Determining Reproductive Fertility in Herd Bulls

Abstract

The most important factor influencing the profitability of a beef operation is the percentage of the calf crop weaned, which, in turn, is determined mainly by the number of cows bred during the breeding season. The herd bull influences overall herd fertility more than any other single animal. Because the bull also supplies half of the genetics to all of the calves he sires, bull selection can be the most powerful method of genetic improvement in the herd.