Late July, August and September are three exciting months in the annual cattle calendar. Calving for most herds occurs over this time. At the same time, the majority of the regions annual bull sales take place.
Buying new bulls is exciting. The chance to acquire new genetics to lift your herd performance should be exciting. Having said that, I reckon buying a new bull is a process that should start well before sale day.
In earlier posts I've discussed the impact a bull will have on your herd over a few generations, and on the importance of putting a plan in place to bring your bull home from the sale. Planning shouldn't start when the catalogue arrives in the mail. It should be on going as you monitor the growth of your cattle; their performance and suitability for your environment and your target markets.
This close attention to production indicators will help you select potential bulls from a catalogue based on their genetic suitability to your enterprise. Not every bull in a catalogue will suit you. When you have found those bulls, try and have a look at them before sale time. As I've said before most bull breeders will be very happy for you to have a look.
If you don't get a chance to see the bulls before sale day, you really need to make plenty of time before the sale actually starts to get into the yard and check your selected bulls out properly.
Ideally you are looking for a bull that displays the physical attributes which complement the genetics identified in the catalogue.
I reckon you need to be assessing each bull for his maturity pattern; structural soundness; testicle size and sheath; muscularity and for temperament.
You should spend your time looking at the bulls which you've selected from the catalogue. By doing that you will be looking at bulls which you know have the genetics you require for your herds development, and you wont be distracted by bulls which might look good, but genetically don't really suit your enterprise.
Its never a bad thing to take someone along to the sale with you to bounce ideas off and to make sure your assessments don't miss anything. It can be hard and really isn't fair to ask the vendor on sale day to give you time to go through the bulls. Some vendors arrange to have an independent industry advisor on hand to help you make your assessments. Its a role I'm undertaking for several sales this season. I'm looking forward to helping producers choose the right bull for their operation and environment.
Once you've made your choice, make sure you have a chance to have a cuppa and catch up with other producers. Be relaxed and bid only on your chosen bull when the sale starts. If you do miss out on your chosen bull, don't bid on anything! That desperate last bull may set your operation back a long way.
If you do miss out, chat to the vendor about what you were looking for. That personal contact might help find some options which really suit you and your operation.
If you make your plans and know what you are looking for, get good advice and find the right bull, you will make an investment which will take your herd forward to a new level of performance.