HESSEQUA NEWS - At the 2017 Aldam Stockmans School, cattle veterans Martin Seyfferdt, interbreed cattle judge, and Arthur de Villiers, Arcadia Bonsmara stud owner, offered advice on selection breeding and marketing, and explained the breeder’s role in selling high-performance bulls.
Although bulls make up only 3% to 5% of a herd, they are responsible for 50% of the genetic composition of a calf crop, says Martin Seyfferdt, interbreed cattle judge.
He stresses that, above all, a bull buyer must be clear on what he wants to achieve with a new bull.
Selection priorities
The breeder’s primary task is to choose a bull that will maintain the cow herd’s good qualities, and improve on the poor ones.
Importantly, he should have a specific goal in mind when selecting a bull, and arrange his priorities accordingly.
READ What to look for when selecting a bull
Factors to be considered are, among others, fertility, length, width, muscling, growth, milk production, and coat and hair quality.
Seyfferdt warns against an extensive list; the breeder should focus on a short list of economically important traits in order to improve the herd rapidly.
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