17
MANAGEMENT OF YEARLING BULLS
READY TO WORK
1. Remember, your yearling bull has been on a higher energy
ration than pasture and ration changes should be done
gradually. It is good to let them harden up on pasture
before breeding season begins. However the pasture must
be good, and they still require extra energy and protein.
If turned out on bad pasture or dropped off too fast, they
can lose weight rapidly. Research shows that this causes
a bull to produce poor quality semen and also affects the
bull’s libido. It takes 60 days for sperm to develop and
mature. High stress conditions during that time can reduce
its fertilizing ability.
2. If handled properly and not dominated by older bulls, a
young bull should service 20-25 females his first season.
Size of the pasture and terrain also influence this.
3. Limit the breeding season to no more than 60 days on a
yearling bull. If you can’t limit the season, consider rotation
to give him a rest.
4. Watch a young bull early in the season to detect any
physical problems. A virgin bull can have inadequacies
undetectable except through observation. If possible,
hand mate a young bull to a few cows prior to turning out
in large breeding pastures to observe breeding ability.
5. Maintain a good general health program, salt, mineral and
fly control.
6. Recondition young bulls after the breeding season to allow
them to mature to their genetic capabilities. This is a very
critical age as they start losing their teeth at 18-24 months.
A young bull consequently eats slower and cannot utilize as
rough a feed, or compete for feed, as one with permanent
teeth. Worming can make a significant difference as well
as a grub and louse control program. Research indicates
that a bull’s usefulness as a two-year old can be retarded
if not properly reconditioned after use as a yearling.
Substantiated by research from North Dakota State
University and Larry Corah, Beef Specialist at Kansas
State University, and others.
