Herd bulls should not be allowed to run with the cows the entire year. They should be kept in a separate enclosure during the non-breeding season. Plenty of exercise as well as a good feeding program is necessary if you expect bulls to stay strong and vigorous. Pastures or large paddocks are recommended as confinement areas for herd bulls. Bulls can be run separately or in a group. The practice of running bulls together is more economicaland saves labor; however, due to temperament, there can be more injuries when bulls are handled in this manner. This is particularly true when older bulls thathave not been raised as contemporaries are intermingled. Bulls should be grouped according to age so that their respective feed requirements can be met more easily. Good pasture is an ideal feed for bulls of any age. Therefore, well-fenced, clean, dry and productive pasture (about 2 acres per bull) will provide needed room for exercise and ideal grazing. These pastures or paddocks should provide adequate shade via trees or shelter and provide easy access to water and a free-choice mineral mix. It is also advantageous to locate these pastures at some distance from the open heifers and the cow herd during the off-breeding season.
Source:
Development and Management of Bulls
EDITED BY J.W. Lemaster and R.S. Sand
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Feeding Mature Bulls
During the off-breeding season, mature bulls in moderate flesh can be maintained on spring and summer pasture. During the fall and winter feeding periods, mature bulls should be conditioned for breeding. The importance of having bulls in propercondition upon start of the breeding season cannot be over-emphasized. Herd bulls must be in good condition to be fertile and sexually active. In the fall, start feeding mature bulls hay or silage plus one pound of protein supplement before they start to lose weight. Mature bulls will consume daily amounts of feed equal to 1 1/2 to 3 percent of their body weight, depending upon condition and individuality. It is suggested to evaluate body condition score of bulls prior to the breeding season. A small amount of extra feed may be needed 60 days prior to the breeding season to get mature bulls in moderate condition. Five pounds of grain daily should be ample for most bulls; however, if a bull is lacking in condition, he may require as much as 15 to 25 pounds of grain per day. It is important to realize that "hard-keeping" bulls, which require excessive amounts of grain to maintain moderate body condition, will likely sire offspring that are also "hard-keepers" and probably should not be used for breeding due to the economics involved with feeding such animals.
Source:
Development and Management of Bulls
EDITED BY J.W. Lemaster and R.S. Sand
Source:
Development and Management of Bulls
EDITED BY J.W. Lemaster and R.S. Sand
Vibriosis in Cattle
Vibriosis is a venereal disease causing infertility and, occasionally, abortion. It is caused by the bacterium Campylobacter fetus, which lives in the crevices of a bull’s prepuce (foreskin), but usually does not become established in the bull until it is about 4 years old or older.
Vibriosis is spread from an infected bull to a cow during the breeding act. Bulls also may be infected by breeding infected cows. Although semen from reputable bull studs is usually “clean” because of proper health examinations of the bulls and treatment of semen, this disease can be transmitted through artificial insemination if these precautions
are not taken.
Untreated, infected bulls can remain carriers for a long time. They also can be “clean” yet transmit the germ from an infected cow to a “clean” cow.
Vibriosis in females causes endometritis (infection of the inner lining of the uterus), resulting in failure to conceive or death of the embryo. Affected cows may conceive and not return to heat 21 days later. However, the newly formed embryo may then die, become absorbed by the cow and then she may exhibit estrus from 27 to 53 days after breeding. Abortions late in gestation can occur, but are unusual.
Diagnosis is difficult and depends on identifying cultures of the organism from the genitalia of the infected cow or bull, or from the abomasum (fourth stomach chamber) of an aborted fetus. Prevent vibriosis by vaccinating cattle, using artificial insemination, treating infected animals, or combining all three.
Source:
Reproductive Diseases in Cattle
EDITED BY L. R. SPROTT AND ROBERT W. FIELD
Vibriosis is spread from an infected bull to a cow during the breeding act. Bulls also may be infected by breeding infected cows. Although semen from reputable bull studs is usually “clean” because of proper health examinations of the bulls and treatment of semen, this disease can be transmitted through artificial insemination if these precautions
are not taken.
Untreated, infected bulls can remain carriers for a long time. They also can be “clean” yet transmit the germ from an infected cow to a “clean” cow.
Vibriosis in females causes endometritis (infection of the inner lining of the uterus), resulting in failure to conceive or death of the embryo. Affected cows may conceive and not return to heat 21 days later. However, the newly formed embryo may then die, become absorbed by the cow and then she may exhibit estrus from 27 to 53 days after breeding. Abortions late in gestation can occur, but are unusual.
Diagnosis is difficult and depends on identifying cultures of the organism from the genitalia of the infected cow or bull, or from the abomasum (fourth stomach chamber) of an aborted fetus. Prevent vibriosis by vaccinating cattle, using artificial insemination, treating infected animals, or combining all three.
Source:
Reproductive Diseases in Cattle
EDITED BY L. R. SPROTT AND ROBERT W. FIELD
Learning Artificial Insemination
Supervised instruction and guidance are essential because without adequate training, valuable AI equipment and semen could be seriously damaged. In order to ensure high fertility, frozen semen requires very special storage and handling techniques. Adequate training is also essential to minimize risk of injury to either a valuable animal or to yourself.
AI Training Schools are available from several semen suppliers. The objective of these schools is to teach the skills required to handle semen, inseminate cows, and manage a successful AI program. Three basic areas of instruction should be provided by AI
Training Schools including:
1. Insemination technique, developing through live animal practice, the ability to skillfully and accurately place semen at the proper location within the reproductive tract using sanitary and correct techniques.
2. Semen handling, developing through practice, the ability to properly handle, thaw and prepare semen for insemination, according to the recommendations of semen-producing organizations.
3. Reproductive management training in the importance of heat detection, herd health, and total herd management for the development and continued success of an AI program.
The National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) is an association of companies that service the artificial insemination business. NAAB has recommended minimum standards for AI Training Schools. Address inquiries to: Technical Director, National Association of Animal Breeders, P.O. Box 1033, Columbia, MO 65205. A potential student should ask if the school considered meets the following recommendations:
1. Six hours of live cow insemination practice done over a minimum of three separate sessions.
2. At least two cows per student per course, with each student having access to a minimum of ten practice cows.
3. A maximum of eight students per instructor.
Do not expect an AI Training School to do it all for you. Supervised training is just the beginning; after that, continuous practice is necessary to fully develop the required skills.
Source:
Artificial Insemination for Beef Cattle
EDITED BY Glenn Selk
Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist
N.B. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets are also available on our website at:
http://www.osuextra.com
AI Training Schools are available from several semen suppliers. The objective of these schools is to teach the skills required to handle semen, inseminate cows, and manage a successful AI program. Three basic areas of instruction should be provided by AI
Training Schools including:
1. Insemination technique, developing through live animal practice, the ability to skillfully and accurately place semen at the proper location within the reproductive tract using sanitary and correct techniques.
2. Semen handling, developing through practice, the ability to properly handle, thaw and prepare semen for insemination, according to the recommendations of semen-producing organizations.
3. Reproductive management training in the importance of heat detection, herd health, and total herd management for the development and continued success of an AI program.
The National Association of Animal Breeders (NAAB) is an association of companies that service the artificial insemination business. NAAB has recommended minimum standards for AI Training Schools. Address inquiries to: Technical Director, National Association of Animal Breeders, P.O. Box 1033, Columbia, MO 65205. A potential student should ask if the school considered meets the following recommendations:
1. Six hours of live cow insemination practice done over a minimum of three separate sessions.
2. At least two cows per student per course, with each student having access to a minimum of ten practice cows.
3. A maximum of eight students per instructor.
Do not expect an AI Training School to do it all for you. Supervised training is just the beginning; after that, continuous practice is necessary to fully develop the required skills.
Source:
Artificial Insemination for Beef Cattle
EDITED BY Glenn Selk
Extension Animal Reproduction Specialist
N.B. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Fact Sheets are also available on our website at:
http://www.osuextra.com
History of Artificial Insemination
The history of AI is interesting. Old Arabian documents dated around 1322 A.D. indicate that an Arab chieftain wanted to mate his prize mare to an outstanding stallion owned by an enemy. He introduced a wand of cotton into the mare's reproductive tract, then used it to sexually excite the stallion causing him to ejaculate. The semen was introduced into the mare resulting in conception.Anthony van Leeuwenhook, inventor of the microscope, first observed human spermatozoa under magnification.This finding led to furtherresearch. Spallanzani is usually considered the inventor of AI. His scientific reports of 1780 indicate successful use of AI in dogs.
In 1899, Ivanoff of Russia pioneered AI research in birds, horses, cattle and sheep. He was apparently the first to successfully inseminate cattle artificially. Mass breeding of cows via AI was first accomplished in Russia, where 19,800 cows were bred in 1931. Denmark was first to establish an AI cooperative association in 1936. E.J. Perry of New Jersey visited the AI facilities in Denmark and established the first United States AI cooperative in 1938 at the New Jersey State College of Agriculture.
The AI industry has grown tremendously in the United States since its beginning. In 1970, USDA reported that 7,344,420 dairy females were bred artificially, 46% of the female dairy cattle population.
Source:
Artificial Insemination in Dairy Cattle
EDITED BY D. W. Webb
In 1899, Ivanoff of Russia pioneered AI research in birds, horses, cattle and sheep. He was apparently the first to successfully inseminate cattle artificially. Mass breeding of cows via AI was first accomplished in Russia, where 19,800 cows were bred in 1931. Denmark was first to establish an AI cooperative association in 1936. E.J. Perry of New Jersey visited the AI facilities in Denmark and established the first United States AI cooperative in 1938 at the New Jersey State College of Agriculture.
The AI industry has grown tremendously in the United States since its beginning. In 1970, USDA reported that 7,344,420 dairy females were bred artificially, 46% of the female dairy cattle population.
Source:
Artificial Insemination in Dairy Cattle
EDITED BY D. W. Webb
Artificial insemination (A.I.)
Artificial insemination (AI) is a process by which sperm are collected from the male, processed, stored and artificially introduced into the female reproductive tract for the purpose of conception. AI has become one of the most important techniques ever devised for the genetic improvement of farm animals. It has been most widely used for breeding dairy cattle and has made bulls of high genetic merit available to all.
Source:
Artificial Insemination in Dairy Cattle
EDITED BY D. W. Webb
Source:
Artificial Insemination in Dairy Cattle
EDITED BY D. W. Webb
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