The Casual Cattle Conversations Podcast: Bull Fertility 101: Genetics, Soundness Exams & Vet Collaboration | Jennifer Koziol

Bull Fertility 101: Genetics, Soundness Exams & Vet Collaboration | Jennifer Koziol

Too often bulls slip through the cracks on cow-calf operations which only results in more expenses. “The bull is one of the most impactful pieces of any cow-calf herd,” says Jennifer Koziol – Associate Professor of Food Animal Medicine and Surgery at Texas Tech University. From genetic potential to their primary job of breeding cows, bulls are a necessity that need to be taken care of to ensure optimal performance.

Optimal performance for bulls starts with the seedstock supplier. Proper dam nutrition throughout her lifetime and proper nutrition for the bull’s first six months of life impact testicular development. Jennifer says, “A lot of the cell populations in the testicle are developed before the bull is 6 months of age.” Once these cells are developed, there is no going back to make up for lost nutrition.

After the initial six months of life, developing bulls on a moderate rate of gain and providing them with an environment to walk and exercise creates a smoother transition for them as they adjust to new ranches and breeding season....



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