Management of Bulls for Breeding Purpose

The management of bulls for breeding purpose plays a vital role in the success of any livestock breeding program. Bulls contribute significantly to the genetic makeup of future generations, as one bull can father hundreds or even thousands of offspring. Therefore, their selection, care, and management directly influence the productivity and profitability of dairy and meat-producing herds.

Importance of Breeding Bull Management

The breeding bulls used should have high milk yield transmitting potential which mainly depends upon the proper selection of bulls.

“Bull is the half of the herd” and the milk production is a sex limited character. So the bulls selected should be highest milk yielding mother.

Once the bulls are selected regular care is always essential to maintain them sound in both physically and reproductively.

A calendar/chart should be prepared well in advance for housing, feeding, watering, exercising, grooming, brushing, shed cleaning, routine health check-up, disease screening (for TB, JD, Brucellosis), vaccination depending upon the facilities available in that area and should be strictly followed up without any deviation.

The management is important to maintain standard optimum performance.

Bull Selection

Bulls can be selected at an early age, around one year. Early selection helps ensure proper care in feeding, management, and training. It also allows the bulls to adapt to the environment of the semen station where they will spend their lives.

The selection depends on a thorough general physical and andrological examination.

Genetic Confirmation

Bulls should be genetically superior and meet acceptable breeding standards. Their breeding value should be assessed based on their ancestral pedigree or through progeny testing, which evaluates the quality of their offspring.

The bull’s transmitting ability can be determined by the performance of its daughters.

In addition, the milk yield of the dam and sisters can also be considered. For this purpose, the performance during their first three lactations should be evaluated. Bulls descending from ancestors with known lethal traits should not be selected.

Housing Management

Proper housing management plays a crucial role in maintaining the health and well-being of breeding bulls. Individual pens with attached loafing areas are always preferred for optimal management. A two-row system of housing with a central railing area, where bulls are tied in a head-to-head arrangement, is ideal. This setup facilitates easier feeding and cleaning of the sheds.

Paddocks should be oriented from northwest to southeast to protect the bulls from direct sunlight and cold winds. Each bull should have an individual pen measuring 16’ x 6’, along with an open yard or loafing area of 16’ x 20’ to allow for natural exercise and sun exposure. The ceiling height should be between 10 and 12 feet to ensure adequate ventilation.

The rooms must have sufficient natural light and proper ventilation. A gap of 3–4 feet should be maintained between the roof and the ventilator for better airflow. Roofs should be designed to allow easy cleaning. Paddocks should have sturdy walls at least 6 feet high to prevent undue excitement from neighboring bulls and to reduce the risk of jumping between pens.

Flooring should be non-slippery with a proper slope and drainage system to prevent water stagnation. All corners of the facility should be rounded to facilitate better cleaning and disinfection. Feeding troughs should be semi-circular to ensure that feed falls back into the trough, minimizing wastage and spoilage.

Doors must be wide and robust, and the gates at the open pens should be equally strong and of sufficient height. To provide relief during summer, foggers and fans should be installed on the ceiling, which is especially beneficial for maintaining buffalo bulls. Additionally, shade trees should be planted along the sides of the paddocks to keep the surroundings cool and pleasant.

Feeding of Bulls

To maintain the health of breeding bulls and ensure a good level of sexual desire or libido, scientific feeding practices must be followed. The feeding formula should be developed using locally available feeds and fodders, taking into account seasonal variations. The feeding schedule should be tailored according to the specific nutritional requirements of the bulls.

Bulls up to the age of five years should be provided with a growth-promoting ration rich in protein, as they continue to grow until this age. After the age of five, the ration should meet only their maintenance needs, which may vary depending on the frequency of semen collection. Proper nutrition not only supports the physical health of the bulls but also enhances their reproductive performance.

Bull Attendant

Bulls should be handled by designated personnel only. It is important that each bull becomes familiar with its specific attendant, as this familiarity helps reduce stress and promotes better behavior. Frequent changes in attendants should be avoided, as unfamiliarity can lead to agitation or aggression in bulls.

The individuals responsible for cleaning, feeding, watering, grooming, exercising, and leading the bulls should remain consistent. Regular interaction with the same caregivers fosters trust and cooperation, ensuring smoother management and safer handling of the animals.

Restraining of Bulls

Nose rings should be applied to bulls to ensure better control by the attendant. These nose rings must be of good quality and securely fastened with a strong rope, preferably made of nylon or cotton, which the attendant can use to guide and manage the bull effectively.

Bulls should not be kept so loosely that they can come into close contact and engage in fights. In situations where bulls attempt to fight, a long wooden handle can be used as a tool to safely separate them, minimizing the risk of injury to both the animals and the handler.

Routine Health Checkup

The breeding bulls should be checked daily as a routine and information from the regular attendant should also be collected.

Any deviation in feed intake, fever, constipation, diarrhoea, cough, excessive salivation, lameness and behaviour should be viewed seriously.

After inspecting these animals treatment should be given immediately and follow up also should be taken care.

Bulls suffering from contagious or infectious should be segregated to sick animal shed and treated with great care. Record should be maintained for the treatments and follow ups given.

Vaccination and Deworming

Vaccination schedule should be prepared in advance and should be strictly followed.

Prophylactic vaccines should be given for foot and mouth disease, rinderpest, haemorrhagic septicaemia, black quarter, anthrax and theileriosis should be given.

Some vaccinations can be given in anticipation depending upon the outbreak in nearby areas and climatic conditions.

All records for vaccination should be maintained. Regular deworming should be done at the prescribed interval and the records should be maintained.

The semen station should arrange for ring vaccination all animals against FMD, HS, BQ within a radius of 5 kms around the semen station.

Disease Screening

The bulls should be screened regularly for tuberculosis, Johne’s disease, brucellosis, vibriosis, trichomoniasis, leptospirosis as per the schedule.

The materials should be collected and should be sent to authorize laboratories for screening and the results, action taken should be recorded.

Cleaning, Grooming and Bruising

Cleaning, grooming and bruising keeps the animal healthy. It helps the bull attendant who is looking the bull to work with the bulls and to become familiar and better control over bulls.

The bulls should be washed daily with clean fresh water. The perineal region, preputial sheath, area between forelegs, between thighs and testicles should be washed thoroughly.

Bathing can be stopped under extreme conditions where it is too cold. In these conditions at least the preputial sheath should cleaned.

The grooming and brushing should be done daily. The grooming and brushing will helps to keep the animal healthy and to have better cutaneous circulation.

While doing the above three activities the animals should be examined for ectoparasites, wounds, skin problems and other lesions.

Interdigital space should be washed and cleaned and should be checked for the presence of lesions or foreign materials.

The preputial hairs should be clipped periodically. The preputial hairs should not be clipped to closely.

Buffalo bulls may be shaved whenever possible to keep them clean and should be washed regularly.

Exercise

The bulls which are not sick should be given daily exercise in bull exerciser to maintain its health. The bull exerciser should be kept in a place near to the bull paddocks.

There should be a routine chart for the bull exercise which has to be followed regularly. When there is adverse environment the exercise may be avoided or the timings may be changed.

When there is adverse environment the exercise may be avoided or the timings may be changed.

A walk of one km during semen collection days and two km during other days is found sufficient for bulls.

Training Procedure

The suitable time for training is early morning hour when the bulls have light stomach. During winter seasons the training may be carried out between 9-10 AM.

The young bulls can be prepared as for the adults bulls before starting of training.

The bulls may be made familiar well in advance to the training/collection yard. It is desirable to start the training initially with the anoestrus female.

The female teaser should be free of diseases and should not be too large or too small when compared to the bull.

The dummy should be secured well in a crate. The dummy should be controlled well because some dummies may kick while mounting by the young bull. This will have negative impact on the training bulls.

Initially the young bulls should be brought to the training/collection area in groups. In the beginning they will feel nervous.

The young bulls are timid and they will not donate semen easily. They will be allowed to watch the mounting by other bulls from a distance to stimulate the training bulls.

After few days they will develop sexual desire and start nuzzling and licking the perineal and vulval region of teaser/dummy. Once these sexual activities start now the training should be given individually but not in groups.

One bull should be allowed to approach the teaser/dummy; the other bulls should be kept away nearby from where they can watch the bull and teaser.

Once the bull is ready to ride, kind words and whistling should be given which will intensify the sexual desire. As the whole process will take time the operator should be patient.

In the beginning the penis will not protrude out of prepuce. With repeated attempts the penis will come out of sheath and the man experienced in semen collection by grasping the sheath should divert the penis into artificial vagina.

The action of semen collector plays major role in shaping the sex libido of the bull.

Some bull will have some preference over some dummies, some colours and they should be noted and harnessed to for the maximum semen collection.

The proper temperature of artificial vagina (42-45:C) and pressure is also important.

When the training is started, the semen is collected once in two days and should be evaluated for its quality.

After six consequent ejaculations and testing for quality of semen they may be placed in regular collection schedule.

Initially one ejaculate is collected in regular schedule for 3-6 months. Later two ejaculates will be collected in one day. From one adult bull two collections will be made in a week.