Management
a time cushion, should injuries occur
and a replacement bull be required.
Even if you have handled your existing
and newly purchased bulls properly,
injuries or other complications can
still arise. It is important to have a
Plan B and that plan should never
be to buy the unknown hold-over
bull dumped at the auction barn the
weekend before the cow herd is to
go to pasture. Without performance
records that match your herd and the
aforementioned vital processes in place,
there is no opportunity to avoid the
likely costly negatives of this mystery
bull or realize potential positives of a
sensibly purchased bull that efficiently
coordinates with the cow herd. If
possible, having an extra suitable
bull is wise, or at minimum, inquire of
known breeders about possible quality
replacement availabilities at short notice.
In this day and age, there is no reason to
purchase inferior and unknown bulls.
The importance of the BSE and tests,
body conditioning score, vaccinations,
and calculations of females per bull
are well known and greatly impact
end results, but the handling of bull
social order should not be ignored
as mismanagement in this area can
damage all other proactive planning.
Exact timing of all these considerations
can be a balancing act to allow enough
time between the early processes and
the breeding season to offer the realistic
chance for quality bull replacements
if required. For all involved, it is the
goal to protect this vital investment
and have fit and healthy bulls ensuring
pregnant females as early in the
breeding season as possible. I
FEBRUARY 17, 2019
1 p.m. CST • Fennimore Livestock Exchange
Fennimore, Wisconsin
Selling
50 HEAD
Limousin • Lim-Flex • Angus
Black & Red • Many Homozygous
30 Bulls • 20 Females
SALE MANAGEMENT:
KILEY McKINNA
402-350-3447
[email protected]
www.mcmarketingmanagement.com
MARKETING TEAM:
Mark Smith, Grassroots Consulting 515/229-5227
Tom Rooney, Midwest Marketer 515/491-6025
Andy Rest, NALF 406/670-5678
BOB MITCHELL & SONS
48715 Hilldale Rd. | Wauzeka, WI 53826
Bob 608/553-0971 | Matt 608/553-1251 | Bart 608/553-8070 | Scott 608/553-8069
14 | FEBRUARY 2019