obie105
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How to feed bulls? Tips? Tricks? For show and sale. We have been successful in feeding heifers but we are new to the bull side of things.
Feeding bulls
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Gargan
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I'm interested in this thread also. I've heard that feeding bulls is a whole different ballgame.
RyanChandler
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Not really. It's hard to get a sale bull too fat for buyers. Divide the desired weight gain by how many days out you are and you'll know how much per day he needs to gain. Should be pretty easy to adjust your feed from here.
Gargan
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Can getting them to fat effect fertility? Since sperm is made from proteins, are high protein feeds best?
Boot Jack Bulls
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Gargan said:
Our tech always recommends you take the corn out of their diet at least 30 days before testing or collection, especially in young bulls. The corn makes the sperm act "drunk" and decreases motility. A fat bull often has a lower libido also. Adding vitamins A, D and E helps boost fertility. I have found that keeping bulls in good working condition depends greatly on the individual. The bull in my avatar for example, will always keep way more body condition then his contemporaries on the same ration. If I push him show chow for 30 days prior to a show, he has plenty of bloom and cover to compete. He can then come home and be used for fall services and not suffer because he is too fat. It is a fine line with show bulls to get the look and condition without ruining their productivity.
Gargan
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Good info here. Thanks!!Boot Jack Bulls said:
Boot Jack Bulls
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You're welcome! There are tons of little tricks for developing young bulls and keeping old ones in fighting shape. My tech has been invaluable when it comes to fertility issues. The rest I learned through lots of research and trial and error.
When it comes to feeding a show bull, don't get carried away with pushing fat. I have had good luck with a complete feed, like Purina Show Chow. A little beet pulp and stemy hay will help drop the rear flank a bit it they are tucked up from being with the cows. If a bull is masculine and structurally correct, most judges will (and should) overlook the fact that he is not steer fat, especially going into fall shows where many mature bulls are just coming out of the breeding pen. I personally dislike bulls shown super fat. If you look long enough, you can usually see what they are trying to hide with all that cover!
When it comes to feeding a show bull, don't get carried away with pushing fat. I have had good luck with a complete feed, like Purina Show Chow. A little beet pulp and stemy hay will help drop the rear flank a bit it they are tucked up from being with the cows. If a bull is masculine and structurally correct, most judges will (and should) overlook the fact that he is not steer fat, especially going into fall shows where many mature bulls are just coming out of the breeding pen. I personally dislike bulls shown super fat. If you look long enough, you can usually see what they are trying to hide with all that cover!
RyanChandler
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I don't like bulls super fat either but look at any bull pics from Denver- clearly judges want them 'finished.'
Boot Jack Bulls
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-XBAR- said:
Agreed. Denver is a hard one because it is a winter show, and it is a bit easier to justify them being a bit heavy. My biggest issue is when it affects how they get out and move. They also need more hair to compete in Denver, it just depends what your target shows are and your overall goals as a producer are. I personally like to win the shows, and have done well enough, but I refuse to make my bulls butter fat to win. Some judges appreciated it, some don't. My bulls can hold their own in the ring and in the pasture as sires, and that's the balance I strive for.
obie105
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Gargan said:
Good info. I always feel I do not start pushing hard enough soon enough with young bulls before a show or sale. I do not like bulls when I am shopping around hog fat.
Boot Jack Bulls
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It helps if you keep in mind the bull's breeding, it will help you target him for a show or sale. If you have shown his female siblings, you should have a good jumping off point for how to get your bull into condition to compete. Yes, heifers are different, but it is a place to start.
cowman 52
Well-known member
I'm not convinced that bulls need to be fat to the point of being FAT. Enough cover to smooth them up, but having them full is a whole lot more important. It's hard to feed one until 20 min before the sale starts, and then him not to look drawn in the ring.
Feed a good growing ration, it will keep your fertility in a good place, your sales cost at an even better position, and run a lot of ground hay, roughage, or what ever you have through them to keep the belly full. Take a lesson from the dairy guys, they run an extreme amount of feed through one and bet you never saw a fat milk cow.
If you are selling 50 grand bulls 100 head deep in the sale order, fat is an issue, selling 5000 dollar bulls 75 head deep the full will outweigh the structure and other problems that too fat drags along behind it.
Feed a good growing ration, it will keep your fertility in a good place, your sales cost at an even better position, and run a lot of ground hay, roughage, or what ever you have through them to keep the belly full. Take a lesson from the dairy guys, they run an extreme amount of feed through one and bet you never saw a fat milk cow.
If you are selling 50 grand bulls 100 head deep in the sale order, fat is an issue, selling 5000 dollar bulls 75 head deep the full will outweigh the structure and other problems that too fat drags along behind it.
As in heifers, fat does affect fertility. A fat bull will have decreased sperm count due to the retained heat from the fat, as well as decreased motility.
As in heifers, most show bulls are too fat.
As in heifers, most buyers will say they do not want a fat bull, but then turn around and buy the fattest, in their mind thickest" bull they can find.
I have found a growing ration with lots of oats, and free choice high quality grass hay works well until about Feb. In Feb, I usually increase the protein and energy a bit to get that "cover" that buyers like.
Another thing to keep in mind is frame score of the bull. Shorter the frame the less feed it will require to get cover. Larger framed bulls will require more feed. That is of course, a general statement, but holds true most of the time.
As in heifers, most show bulls are too fat.
As in heifers, most buyers will say they do not want a fat bull, but then turn around and buy the fattest, in their mind thickest" bull they can find.
I have found a growing ration with lots of oats, and free choice high quality grass hay works well until about Feb. In Feb, I usually increase the protein and energy a bit to get that "cover" that buyers like.
Another thing to keep in mind is frame score of the bull. Shorter the frame the less feed it will require to get cover. Larger framed bulls will require more feed. That is of course, a general statement, but holds true most of the time.
Davis Shorthorns
Well-known member
The last bull I fed out for Denver went pretty dang good. I used a complete show feed, and then added a 32oz cup of whole corn that I cooked for most of the day. I did that twice a day with free choice good grass hay.
We do not feed our show bulls much different than our show heifers (neither are fat enough in some peoples eyes), but bulls do eat more. We feed the normal show ration, and make sure there is free choice hay each night for them. The key is to get ahead of them vs. their growth, because it will be really hard to catch up once you are behind. It is better to feed a little lower enery feed and provide it as free-choice, vs. feeding a limited hot ration. As long as you have the free-choice hay, they will limit their feed intake to fullfill all of their growth needs, and not so much on their fat storage.
Remember that (feed = growth) too, not just making them fat. Side by side, your show bulls will have more frame and muscle than your bulls in the bull lot.
Remember that (feed = growth) too, not just making them fat. Side by side, your show bulls will have more frame and muscle than your bulls in the bull lot.
RyanChandler
Well-known member
What is your rationale behind this?- " It is better to feed a little lower enery feed and provide it as free-choice, vs. feeding a limited hot ration." I've always heard the opposite.
-XBAR- said:
I am just saying that I prefer to feed a normal show ration and increase the volume with beet pulp, rather then feeding less and adding corn to it. For a show/sale bull to have enough guts and soggy look to them, it is going to take more than throwing a round bale of costal out along with a few scoops of corn.
RyanChandler
Well-known member
Guess it depends how big those scoops are 
Keep in mind, no amount of feed, or type of feed, will make a pencil gutted animal "soggy", nor will it make a dink a monster.
Feed will OPTIMIZE an animal, it will not create one.
For what it is worth, I like to bucket feed my bulls and replacement heifers so I know how much they are eating, and it makes them much more gentle and easy to work with. If I have more animals than I can pack feed to, I walk among them in the pen for 15 or so minutes every day.
Feed will OPTIMIZE an animal, it will not create one.
For what it is worth, I like to bucket feed my bulls and replacement heifers so I know how much they are eating, and it makes them much more gentle and easy to work with. If I have more animals than I can pack feed to, I walk among them in the pen for 15 or so minutes every day.
