Bull selection and management in extensive rangeland production systems of California: a producer survey

Megan R Banwarth; Kasey L DeAtley; Craig A Gifford; Tracy K Schohr; Zachary D McFarlane

doi:10.1093/tas/txac138

Bull selection and management in extensive rangeland production systems of California: a producer survey

Transl Anim Sci. 2022 Oct 5;6(4):txac138. doi: 10.1093/tas/txac138. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Authors

Megan R Banwarth¹, Kasey L DeAtley², Craig A Gifford³, Tracy K Schohr⁴, Zachary D McFarlane¹

Affiliations

¹ Animal Science Department, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA.
² College of Agriculture, California State University, Chico, CA 95929, USA.
³ Extension Animal Sciences and Natural Resources, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 88003, USA.
⁴ University of California Cooperative Extension, Plumas-Sierra County, Quincy, CA 96130, USA.

Abstract

California's approximately 660,000 head of beef cattle are highly dependent on range bulls used to produce offspring that can perform across the state's diverse ecological regions. Bulls need to be functional on rugged coastal landscapes, rolling foothills, deserts, and in high-elevation terrain. Few data exist that indicate factors related to selection, maintenance, and longevity of bulls used in rangeland landscapes. Objectives herein, were to assess factors influencing bull purchasing, management, and culling decisions of California beef producers. Surveys were mailed to the California Cattlemen's Association membership (N = 1,410) with ~ 16% response rate (N = 227). Mean age and years of bull selection experience of respondents was 61 ± 1 yr and 27 ± 1 yr, respectively. Respondents managed cattle on a total of 694,949 hectare of owned, private leased, and leased public rangelands in California and surrounding states. Cow-calf herd size was 333 ± 92 head and bull battery averaged 18 ± 2 head with average bull longevity of 5 ± 1.3 yr. The average price paid for bulls in the last 2 yr was $5007 ± 163.33, while the highest price paid in the last 5 yr was $7291 ± 335.40. Survey responses were used to define current factors driving management after purchase and for subsequent breeding seasons. After bull purchase, 48% of producers turned bulls out directly with females, while 52% held bulls until the following breeding season. Additionally, most producers (70%) did not manage bulls to reduce condition after purchase. Semen quality analysis, a major component of a breeding soundness exam, was evaluated annually by 45% of respondents, while 20% of respondents never evaluated semen quality. Respondents indicated bull age (35%) and structural soundness (29%) as the most common factors for culling bulls. This research shows that despite the variability in operation demographics, there were similarities in beef bull selection and management across the state. Additionally, these data suggest the need for additional research focused on bull selection and management to maximize producer investment in reproduction.

Keywords: beef bulls; bull management; bull selection; producer survey.