Careful selection of the most appropriate bulls offers a considerable opportunity to increase productivity and profitability within a beef breeding enterprise, with each bull having the potential to produce hundreds of progeny during its breeding life.
Considered bull selection using all the information available on each bull offers the potential to best utilise the genetic differences between Angus bulls and maximise the genetic improvement that is achieved within a beef herd.
1. Establish a clearly defined breeding objective
2. If bull selection involves the purchase of bulls, identify the seedstock breeder or breeders from which bulls will be sourced
• Select seedstock breeders who offer bulls carrying genetics that are consistent with the breeding goals or objectives of the breeding program in which the bulls will be joined
• Select seedstock breeders who offer bulls that are of superior genetic merit to the bulls used within the breeding program in previous years
• Give preference to seedstock breeders who offer bulls with a full set of TACE EBVs and selection index information, are of known genetic condition status, have been subject to VBBSE examination, and have been subject to appropriate vaccination and health treatments
3. Consider the breeding soundness of the bulls that are available
• Rank bulls on the selection index of most relevance
• Disregard any bulls with individual EBVs in undesirable ranges
4. Consider the genetic condition status of the bulls that are available
• Disregard any bulls with undesirable genetic condition status
5. Consider the TACE information of the bulls that are available
• Disregard any bulls that are not sound and capable of getting their allocation of cows in calf within a given time frame
6. Consider the health status of the bulls that are available
• Disregard any bulls that have not received appropriate vaccination and health treatments
7. Consider other selection criteria of particular importance to the breeding program
• Disregard any bulls with poor temperament
• Disregard any bulls that are too closely related to the females to which they will be joined
• Disregard any bulls who possess undesirable genetics for traits of specific importance to the individual breeding program.
8. Do not be distracted by aesthetic features or the influence of non- genetic factors on the appearance and performance of bulls