AGE Advantaged
FSC RANCH - North Carolina’s Largest Source for Age-Advantaged Bulls There are several important and logical reasons why commercial customers should consider purchasing bulls with a few more months of age and development on their side. Some of the benefits are obvious, but some others we don’t always consider. • Older bulls have the ability to service more females in a shorter period of time than yearling bulls. Age-advantaged, 18-20 month old bulls should be capable of safely settling at least 5-10 more females in their first breeding season with minimal risk over a 45 day breeding period due to greater fitness, superior average semen production and maturity. • Over-fat bulls are an issue in this industry. A high quality, slower paced development program is possible when producing older bulls for sale. Age-advantaged bulls can simply be developed more slowly and still reach target weights and marketable condition with ease. Too often bulls developed to be sold as yearlings are subjected to extra push nutritionally in order to make those same thresholds. When done improperly, the results can be reduced longevity and lifetime service because of damage to feet, soft skeletal tissues and in extreme cases even internal organs associated with excess or faulty nutrition and exaggerated growth rate. • Certainly, older bulls lose less weight and strength during their first breeding seasons. With that in mind the risk of your bull taking a week off or quitting the process of breeding cows completely is reduced. This is especially true in the more challenging breeding environments of the southern US. • More of the guess work is taken out when purchasing older bulls. Strengths and flaws can both be more evident to buyers with an extra 6 months of development. For example, by that age foot and leg or disposition issues will be more evident and a higher percentage of potential problem bulls should have been identified and removed from the offering. • Sorting older bulls does not give license to buy poorer genetics just because they have more age. It is important to make sure the age-advantaged bulls you are evaluating are not just the leftovers after the more valuable bulls were marketed as yearlings and low genetic value bulls should never be an option, regardless of age. Many producers will always favor purchasing high value, younger bulls because of the potential of an extra season of use later in life and often sellers prefer the simplicity and lower cost of producing them. Correctly developed older bulls however, simply have a greater probability of breeding success in the first season than when they were younger. Give them a try for reduced risk.
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