leanin' H said:
Won't have in calves in the feedlot cause the bulls won't be breeding cows when they are lame or falling apart. :wink: A bulls genetic potential is there regardless of how hard you push him to find out what it is. But by pushing too much feed at him, it's been our experience they simply don't hold up short or long term. It's a tightrope for sure to feed them just right and not over do. But Mike and I have much different climates and ask our bulls to do totally different things. I only know an overfat bull will not cover our type of country and breed cows without melting and having foot trouble. He may do just fine on a on grassy, fairly level 400 acre pasture down south.
I don't condone feeding a young bull all he will eat of a "hot" ration for long periods of time.
Just simulate a short feedlot type test between weaning and yearling age with a reasonably moderate ration for 60 days is plenty. Gather your data and if a little feed causes foot problems they should have gone to the salebarn anyway.
We have even put them through grazing tests, but like I said before, most all calves make it to the feedlot at some point.
After all, bulls should appear athletic, not gobby fat.
Raising bulls for terminal sires is a lot different from raising maternal bulls. Those calves are expected to wean high and feed well, all while taking precautions against the bull not being able to cover cows.
But it sure is funny that no one wants a fed bull and the highest selling ones are always the fattest..................