5) Fertility: We have measured all the Two-Year-Olds’ scrotal circumferences and then presented the data as actual circumferences. As testicle size is very highly inherited and reflects the bull’s breeding capacity, the measurements will allow you to compare the bulls for this characteristic. It should be emphasized that all the bulls in this sale are much more than adequate in this department with many being excellent. Testicle size has a high correlation with early puberty in half sisters and daughters and hence is a trait very important to your profit. Our management and culling practices put pressure on our herd to be very fertile even though fertility is a trait of low heritability. All our Two-Year-Old bulls are semen tested. The Hybrid yearling bulls are too young at sale time, but are all guaranteed breeders and have been examined visibly and guaranteed to pass a semen test when they reach reproductive age. All yearling bulls left on bull development will be semen tested prior to delivery. 6) Carcass Traits: While carcass is not our primary focus on our maternal mainstream lines, we do want as much muscularity as possible as long as it does not adversely affect reproductive capacity. 7) Frame Size: We have discontinued providing frame size information. The only commodity any of us get paid for is weight. Most cattle in the industry at the present time have enough frame, some in fact have too much. My Dad always said; “It’s not how big they get, but how quick they get big that counts.”

Perhaps the best breeding decision a commercial producer will ever make is the choice of a seedstock provider. Find someone whose breeding objectives mirror your own, who operates in an environment similar to yours, who can help you benefit from heterosis and can understand your objectives and help you select the right bull.

Burke Teichert Retired General Manager, Deseret Land & Cattle

We use a “BUYER NO. system, so please register on arrival. AVERAGE SCROTAL CIRCUMFERENCE BY AGE - ALL BREEDS CLASSIFICATION AGE (Months)

12-14

SIZE (Centimeters)

> 34 30 - 34 < 30

CLASSIFICATION 15-20

Very Good Good Fair - Poor

< = less than > = more than Source - Society of Theriogenology

CLASSIFICATION 21-30

> 36 31 - 36 < 31

Very Good Good Fair - Poor

> 38 32 - 38 < 32

CLASSIFICATION Over 30 Months

Very Good Good Fair - Poor

> 39 34 - 39 < 34

Very Good Good Fair - Poor

305 - 12/92

Polled vs Horned vs Scurred

There are some misconceptions or misunderstandings with regards to polled cattle. It will try to simplify and clarify this with a few simple points. 1. The polled gene is dominant to the horned gene. 2. Homozygous polled means all offspring will be polled regardless of breeding. 3. Double polled means both parents are polled, this increases the likelihood of the offspring being homozygous. 4. Scurs are the result of an independent gene unrelated to either the horn gene or polled gene. For the most part scurs are loosely attached to the head. 5. Scurs is sex linked being dominant in bulls and recessive in heifers. That’s why if you think about it we see a lot of scurred bulls but very few scurred females. It is also the reason why scurs do not present a problem in your cowherds. Scurs are not a big concern as they seldom show up at weaning time and don’t affect your calf sales. 6. A horned animal may carry the gene for scurs but it is masked by the horned gene, making the scurred gene hard to eliminate from a population. 7