Pre Joining Checks for bucks, rams and bulls
Bucks
Testing bucks for fertility, health and physical (feet, teeth and testicles) soundness. All such checks and culling should be completed two months prior to joining to allow time for corrective actions or replacement if required.
Managing nutrition to ensure that bucks are in good condition prior to the start of the joining period; aim for condition score
Bucks should be monitored and replaced if they become unfit
In extensive rangeland enterprises characterised by continuous joining, bucks should be inspected whenever there is cause to yard the goats.
Any bucks showing signs of injury should be treated and possibly consigned to sale with other sale goats.
In operations with a set joining period, a more deliberate and timely management plan is required. First and foremost, only appropriate bucks should be used for breeding purposes.
Bucks with conformational flaws or congenital defects should be avoided.
In general, bucks should be managed carefully in the lead up to mating to minimise stress and optimise condition.
They should be given adequate feed and water, maintained in about condition score 3 and provided with ample shade, particularly in hot conditions as heat stress can reduce sperm production and reduce fertility.
The focus of the pre-mating conformation inspection should be on disease, injury or degenerative disorders which would not be selected against through the buck classing process.
Things to look out for: foot abscess, damaged tendons or broken legs and laminitis. Broken mouths (missing, broken or poor teeth)
Scrotal circumference which should be greater than 25cm at 14 months of age.
The testes and epididymus should be palpated to detect signs of hardness which can be an indicator of fertility problems.
If hardness or abnormalities are detected, further clinical examinations may be required.
The penis should also be observed for obvious abnormalities.
If there is doubt about the fertility of bucks, a vet fertility test should be considered.
All bucks, especially young bucks, should be observed during mating to ensure they are performing. Injured or disinterested bucks should be treated and if required replaced to prevent a poor conception rate.
Rams
Pre joining checks should be performed 8 weeks before joining to ensure time for recovery of rams or for you to purchase new rams, if needed. The simple '5T' checklist makes this procedure easy:
Testicles and scrotum.
Palpation of the testicles is a good assessment tool for some diseases and the fertility of the ram. A ram's testes should be, at the smallest, the size of a stubby (about 300g or more), with both of equal size, firm and resilient to touch, and free moving within the scrotum. There should be no lumps or bumps on the testicle or epididymis.
Torso
Rams should be body condition scored, and ideally should be in BCS 3. If overweight, they are likely to tire quickly when paddock mated — if too skinny, they may have suboptimal fertility.
Teeth
Rams must have a sound mouth. Broken-mouthed rams should be culled because they will be less able to eat sufficient feed to maintain weight. Your ram flock should ideally have a range of ages. Small numbers of replacements should be purchased every year to maintain a sound breeding group of rams.
Toes and legs
Having sound rams is essential for optimal mating performance. The toes and legs are what get the ram around and support him during mating. The rams must be sound without any signs of lameness.
Tossle
The penis (tossle) can be exteriorised easily on a ram that is tipped up on his rear and rolled slight forward. However, tipping large numbers of rams is not an easy task, so palpation of the penis through the prepuce is an alternative, although it will not provide you with the same amount of information. Damage such as shearing cuts, or pizzle rot and other infections to the penis or prepuce could cause problems during mating. Rams with such problems should be culled.
Bulls
Best time to check is shortly before joining. Doing the test at this time is a good compromise between assuring the bull will perform to requirements and allowing enough time to get a replacement if needed.
The following are suggested areas to look at when checking a bull:
1) Scrotal circumference
2) Sperm
3) Soundness
4) Health
5) Mating ability
6) Age
7) Condition
8) Social interaction ability
Most of these items can be checked by producers however vets can conduct a bull breeding soundness examination if required, the check covers all of the above items and gives you a full health examination of the animal.
There are several diseases that impair bull fertility either as true venereal diseases or by being adversely affected by the pathogen during the mating period.
Many of these diseases can be controlled or managed by an effective vaccination program before the breeding season.
An annual vaccination program should include: botulism, vibriosis, clostridial diseases (5-in-1 vaccine) and ephemeral fever (3 day sickness) or 7 in 1 Vaccine for enterotoxaemia (pulpy kidney disease), tetanus, black disease, malignant oedema (blackleg-like disease), blackleg and leptospirosis in cattle. .
Infection of a bull, particularly during a short mating season, can have a serious effect on the herd conception and subsequent branding rates.
Test bulls for worms and treat if required.
Body condition
A body condition score of 3 (out of 5) is ideal for maximum sperm production.
Over-fat bulls can be sub-fertile and excess strain can be placed on their legs and spine.
Structural soundness
Legs, joints and feet should be checked for injuries, stiffness and cuts/swelling.
Eyes and mouth. no injuries or inflammations around his eyes. Teeth need to be sound
Sheath and Testicles. Put him in the crush and with the vet gate shut, so you can't be kicked. When it is shut securely, check both testicles and make sure there are no swelling or unusual bumps, or that the testes are not soft and spongy. If they are, your bull may be sub-fertile and you should avoid using him.
Sheath and penis. Check there is no swelling, unusual appearances or damage. Again if there is, your bull may not want to join cows, and he shouldn't be used.
Ensuring bulls are fit and ready to work is essential. Even if you have only recently purchased your bull, you should still bring him in and put him through a check.
You can also request standardised BULLCHECK™ Veterinary Bull Breeding Soundness Evaluation
Your veterinarian will check the bull’s scrotal circumference and inspect the bull’s testis for tone or resilience, as these are closely related to a bull’s fertility.
Your vet will examine the bull’s semen under a microscope and analyse it for motility as well as looking at the morphology or structure of the individual sperm cells.