Ask The Vet
Talking Bull
QUESTION: I am looking for a bull to use on heifers. How do I sort through all the information to find an animal that will work well?
ANSWER: There certainly can be paralysis through analysis. Your best resource, other than a breeder you trust, would be a calving-ease EPD. This EPD incorporates how easily a bull's calves are born, his sire's and dam's data as well as birthweight information.
If calving-ease EPDs are not available, a birthweight EPD is the next best tool. But since our goal should be pounds of calves weaned, the focus should not be on small calves, but on live calves born without assistance that hit the ground ready to grow.
Many of my bull customers ask about a bull's birthweight, but actual birthweight is a poor predictor for calving ease.
A birthweight ratio may be of benefit as it compares birthweights among contemporaries. In this system, an 80-pound birthweight from a first-calf heifer and an 80-pound birthweight in a mature cow could be many ratio points apart.
While calving ease is extremely important in selecting bulls for heifers, don't become fixated on one thing. Look for the bull that best complements your heifers. And let your eyes and your cattle sense play a role in the final decision.
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