Quit chasing “The Bull”

I have been asked countless times “what is THE bull to breed to” or “what is the popular bull to use this year?” The answer is simple, there’s not one. If your mating decisions have been based on what is popular or what the pedigree is, you need to stop this season.

When making mating decisions you should be looking for what will make a consistent calf crop and compliment your cow herd. If your cows need more muscle behind them, mate them to a powerful bull. If you need length, performance, and so on, those are the traits you need to focus on when selecting a bull. Select a bull that fills in the gaps in your herd and pushes you closer to the goals of your operation.

Consider the following when selecting a bull to complement your cows and move your herd towards your goals:

What do your cows already do well?

What do your cows lack? (i.e. performance, muscle, etc.)

What problems do your cows have? (i.e. bad feet, bad bags, disposition, etc.)

What is the end goal for the calves you are making? (i.e. seedstock bulls, replacement females, feeder calves, etc.)

Where is your market? (i.e. if you are trying to sell bulls into Montana, you probably don’t need to put more leather on them)

What genetic goals are you working towards with your herd? (i.e. polled, solid red, solid black, carcass quality, etc.)

Answer those questions and then look for a bull that fills in those gaps. That bull is THE bull for your herd this season.

If you’re not sure how a bull is going to work on your cows, I encourage you to reach out to us.