Black Angus bulls are best for breeding.
Pairing a good bull and heifer is one of the challenges in cattle breeding. Much consideration must be given to the mating pair to ensure that calves come out healthy and strong. You will need to consult a veterinarian when preparing your cattle to mate. A vet can perform numerous health examinations on your bull to make sure he is fit for breeding.
Instructions
1. Ensure that all bulls are at a proper weight, about 1,000 pounds, and have all their vaccines. Pick a bull that has breeding experience and is a good known breeder. A well-prepared bull is around 2-to-4 years old. A bull that has had prior good calf production is an excellent bull to choose for breeding. Preferably, a mature bull that has a muscular build and well-balanced genitals is a top choice.
2. Heifers used for breeding should be in top health and condition.
Select large, healthy heifers to use in breeding. Unless you have experience with "maiden" heifers (heifers which have not yet had calves), it is better to start with females that have already had at least one successful pregnancy and birth, and have raised a calf. Black Angus cattle may be best for breeding because they have wide pelvises, which make for easier pregnancies. Heifers should be checked by a veterinarian regularly to make sure they are free from disease.
3. Allow the veterinarian to check the bull for sterility and sexually transmitted diseases. This is necessary before breeding so you will know if the bull is actually capable of producing healthy semen. Sperm counts need to be high in the bull and testicles should be free from disease. Furthermore, allow the veterinarian to make sure the scrotum size is proportional to the amount of produced semen.
4. A healthy Angus calf is the goal.
Use a chart to track all breeding dates for your cattle. This will help you determine the length of gestation as well as when to expect calf births. It will take about 9 months for a calf to be born, virtually the same as a human birth. Keep in contact with your cattle veterinarian for any problems that may arise during the course of breeding or pregnancy, or near the time of birth.
5. Angus cattle also come in a red color, as well as black.
Black in the Angus breed is the dominant color. Angus also come in red, but it is genetically recessive to black. If you want to ensure that the offspring are black, it is easiest to use a black Angus bull on black Angus heifers. You may also use a black Angus bull on red Angus heifers. The resulting offspring will be black, but will carry the trait for red. If you breed these resulting animals later, a few red calves may be born.
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