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HERD MANAGEMENT AND CARING FOR YOUR NEW BULL
At Te Mania, our calves are early weaned at five months of age, to enhance rumen function and to allow the females more time without their calves, through Autumn and Winter.
All calves are weighed, tagged (NLIS and herd), and recorded the day they are born. They are weighed again at weaning and DNA collected for Parent Verification and Genomic analysis. At 400 days, they are also scanned for IMF (marbling), fat cover and EMA (eye muscle area). Testicle measurements are taken and recorded.
Cows are weighed when their calves are weaned, providing data to TACE to calculate Mature Cow Weight EBVs. Joining to birth dates are submitted to calculate Gestation Length EBVs.
RECOMMENDED HEALTH TREATMENTS, ON GOING
We recommend bulls are given a 7:1 annually, 2-4 weeks before joining.
Vibriosis vaccination before joining each year.
Vibriosis is a common cause of infertility and is transmitted by bulls from one female to another. It is easily prevented by vaccination.
Bull Management
When a bull leaves Te Mania Angus, he is leaving the security of a large mob and will arrive in unfamiliar territory. If you can’t put him into the bull mob straight away, unload him and make sure he has a steer or cow as a companion.
A young bull can move in with older bulls and settle in well, but remember, being the youngest he will get the last of the feed available because of the pecking order. The paddock needs to be reasonably large so he can keep away from the others and find adequate feed and water.
Young bulls are still growing fast and need enough feed to maintain their growth pattern and to be able to settle the cows quickly and efficiently.
Te Mania Angus bulls are accustomed to being handled in line with Low Stress Stockhandling. Most of the fences are electrified and the bulls treat them with respect.
We encourage you to always be considerate to your bull and handle him with respect and kindness. You will find you will receive these acts of respect back from him.
BULL/COW RATIO
Under reasonable paddock conditions, a rising two-year-old bull should handle 40 empty cows on his own. An older bull can probably handle slightly more.
A synchronized AI program can decrease the number of bulls needed, because cows become pregnant to AI, but be aware that if the cows are returning over one week rather than three, then your bull requirement is increased. Please contact Te Mania Angus for further clarification if required.
Before Putting The Bull Out
In the weeks prior to joining, check your bulls for breeding soundness and give booster vaccinations.
Prior to putting the bulls out, cows should be observed cycling in groups. The cows should be on a rising plane of nutrition, to ensure the optimum chance of cycling.
Observing The Bull
A bull is most likely to develop a condition or injury that causes infertility soon after the beginning of the joining period. It is vital you monitor your bull at least twice weekly for the first 3 weeks, then weekly, to ensure he is able to mount cows, looks physically normal and is not lame.
Towards the end of the mating period, you should spend some time watching the cows to ensure that large numbers of cows are not cycling. The best fertility check is to record some cows numbers when observed mating, and then observe them 21 days later to check they haven’t returned.
After mating season
When the season is finished, the bull should be drenched and put away on good feed. Ensure the paddock isn’t over crowded and there is adequate feed, to minimize fighting and potential injury.
Mature bulls have different feed requirements to younger bulls, so manage older bulls to ensure they remain in optimum order, and not too fat. Condition score 3 is ideal.