Think of your bulls like athletes—after a long, demanding season, they need proper care to recover and stay strong. Skipping that step can cost you later. A bull that’s sore, under-conditioned, or dealing with untreated injuries won’t be ready to breed efficiently next spring—and that can directly affect your calf crop and overall herd profitability.
Winter is the perfect time to take stock of your bulls’ health and condition. Look for signs of lameness, injury, or weight loss, and address any issues before they become bigger problems. Schedule breeding soundness exams, review vaccination and deworming schedules, and make sure their nutrition program is set up to rebuild lost body condition.
Here’s the bottom line:
- Evaluate early. Catch issues before they impact fertility.
- Feed smart. Adjust nutrition to regain body condition.
- Keep them moving. Light activity helps maintain muscle and joint health.
By investing time and attention now, you’re doing more than maintaining your bulls—you’re setting your operation up for a stronger, more productive breeding season. A little off-season care goes a long way when it’s time for them to get back to work.
Keeping Bulls Sound Through Winter
When it comes to breeding success, bull health is the foundation on which everything else rests. Even though their main job might be over for now, the work of keeping them healthy is far from done. The
A healthy bull moves freely, maintains good body condition, and is ready to hit the ground running when breeding time rolls around again. Ignoring minor health issues now—such as stiffness, weight loss, or minor injuries—can lead to bigger problems later, including reduced fertility or poor performance.
Here are a few key things to focus on when checking your bulls:
- Watch for lameness: Foot and leg issues are one of the most common reasons bulls get culled early. If a bull can’t move comfortably, he can’t breed efficiently. Watch how he walks compared to the rest of the herd—any limping, stiffness, or uneven steps are red flags.
- Schedule a breeding soundness exam (BSE): This test evaluates both physical structure and reproductive ability. It’s a simple, preventive step that ensures your bull’s fertility, semen quality, and overall readiness for the next breeding season.
- Check body condition: Bulls often lose weight during breeding. Start rebuilding their strength now with good nutrition and mineral supplementation. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for a bull’s fertility and overall health. Underweight bulls may exhibit reduced sperm quality and quantity, resulting in decreased breeding efficiency. The bottom line? Healthy bulls breed better. By taking the time to evaluate and maintain their condition in the off-season, you’re protecting your investment and setting your herd up for a strong, productive season ahead.
Don’t Skip the Breeding Soundness Exam
When you pull your bulls from pasture after the breeding season, one of the first things you should do is check for lameness. Bulls rely on their mobility to get around, cover cows, and maintain dominance in the herd. If a bull can’t move comfortably, he can’t do his job effectively.
Foot and leg problems are among the top reasons producers end up culling bulls early, so catching issues before they worsen can save you time and money down the road. A bull that’s sore or unsteady will struggle to travel long distances or handle rough terrain during breeding, and that means fewer cows bred—and more open females come calving season.
Here’s what to look for when evaluating your bulls:
- Watch how he walks. Compare his stride to the rest of the herd. Is he limping, dragging a leg, or walking slower than usual? Subtle changes often point to early signs of lameness.
- Inspect the feet and legs. Look for swelling, cracks, or overgrown hooves that might indicate an underlying issue.
- Pay attention to posture. A bull that constantly shifts its weight, lies down more than usual, or avoids rough ground could be in pain.
- Check for injuries. Minor cuts or punctures can quickly lead to infections if left untreated.
If you do notice problems, remember that early intervention is key. Treat infections promptly, trim hooves if needed, and provide soft ground for recovery. And if the issue persists or mobility doesn’t improve, consider replacing the bull before the next breeding season. By acting early, you’re taking control of the situation and ensuring the best outcomes for your herd.
Healthy feet mean productive bulls—don’t overlook this vital but straightforward check.
Breeding soundness exam
Following the conclusion of the breeding season, it’s highly recommended to conduct a breeding soundness exam on your bulls. This test is instrumental in determining the bull’s readiness for the next breeding season. The exam involves a thorough physical check of the bull’s reproductive organs to ensure they are functioning optimally. A key component of this test is measuring the bull’s scrotal circumference, a crucial indicator of fertility.
In addition to the physical exam, the bull’s semen is also evaluated for quality. This test ensures that his semen is healthy and capable of producing strong calves. Conducting a breeding soundness exam is an essential step in maintaining your herd’s health. As a bull with poor reproductive performance can affect the success of your entire operation, your responsibility in this process is crucial. I discuss this subject in more detail in a previous post, “Don’t forget about the bull.”
Parasite & Herd Health: The Foundation of Fertility
Taking care of both the internal and external parasites will help improve performance. Parasite control helps keep bulls healthy and prevents the spread of diseases throughout the herd. Deworming at least twice a year is crucial for controlling internal parasites. However, it’s also important to consider external parasites, such as lice and grubs. These parasites can cause discomfort and stress in bulls, leading to reduced feed intake and weight loss. Treating for external parasites not only prevents performance losses but also improves the bull’s appearance and overall well-being.
Having a good herd health program in place is always a good idea. It would be best to talk with your local veterinarian to map out the common diseases in your area. Some common types you may encounter in your herd include IBR, BVD, PI3, and BRSV. It would be best if you administered this vaccine annually during the BSE evaluation of your bulls. Some areas require annual leptospirosis (5-Way) vaccinations, while others require them every 3 to 6 months. The Trichomoniasis vaccine is always a good idea for your breeding herd.
Rebuilding Body Condition
Your bull may have a lower BCS after the breeding season, depending on the forage conditions. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, bulls can be expected to lose between 100 and 400 lbs during the breeding season. Getting him back into a BCS of 6 should be a priority. You will need to take stock of where you currently are and where you need to be to formulate a plan.
Your cattle may not be able to meet their protein and energy needs during this time because forages have lost most of their nutritional value. This lack of nutritional value means that you may have to supplement to meet its needs. You, as the caretaker, can use range cubes or lick tubs if you need protein supplements. If energy is lacking, you will need a more roughage-based diet to take care of that.
Feeding Smart: Match Feed to Bull Age and Size
Factors such as his size and age will determine which supplement you need. A yearling bull will need more nutrition than, say, a mature one. This increased need is because the yearling is still growing, so they will need much higher-quality food to get him going. The larger he is, the more he will need to eat to meet his basic maintenance requirements. For this reason, you see the trend where people are going for the smaller framed cows.
Some people will keep the bulls with the cow herd during this time. From a labor standpoint, it does make sense. It makes it easier not to have to cover more areas, but it only works sometimes. As your cows reach the 3rd trimester, their supplement needs will differ from the bull’s needs. The supplements they will need will do nothing more than make them fat, which is only sometimes a good thing. Plus, you run the risk of having calves that are being born out of your designed calving season.
Winter Management: Keeping Bulls Fit and Focused
Year-round producers have two options when it comes to keeping a bull: with the cows or by themselves. I mentioned earlier why it is better to keep them separate. The separation will give them a chance to rest and recoup from the breeding season and from any potential cows that may come open during the winter.
If you have multiple bulls, keeping them together during this time is a good idea. It gives them the chance to set their pecking order and get out of the way before the breeding season starts. You want them out there servicing the cows and not fighting among themselves, right?
It would help if you made them move around the pasture in which you are keeping them. Moving around the pasture gives them a bit of exercise, and they will be ready in the spring. You can do this by placing the water trough and their food source in different parts of the pasture. These other locations will force them to move around.
It is also a good idea during this time to evaluate whether you want to keep any of the bulls or replace them with newer, younger ones. Replace the bull every four or five years, according to recommendations. This amount of time is usually the length of its abilities and prevents it from breeding its daughters. Deciding which ones you want to replace now will give you time to shop for the next bull.
Cull or Keep? Making Smart Replacement Decisions
When it comes to making this decision, you should consider all of the factors. For starters, you need to look at where your operation is genetically and where you would like it to go. If there is a gap between these two, then consider getting rid of the bull that you currently have.
Next, look at his overall structure and soundness. A bull will only do you good if he is able to get around the pasture and do his job. Look for things like him walking around stiff-legged or taking short strides. Ultimately, the decision on whether to get rid of him or not will rest entirely on you. The bull alone will account for half of your herd’s genetics, so you’d better choose wisely.