18/10/2025
Here are the key aspects:• Legs, feet and movement • A bull must be able to move freely and mount cows without difficulty. Weak feet/legs are a common cause of premature retirement.  • Look for straight, well-placed legs. The bull should walk smoothly, with the hind hoof tracking where the front hoof was.  • Feet: Good hoof shape, even toes, no rolled claws, no signs of lameness or past trimming that suggests recurring problems. • Body conformation (size, muscling, capacity) • The bull should look masculine (for his breed) — good width, depth, muscling, strong hindquarters.  • He should be in good body condition (not overly fat) so he can work through the breeding season.  • His body should match your herd and production system: if you have smaller cows, a massive bull might be overkill or cause calving problems. • Temperament • A calm, manageable bull is safer and easier to handle; temperament is heritable so aggressive bulls may pass on undesirable traits.  • Watch how he behaves when you approach him: does he handle well or become agitated?⸻2. Reproductive / Fertility Traits These are critical because even the best genetics won’t matter if he can’t breed.• Testicles / scrotal circumference • Adequate scrotal size correlates with fertility and earlier puberty in his daughters. For example: two-year-old bulls should have minimum scrotal circumference around 34 cm (breed dependent).  • Testicles should be even, free of lumps, and hang properly. • Sheath and p***s • The sheath should be well formed and the p***s should be able to extend and retract properly. Bad sheath conformation can cause problems during mating. • Breeding soundness exam (BSE) & fertility records • Ask for recent BSE results: semen quality, motility, morphology, sexual anatomy, etc.  • Bulls’ fertility can change, so recent tests are important. • Health & ability to work • The bull must be able to serve for the entire breeding season: maintain condition, travel among cows, etc.  • Check for disease, structural issues, lameness – all will reduce his ability. ⸻3. Genetic & Performance Traits . Matching bull to your herd’s objectives • What are you aiming for? Better growth, better carcass, easier calving, maternal traits, etc. The bull should support your goals.  • For example, if you will breed to heifers (first-time cows), calving ease is very important. • Performance data & expected progeny differences (EPDs) or breeding values • Look at birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, carcass traits, etc. These help predict what his offspring may do.  • Also consider reliability of the data: if genomics and data recording are sound, you have more confidence. • Adaptability / environment fit • The bull must be suited to your environment (tick burden, climate, forage, management). If he’s from a very different environment, issues may surface. 
