Grassfed Bull Testing

Of those who responded to the recently completed survey of Belted Galloway breeders, 85% annually produce up to 20 animals for meat, 61% market directly to consumers and, remarkably, more producers are finishing beef on grass than with grain. The market for grass-finished beef continues to grow. 

Not all cattle do well in a grass-based management system, but Belties seem to be ideally suited to it. For the last few years the Belted Galloway Foundation has sponsored research in grassfed beef through the bull testing conducted at Malabar Farm with the Rose Herd which the late Robert Rose donated to the Foundation.

The second annual grassfed bull test began in early 2004 with 25 bulls from four different herds. The bulls were weighed on two consecutive days at the beginning of the test and again at the end, and average weights were used. This is done because even among young calves weights may vary 20 to 30 lbs. on two separate days.

At mid-test following ultrasound testing, the twelve best bulls were selected and the remaining thirteen were taken off test. This was a management decision, as maintaining 25 bulls would become increasingly difficult when the cow herd started coming into heat. Some of the bulls were removed based on performance, while others were removed on the basis of visual inspection. 

All of the data is available upon request, but the results which the test committee felt to be most important are summarized in Table 1 at right. The weights per day of age in 2004 were significantly higher than they were in the preceding year. We can only speculate on why this occurred, however the 1.7 lbs. per day of age reached in 2004 is economically desirable and thus becomes our benchmark for future tests. This is consistent with the higher Adjusted Yearly Weights in 2004, and 610 lbs. will be our new AYW benchmark. These measures are a reflection of the individual bull’s growth potential and the dam’s milk production.
 
The Ribeye Areas per 100 lbs. (REA/cwt) were smaller in the 2004 test, a reflection of the higher actual weights. When weights are higher the denominator in the formula (REA/cwt) is larger, so the results will be smaller when REA remains the same. We have selected 1.25 sq.in./cwt as our benchmark for subsequent tests.

Testicular size deserves a comment. To successfully complete the bull test, all bulls must pass a breeding soundness examination which includes the following:

Physical examination by a veterinarian or a qualified allied professional 
General evaluation including a medical history and observance of the bull’s unrestrained movement 
Thorough examination of the genitalia including testicle measurement 
Evaluation of the ejaculate 

The American College of Theriogenol-ogists does not require 32 cm until a bull is 18-21 months of age and 34 cm is not required until a bull is more that 24 months of age. The bulls on the grassfed test are assumed to have a smaller testicular size because of less fat in the scrotum. All of the tested Belted Galloway bulls which have passed the breeding soundness examination have proven to be fertile when bred as yearlings.
 
The 2005 bull test will begin in January of 2005 and be completed in July. The ultimate test of a bull is in his progeny. A small number of progeny from the winner of the first test will be included in this test.