereford Association and Jake Drost of JRD Cattle Co., Klamath Falls, Ore. recently formed a unique partnership, whereby Drost will serve as an independent order buyer matching buyers with sellers of Hereford and Hereford-influenced feeder cattle.

“Hereford genetics add cattle-feeding value through feed efficiency and carcass quality,” Drost says. “However, here in the West, buyers are sometimes unable to reward the added value because of numbers and how cattle are assembled. I aim to bridge that gap and provide producers of Hereford and Hereford-influenced feeder cattle with increased market opportunity.”

Drost grew up in the cattle business and maintains a passion to continue learning how specific traits and management practices impact cattle feeding performance and end-product merit

As an AHA commercial marketing partner, Drost will continue to build AHA’s relationships within the cattle feeding sector, while helping market producers’ cattle. He also will help producers broaden their knowledge about the gamut of variables driving feeder cattle value.

“The American Hereford Association is excited to announce this innovative partnership,” says Jack Ward, AHA executive vice president. “Jake’s experience adds momentum to our quest of helping producers capture more value for Hereford and Hereford-based genetics.”

Drost can be reached at jdrost@hereford.org or by (806) 884-5426.

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