Traits for a breeding bull

Erik Ks farmer · Feb 4, 2012

I understand that each grower has a set of result that they are looking for when selecting a bull. I want a calving ease bull with a decent weaning weight and good daily gains. Curious as to opinions on the critical traits you look for in your bulls.

KYfarm · Feb 4, 2012

I gotta agree with the traits listed above, I would add though, good
looking feet and grass fed

LAA · Feb 4, 2012

I like a long bull, heavy in the rear quarters, well made head with low birth weight EPD's, I buy a lot of old and small cheap cows every year, usually heavy bred, calve them out and breed back maybe the top 50% for another calf and sell the rest when they wean a calf. I need bulls that will put frame and growth on those calves out of small cows and cows that got a little longhorn or ear on them. I've found over the years that Charolais bulls clean scrub cows calves up better than Angus except on hereford cows, Charolais will take the ear and horn off most of them and the leather off their under bellies and throats. I use Angus or Brangus bulls on Hereford cows, purebred Hereford are discounted heavily in my area and I buy every one I can get.

oj · Feb 4, 2012

I look for calving ease (small framed calves, light bone structure), good feet and udders, and temprement. The way i figure it is you need a live calf to have any weaning weight... and if you require a vet for a c-section, than no amount of daily gain/weaning weight is going to make that animal profitable.

Tom in TN · Feb 4, 2012

Erik,

One other consideration - - I have a young herd with quite a few heifers or first calf cows, so I look for a relatively small bull. I usually buy 16 - 18 month old replacement bulls. I simply don't want a 2,200 pound bull mounting my little 800 pound heifers. I still get a calf a year out of my older cows even with the small bulls.

Tom in TN

BCnT · Feb 4, 2012

exactly...small bulls dont tear down as much fence either...i never could see the point in having a huge bull...hard on the cows,fences,and most important my wallet.

Texasmark1 · Feb 4, 2012

I like mixed breed, naturally polled, with some ear.....and black
sells around here. Pretty much points to the Brangus breed. If
you want some more round steaks, cross with some Limousin.

Brangus are gentile, bag up really well and are excellent mothers.
3# per day gain is not uncommon for the larger brood stocks
and recycle period of 11 months is common in the younger
heifers/cows in good shape. Do well on grass pasture and
tolerate the heat down here.

Mark

Red Mud · Feb 4, 2012

Long Horn bull for first calf, mama will love you for him. In a few years he'll look real nice over the fire place..
here

donjr · Feb 4, 2012

I trade or sell bulls every other year or earlier. My herd is mixed with older cows and heifers held for replacement, all angus. I always go to a breeder or to someone I know who has a younger purebred angus bull with a light calf epd and + on milk and weaning weight for a trade. The angus breed is known for calving ease and generally good epd's. The maternal instinct is usually good in the cows and the calves usually put on weight quickly. Knock on wood, but I haven't had to pull a calf in about ten years. I have heard many stories about guys who are constantly pulling calves or doing c-aections to get calves out during cross breeding periods, which is just one more reason I've been much happier with just sticking with the black cows and grinning every time I go to the auction with some and they bring a nice premium over anything else going past the rail.

Tx Jim · Feb 4, 2012

(quoted from post at 11:21:03 02/04/12) Long Horn bull for first calf, mama will love you for him. In a few years he'll look real nice over the fire place..
here

My first calf heifers had no trouble calving being bred to my LBW(weighed 65#s himself at birth) Charolais bull.

john in la · Feb 4, 2012

Back when I had cows all my bulls were in the freezer.
That way I have no liability; and I can afford much better bulls than buying a live animal.
Yes it is more work but works best for me.

All heifers get breed to black angus.
Small calves at birth but put on weight fast.

Erik Ks farmer · Feb 4, 2012

I have a black angus herd with a couple reds thrown in the mix from a visiting neighbor bulll. We try to hold back 10 replacement heifers a year, and I was in need of 2 bulls. Bought a low birth weight calving ease bull and bull with a little higher bw and weaning weight to throw on the commercial cows today, both a little spendy but I am a believer that good bulls make the herd.

Pair-a-dice farm · Feb 4, 2012

I agree with all but would add good temperament. Life is too short to own a mean bull, I don't care how good his calves are. I use mostly black bulls but use Shorthorn on my heifers. The only calf I've pulled in the last 10 years was out of an Angus bull. Nutrition the last 2 months of pregnancy has a lot to do with calf BW. I like the brangus cows too as long as they are bred to angus bulls. Eared cattle don't sell as well here. This year I kept 3 bulls to use on some cows that I bought. 2 of them are angus/shorthorn and the other is straight Angus. Time will tell how that works out.

Traits for a breeding bull

Erik Ks farmer

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KYfarm

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LAA

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oj

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Tom in TN

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BCnT

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Texasmark1

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Red Mud

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donjr

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Tx Jim

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john in la

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Erik Ks farmer

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Pair-a-dice farm

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