Breeding soundness exams can help prevent financial losses for ranchers, according to AgriLife Today.
Late fall and early winter is the best time to do breeding soundness exams on bulls if you have a spring calving season, according to Dr. Bob Judd, host of Texas Vet News on the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB)Radio Network. He says exams should be performed each year on every bull in the herd.
The importance of breeding soundness exams was emphasized by AgriLife Extension economist Stan Bevers at the Beef Cattle Short Course in College Station.
Bevers evaluated 25 years of income and expenses on a large New Mexico ranch, and the results showed that veterinary services and breeding per herd accounted for 3.1 percent of total expenses, or $27.99 per breeding female.
In 2003, disaster set in and pregnancy rates dropped 50 percent, Bevers said.
“The ranch wasn’t doing any breeding exams and it hit them hard, very hard,” Bevers said. “The initial loss was $62,000 in calf sales. It also hurt their breakeven costs.”
Due to the financial losses, plans to expand the herd were put on hold and set them back two years.
When the 26 bulls in the herd were tested, six of them were sterile.
Ranchers should view the expense of breeding soundness exams as purchasing a life insurance policy, Bevers said.
“If she doesn’t get bred, nothing else matters,” Bevers said. “How much are you willing to assume? How much insurance can you afford to purchase?”
Judd recommends calling your large animal veterinarian and getting your bulls tested before spring breeding season.