Bull Buying Checklist for a First-Time Cow-Calf Man

Buy a good bull and he improves every calf crop for years. Buy a bad one and you will feel it at weaning for just as long. A bull is half the genetics in your calves, and he is often the single most expensive animal on the place, so it pays to shop with a plan instead of with your ego. Plenty of first-time cow-calf men have walked out of a sale with a bull they loved at the ring and regretted by the next calving season.

This checklist walks you through what to settle before you go, what to look at in the pen and what to ask the seller. Prices and practices vary by region, so lean on your local vet, county agent and experienced neighbors. If you are hunting for bull sales near you, agriculture.directory can help you find agriculture events in your area.

Start With the Cows, Not the Bull

Before you open a sale catalog, look at your cows. How big are they? How do they calve? Are they carrying too much milk, not enough, or about right for your grass? What do your calves bring at the sale barn, and what do your buyers complain about? A bull should fix the weaknesses in your herd and keep the strengths. If you have a lot of first-calf heifers, calving ease comes first. If you sell calves at weaning, growth matters. If you keep replacement heifers, you need to think about the daughters too.

Write down three or four things you want to change. That list is your shopping list.

Set a Budget and a Cap

Figure out what a bull is worth to you by estimating how many cows he will breed, how long you will use him and how much extra your calves might be worth. Then set a firm top price before the sale starts, and stick to it. Sale rings are built to make people spend more than they planned. Remember that the bull also costs you feed, vet checks, fence and possibly insurance, and that you may need more than one bull depending on herd size.

Know the Papers: EPDs and Registration

Registered Angus bulls come with expected progeny differences, which predict how a bull's calves will perform for traits like birth weight, weaning weight, milk and carcass quality. Learn the basics before you go, and compare bulls within the breed on the traits that match your list. The American Angus Association publishes explanations of its evaluations, and university programs such as Nebraska Beef offer selection guides.

Do not buy on one number. Look at the whole profile, check the accuracy and use EPDs to narrow the field, then use your eyes to make the final call.

Look at the Bull Himself

Numbers do not tell you whether a bull can walk. Take your time in the pen and look at:

Feet and legs. Look for a bull that stands square, moves freely and has sound feet with even toes. A bull that cannot travel cannot breed.
Frame and condition. A young bull should be growing, not fat. Over-conditioned bulls can have fertility and soundness problems.
Head and eyes. Check for a masculine head, clear eyes and no signs of pinkeye damage.
Sheath and testicles. Look for a sound sheath and well-formed, evenly sized testicles that hang correctly.
Muscle and capacity. A bull should carry muscle and have body depth appropriate for the breed.
Temperament. Watch how he acts when approached and moved. A mean or flighty bull is dangerous and passes on temperament.

Demand a Breeding Soundness Exam

A breeding soundness exam, done by a veterinarian, checks the bull's physical condition, scrotal circumference and semen quality, and it is the best protection you have against buying a bull that cannot do the job. Many reputable sellers do exams before the sale and provide results. If not, make the purchase contingent on a satisfactory exam, and ask about a guarantee. Veterinary and university sources such as University of Minnesota Extension and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners discuss why exams matter.

Ask About Health and Management

Ask what vaccinations and tests the bull has had, whether he has been tested for diseases such as trichomoniasis in areas where it is a concern and what feed he has been on. A bull raised on a heavy, high-grain diet may lose condition quickly when moved to forage, and sudden changes can cause problems. Ask the seller how to transition him, and plan to quarantine a new bull away from your herd for a period your vet recommends. Biosecurity protects the cows you already own.

Questions for the Seller

Has he had a breeding soundness exam, and can I see the results?
What vaccinations and health tests has he had?
Is there a guarantee, and what does it cover?
What has he been fed, and how should I transition him?
How has this herd's bulls performed for other buyers?
Can I talk to a repeat customer?

A seller who is proud of his cattle will answer straight. Be wary of one who dodges or hurries you.

Sale-Day Mistakes

Falling in love with a bull. Your list and your cap are your guardrails.
Buying on size alone. A giant bull can bring calving trouble and bigger cows.
Skipping the feet. Foot and leg problems end careers early.
Ignoring the calving ease numbers on heifers. Pulling calves at 2 a.m. gets old fast.
Not planning for the new bull. Have the pen, fence, feed and quarantine plan ready.
Not insuring or guaranteeing. Ask what happens if he fails.

After You Buy

Treat the new bull right. Keep him separate for the quarantine period, build up on forage gradually, make sure he is in good, but not fat, condition before breeding season and have your vet check him again before turnout. Watch him for the first few weeks to make sure he is working. A bull that looks great in the sale ring still has to prove himself in the pasture.

If you like cattle humor with your cattle business, farm.fm's ranching section has plenty of it, including the farm gate hinges the bull voided in four minutes, a reminder of why sound fences matter with any bull.