It is actually a very simple process: provide grass to your herd of cows and put a bull next to them for a couple of weeks or a couple of months. Wait for nature to take its course and finally drive the bull away again.
Steps
Step 1. Purchase a good breeding bull
Make sure it is a good animal, if you want to raise your cows naturally, or that it is a selected animal, in order to improve the herd and that it does not deteriorate its genetic profile. Check the breed of your cows and choose a bull that is of the same. You should get a purebred one to start a crossbreed operation, or a bull belonging to a similar or equal breed to your cows, if you are hoping to obtain calves that are suitable for sale or exchange in the market. Whatever you choose, make sure you take it wisely so you won't regret it when it's time for delivery.
- Physical conformation is extremely important in choosing a good bull for cows and mares. If you get a physically weak bull, it won't last very long and you will raise lower quality calves.
-
Purchase the bull a couple of weeks before the breeding season, especially if it is a young bull that has undergone food testing before being purchased. That way it can get used to your farm and you can start feeding it with bran instead of the wheat it was tested with.
The exception to this rule is if the bull has been subjected to tests for feeding with forage and not with wheat. This practice is becoming more and more common as the demand for grazing cattle increases
-
Consider the relationship between the number of cows and the number of bulls needed. For most farms, the ratio is one bull to 25 - 50 cows, depending on the size of the pasture and the age of the bull. Herds that are in large pens often require fewer bulls - recalculate the proportions if this is the case for you.
Mature bulls cover more cows than young or virgin ones, so you need to take this into account as well. An adult animal mates with about 30-50 cows each season, a young one with 15-25
Step 2. Get the bull's sperm tested
This is a fundamental step that must be carried out before buying, otherwise you risk buying a bull at a much higher price than it is actually worth. A qualified vet will be able to help you in this regard.
If you perform these analyzes after the purchase and you realize that it is not very fertile, then you will have to resell it and the price will be lower than what you paid for it
Step 3. Take the bull to your farm
Put it in a sturdy enclosure with water and food. He will be quite nervous at first, but he will calm down after a few days.
Based on your healthy livestock management criteria, the bull may need to be quarantined for potential health problems and sexually transmitted diseases such as trichomoniasis, bovine viral diarrhea, vibriosis, and so on. If you want to proceed in this way, keep the animal in isolation for 3-4 weeks to make sure it is negative for all tests. This way you protect your farm
Step 4. Put it together with the cows at the beginning of the breeding season
You can also consider putting cows in his pen, but only if the space is large enough. The enclosure should be large enough not to turn into a dunghill in a short time, but it also shouldn't be too big to tire the bull to the point of failing to mate. If the area is very large, consider buying another bull to match the first one, but one that is not the same age.
Step 5. Keep the bull with the cows for as long as necessary during the breeding season
This can range from 45 to 120 days. In theory, mating should take place in the first 45-60 days, but obviously this varies from herd to herd.
-
Check the cows regularly to be sure of the "progress" made by the bull in mating. In this way you can ascertain with your own eyes whether the bull is covering the females, or whether he is more interested in the grass than in the "girls".
-
Spending some time observing the herd will give you a good idea of how much the bull is interested in your cows.
If you realize that he is not very sexually active, you may think that he is more likely to mate at night, that he has suffered an injury that prevents him from covering the cows, or that he is simply not interested
Breed Cows and Heifers Naturally Step 6 Step 6. At the end of the mating season, remove the cows from the bull
The safest way to proceed is not to remove the male from the group of females, but vice versa. You can do this by herding the herd in the bull's enclosure and then letting the cows out to leave the male alone.
Some farmers prefer to leave the cows with the male until the calving season begins, so he is not alone for most of the year. However, you must keep the bull away at the end of the breeding season for a certain amount of time to check which females have not become pregnant and which may be destined for slaughter. Ultimately, separating the male from the herd depends only on your personal choice
Advice
- Use genetic criteria and a physical exam to choose a good breeding bull. There are many conflicting opinions on the effectiveness of the genetic profile as a means of predicting the quality of calves; many breeders believe that this is not a sufficient guarantee to be sure they are buying a good bull (although more experienced breeders know what to look for in a bull).
-
Always ask for a bull sperm exam before buying to be sure it will do a "good job".
Remember that the spermiogram reveals only the vitality and health of the spermatozoa thanks to the control of their mobility and morphology. This does not mean that the bull has exceptional libido and is interested in mating
-
Physical conformation and character are elements essential to consider when choosing a good breeding bull. There is nothing worse than having an ugly bull, with a bad physical shape or with such obvious defects that you cannot ignore them.
It is normal for a bull to be a little agitated when you go to the enclosure where its females are. However, he shouldn't be nervous enough to send you threatening signals, such as showing his side, arching his neck, or shaking his head at you. If he behaves in this way with you or your co-workers, get rid of it as soon as possible.
Warnings
- Be very careful of the bull during the mating season. These are animals that are always dangerous, as they are very protective with their "harem" and may interpret your presence as a threat to be eliminated immediately.
- A bull is even more dangerous if it does not recognize you as "master".
-
Don't assume it will mate and don't think there is no need to control it. You should always check for yourself that he is really covering the cows or if he is more interested in eating.
The only way to make sure you have an "efficient" bull is to subject the cows to the pregnancy test at the end of the season
-
