The bull makes up 50% of the herd. Fertility testing and an annual check over before the service period allows for problems to be identified earlier and hopefully prevents increased days empty. Fertility testing should be carried out 6-8 weeks prior to the breeding season.
A sub-fertile bull costs you more than an infertile bull. Poor fertility leads to more barren cows, fewer calves born early in the calving period and younger calves at weaning. An example from the Farm Advisory Service shows that over a 35 cow herd, an infertile bull produces 1.5 tonnes less calf weight and a sub-fertile bull produces 2.5 tonnes less calf weight. In the long term sub-fertile bulls cost more than infertile bulls, as they often go unidentified.
