Infertile Angus Bull

[Matthew Britton]

As the title suggests we have a young Angus bull who had his first (mainly heifers) cows this year. There were only 19 of them. He has served 12 and the remaining 7 are empty. I had him tested Friday and was shown a slide of semen whose heads were all severed so just white dots. It is apparently a semen/testicle infection. Rang vets who said cull him, fair enough but to me a bit drastic seeing as he’s only just starting out. It’s all not helped by now being in France and only having a limited grasp of the language! Any thoughts on mending him or is the vet right?

 

[muleman]

As the title suggests we have a young Angus bull who had his first (mainly heifers) cows this year. There were only 19 of them. He has served 12 and the remaining 7 are empty. I had him tested Friday and was shown a slide of semen whose heads were all severed so just white dots. It is apparently a semen/testicle infection. Rang vets who said cull him, fair enough but to me a bit drastic seeing as he’s only just starting out. It’s all not helped by now being in France and only having a limited grasp of the language! Any thoughts on mending him or is the vet right?

Think of it as a close shave and cull him.

 

[Princess Pooper]

As the title suggests we have a young Angus bull who had his first (mainly heifers) cows this year. There were only 19 of them. He has served 12 and the remaining 7 are empty. I had him tested Friday and was shown a slide of semen whose heads were all severed so just white dots. It is apparently a semen/testicle infection. Rang vets who said cull him, fair enough but to me a bit drastic seeing as he’s only just starting out. It’s all not helped by now being in France and only having a limited grasp of the language! Any thoughts on mending him or is the vet right?

He only has one job in life and he doesn't appear to be able to do it very well.... unless there is a chance that once the infection has gone his fresh sperm will be healthy, then I don't see you have any sensible choice. Can you get the heifers AI'd to tide you over if you are going to give him a chance? Could you speak to your old vet (in the UK presumably?).

 

[Matthew Britton]

He only has one job in life and he doesn't appear to be able to do it very well.... unless there is a chance that once the infection has gone his fresh sperm will be healthy, then I don't see you have any sensible choice. Can you get the heifers AI'd to tide you over if you are going to give him a chance? Could you speak to your old vet (in the UK presumably?).

Good idea re vet, not too worried about the empties they won’t hurt to have a while longer to grow on. Had to put a lim bull last week for hernia so think I will just replace him and cover Angus to lim next time. After that we have his first 2 sons on the ground so probably keep one. It’s a bugger losing 2 in a couple of weeks though.