For producers who run spring calving herds the annual joining period is not far away. Joining is a significant event in the annual cattle production calendar. To ensure its a successful event, I reckon its important to do some preparation.
Ensuring your bulls are fit and ready to work is essential. Even if you have only recently purchased your bull, you should still bring him in and put him through a check.
You should be looking for signs of injury or lameness. Remember if your bull has trouble walking, he will be less willing to search out and join cows.
A complete physical check includes looking at eyes, teeth, sheath, pizzle, testicles and feet. Its definitely worth restraining the bull in a crush and checking the testicles feel firm and sound.
Checking your bulls at least a month before joining will ensure your bulls are physically ready to work. Its important to ensure your bull is in a sufficient Fat Score to undertake joining. The ideal Fat Score for bulls is a Fat Score 2.5 to 3.5
Be prepared for bulls to lose condition during joining, so its important not to have bulls below a Fat Score 2.5 at the start of joining. Below this bulls tend to have less energy and willingness to work which can impact on a successful joining season.
Over a Fat Score 3.5 and bulls will lay fat around the testicles which can cause fertility issues. I often find fat bulls tend to be much more lazy and less inclined to work, particularly as the days get hotter during the late spring, early summer joining time.
As well as checking your bulls, consider the size of your joining mobs. Most bulls could be joined at around 3% of the number of cows. Try to have mobs which allow the right number of bulls.
When you do put your bulls out, think about which bulls will go out to work with each other. The last thing you need is to have bulls fighting each other and not working.
I reckon taking the time to do some pre planning for joining, inspecting your bulls and drafting up your joining mobs will let you approach and manage joining with much more confidence.
If you do need to replace a bull before joining, at the very least a month gives you a chance to contact your bull supplier if you need a replacement. Or it allows you to find alternatives such as reworking joining mobs or even deciding which paddocks could be used for joining to suit your adjusted team of bulls.
Don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like a hand or a second opinion when you are assessing your bulls for the season ahead. I'll be very happy to give you a hand to check your bulls and help put some plans for a successful joining season in place.