Care and Management of Breeding Bull

Care and Management of Breeding Bull:

The bull is said to be 'half of the herd', It is because the offspring's receive 50 per cent of inheritance from the bull. Therefore, the quality of the future herd is dependent on the quality of bulls maintained. "
The bull should be reared under optimum management conditions from the early age so that it is gentle in behaviour.

The following steps are needed under standard management practices.

1. Separation of bull calf :
     Bull calves should be separated from female calves and housed in separate pen.

2. Feeding :

a) Feeding of growing : A ration of young growing bull must contain l2 to 15 per cent DCP and 70 per cent TDN. Legume hay may be given @1kg. per 100 kg body weight of breeding bull. 1.5 to 2.0kg concentrate is also supplied according to breed and size of animals
b) Feeding of bull in service: Breeding bull should be fed good quality roughage and sufficient concentrates to keep them thrifty, but not fat.When the bull is receiving a liberal supply of good quality forage, it needs an additional 2-3 kg concentrate mixture of 13to 15 percent protein. Feeding excess of silage or hay is undesirable as it will make the bull paunchy and less efficient in mating.

3. Housing:
    The bull should be housed in a separate bull pen measuring 15' by 10' in dimensions, having an adequate arrangement of light and ventilation and an entrance 5 feet in width and 7 in height will make a comfortable housing for bull. The feeding and watering arrangement should be madein the bull pen and paddock.
    The bull should have a free access to an exercise yard provided with a boundary wall of about 2 m in height i.e. too high for the bull to jump over.

4. Exercise of bull:
      Exercise is need to keep normal appetite, retain breeding power and good health of a breeding bull.Bulls which received plenty of exercise produce larger ejaculation containing more sperms of higher activity.So bulls should be exercised for 12 to 15 minutes by use of specially constructed bull exerciser.

5. Training:
Bulls should be trained at an early are as they age as they can safely be handled and easily trained at this age. In case ball is regularly tied in the pen a strong halter may be used.

6. Dehorning:
For safe handling,the bull may be kept without horns. Dehorning should be done at an early age of bull calf, because such bułls are less dangerous to handle.

7. Ringing of bull:
A ring made up of non rusting metal like copper or allminium of diameter 2.5inch should be put in the nose of bull at age of 1 year. Bull ring is used for better control of bull. (There are two types of bull nose ring  l)self piercing, 2) non piercing type
In case of self piercing nose ring, the pointed edge is pierced through nasal septum and fixed with screw. While using of non piercing type of nose ring. the thin cartilage of nasal septum is pierced with the help of sterile trocar and canula.)

8. Service from bull:
The young bull of 1.5 to 2 years are used for service once a week while bulls above 2.5 years age may be used for two services per week.
[If bull is not used for few weeks then first ejaculate should be discarded
as it will contain large numbers of dead spermatoza.]

9. Miscellaneous Care:
1. Brushing and grooming is advisable in morning hours.
2. Hair on sheath must be clipped for clean semen production..
3.Teasing to the bull is avoided.