Bulls fertility issues?

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Hi so we have a 5 year old bull who we stick with our heifers. We have just gotten them all pregnancy tested and he’s only gotten 12 out of the 15 pregnant. Pre bulling all heifers were checked by the vet and the bull was also semen tested, all came back fine.

we are now going to get the bull re tested of course to make sure he’s still working alright. We haven’t ever had a problem will a bull being fertile or not, at what point would you say his fertility is a problem in terms of cattle missed?

 

[Bucks Boy]

How long was the bull in with them for. If only in for one cycle only, result is not too bad.

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

How long was the bull in with them for. If only in for one cycle only, result is not too bad.

He was in for 3 1/2 - 4 months. I’d definitely seen him jump on all of them

 

[Welderloon]

Have you physically witnessed the barren heifers cycling/bulling?

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Have you physically witnessed the barren heifers cycling/bulling?

Yeah, they have definitely all been bulling

 

[Farmer Keith]

Not quite the same but we had a tup fertility tested 5/5 last year and he only got 52 out of 70 in lamb. Half our empties off of one tup. Guess the test is only a reflection of him on the day of the test.

 

[Bucks Boy]

What health checks have you done? BVD etc.

 

[Welderloon]

The second fertility test may shed some light...............or add to your confusion if there is nothing wrong, its certainly been an indifferent year for breeding stock based on the drought, 3 empty is probably too much, however, until you can pinpoint something its anyone's guess

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

What health checks have you done? BVD etc.

They get blooded for it and Johnnes too, along with something else but the name of it escapes me currently

 

[M-J-G]

Are they served sporadically or at the beginning/end?

Could he have gotten an infection and been sub-fertile for a while.

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Are they served sporadically or at the beginning/end?

Could he have gotten an infection and been sub-fertile for a while.

I’d of said he’s constantly at them when they’re billing. I wouldn’t have said he had gotten an infection that I’m aware of as he always looked healthy. Unless I had missed something

 

[Bucks Boy]

Neospora, IBR, Leptospirosis. Where do you stop though. Are they home bred?

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

Neospora, IBR, Leptospirosis. Where do you stop though. Are they home bred?

It’s lepto that’s the other one was racking my brain there. Cows are dairy breed blues bought in as calves and bull was bought off a breeder we know limmy

 

[JSmith]

It’s not a massive problem is it?? three out of 15 isn’t bad, could be the heifers problem not the bull!! If it was six or seven then I’d be concerned, if it was two empty would you even think about it?

 

[DB67]

If the heifers are mature enough most would be gotten first or second cycle? What did they say at scanning or was it just a case of in calf.

 

[Werzle]

Hi so we have a 5 year old bull who we stick with our heifers. We have just gotten them all pregnancy tested and he’s only gotten 12 out of the 15 pregnant. Pre bulling all heifers were checked by the vet and the bull was also semen tested, all came back fine.

we are now going to get the bull re tested of course to make sure he’s still working alright. We haven’t ever had a problem will a bull being fertile or not, at what point would you say his fertility is a problem in terms of cattle missed?

When were they served? Heat heat stress played havoc with breeding this year. 12 out of 15 isnt so bad but warrants answers

 

[pat kcotnit]

If the heifers are mature enough most would be gotten first or second cycle? What did they say at scanning or was it just a case of in calf.

This ^. What age were they when bulled? Maybe not mature enough.

 

[NorthumbrianFarmer]

This ^. What age were they when bulled? Maybe not mature enough.

Anywhere from 18-22 months old at bulling

 

[Farmer Keith]

Anywhere from 18-22 months old at bulling

If the bull is fine, which he probably will be given that he’s got 12 in calf, you want nothing with them in the herd anyways. Why bother wasting time testing them for what’s wrong when the beef market is where it is? They’re far too old to be breeding off now regardless of the outcome of any tests. Bear in mind if they’re dairy bred blues they could be bred out of the most infertile dairy cows going unfortunately.

 

[choochter]

For what it would cost you to fertility test the bull you'd be better to spend the money on blood testing the heifers for, say, ibr, mycoplasma and neospora (if its present in your area). If there's something found then you can take action on the in-calf heifers.
But I'd still fat the empty heifers.