MOOSE JAW, Sask. – Choosing the correct sire is an important decision.
A cow contributes a single calf each year, but a mature bull can produce more than 25 calves in the same period and influence the direction of a cow herd.
Garner Deobald of Hawkeye Land and Livestock near Hodgeville, Sask., says producers should have a breeding plan that defines their herds’ strengths and weaknesses and establishes goals.
The selection of the bull within that plan will determine success.
“A lot of it is common sense,” Deo-bald said.
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“(Producers should be) selecting bulls that have the traits or characteristics that will contribute to their cow herds.”
He said producers should be consistent in how they evaluate bulls, keeping in mind that the perfect bull likely doesn’t exist.
Evaluations should be done the same way across breeds.
“Traits or characteristics all have to be evaluated the same way, but depending on what you’re selecting for, you put emphasis on some traits over others, depending on what your situation is and how you want to apply those genetics,” he said.
Physical selection involves choosing animals that have correctly set legs. They shouldn’t be knock-kneed or bow-legged. The legs themselves shouldn’t be too straight or too angled.
Shoulders should be smooth against the rib cage. The skull should be in proportion.
Deobald said the animal should walk uniformly, with the hind feet stepping into the footprints from the front feet.
Hind legs that are too straight could lead to difficulty breeding.
Producers should examine the bull’s muscling on the forearm and shank and along the ribs.
“Use all the information that’s available,” he said.
Systematic evaluation has eliminated the fads and swings within breeds caused by selection for single traits.
“Commercial producers have done a really good job of identifying probably the ideal and optimum size and characteristics in the breeds,” Deo-bald said. “We’ve become more uniform across breeds as well.”
