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Do’s and Don’ts of Caring For Your Newly
Acquired Performance Tested Bulls
Kern S. Hendrix, Professor Emeritus
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University
Performance testing should have no ill effect on the soundness of a young bull or his future
growth and development. However, yearling bulls coming off a postweaning performance test do require
attention for continued growth and proper development.
Young performance tested bulls that are full-fed even a moderate-energy ration in semi-
confinement do require an adjustment period prior to being used for breeding. Some call this a
“hardening process” others a “let-down” period. This is simply a period of time in which the bull adjusts
to new surroundings and feed. Proper feeding and exercise are keys to the adjustment period.
During the last month of the test, the bull(s) you purchased was consuming approximately 38 lbs.
of corn silage and 15 lbs. of concentrate feed (corn, distillers dried grains and balancer). During the three
weeks prior to sale, silage and concentrate feed were reduced, and hay was provided free-choice. The hay
was added to provide some adaptation to forage since most buyers will be providing hay and/or pasture to
bulls. We encourage you to continue to provide supplemental grain and not force the young bull to obtain
all of his nutrients from hay or pasture forage.
Proper feeding, care and management now will give your young bull the opportunity to continue
growing and allow him to develop into a sound and profitable herd sire.
DO
Supplement pasture or hay with grain or corn silage this spring and next fall to keep him growing, to
maintain moderate condition and insure that he’s sexually active.
Allow him to exercise in a small pasture or lot with a small group of bred heifers or cows.
Handmate him to a few cows to insure that he has adequate libido and breeding ability.
Limit the number of females to 15-20 this spring, or 25-30 next fall, that you want him to settle in a
60-75 day period.
Remove him from the breeding pasture after 60-75 days.
Provide additional energy so he’ll regain body flesh condition lost during breeding season. A
guideline is to work up to providing young bulls 1% of their body weight as ground or cracked corn.
This along with pasture, hay or silage should help him regain body condition and continue to grow
and develop. A guideline would be to maintain bulls in a Body Condition Score of 5-6. Also, the
bull should be de-wormed following the breeding season.
DON’T
Put him with an older bull now; the risk of injury is too great.
Turn him out with more than 20 females this spring, or 30 next fall.
Expect him to obtain sufficient nutrients from forage alone to maintain body condition and continue
growing.
Leave him with the cow herd more than 75 days.
Allow him to become thin (below Body Condition Score 4) before or during the breeding season.
