INTRODUCTION
It is common saying that “A bull is half of the herd.”.The cows/buffaloes are receptive to males on estrum but the mature bulls are active to any estrous cow/buffalo at any time.As such regular care of bulls is always essential to maintain them sound, both physically and reproductively.A regular calendar of operations for different managemental activities like…
Feeding, Watering, Bathing, Grooming, Brushing, Exercising, Semen Collection, Paddock cleaning, Health Check up, Vaccination, Testing for Diseases like TB, JD etc.
Housing
The house should be located north-west and south-east direction for getting sufficient sun light. The roof should be high so that it remains cool during summer.Floor space for each bull should be 3.7× 3.7 meters with 3- 3.5 meters height. The open runway should be 4.9 × 6.1 meters.
Selection
It is better to select the bulls in their early age i.e. about a year or so. Early selection helps in their proper care, feeding and management and for their proper training. Early selection also helps bull to become adjusted with the environment in which they live. Before selection, the bull calves should undergo a very critical andrological examination.
The sires should be selected on the basis of history records, sexual health and sire index.
Sire Index = D – b (M – A)
Where D = Daughter’s milk average
b = Covariance of daughter’s milk average over dam’s milk average.
M = Dam’s milk average
A = Herd’ milk average
Feeding Ration
The growing and breeding bulls required balanced diet for their growth and production of good quality semen.Several reports have indicated that nutrition effect directly the endocrine secretion and thereby influencing the testicular function. The balanced feeding may be defined as provision of all nutrients in proper ratio and as per the requirements of the animals in particular season.
The ratio should contain enough energy, protein, vitamin and minerals. The quality of green fodder should be good and given ad libidum. Protein rich should be given regularly. There should be provision of salt bricks in the feeding manger. Two types of feeding rations are usually for breeding bulls.
Maintenance Ration
The amount of balanced ration which is required to fulfil the maintenance need of a particular animal is called “Maintenance Ration”.
35 kg of Jowar + 2 kg Paddy straw
1 kg concentrative mixture
20 gm mineral mixture
35 gm salt
Production ration
The ration which is given in addition to maintenance ration for semen collection during service time is known as “Production Ration”.
1. Groundnut Cake – 15 %
Wheat bran – 42 %
Arhar chuni – 40 %
Mineral Mixture – 2 %
Salt - 1%
2. Mustard Cake – 20%
Wheat bran – 42%
Mung chuni – 35%
Mineral mixture – 2%
Salt – 1%
3. Coconut Cake – 30%
Groundnut Cake – 20%
Rice bran – 37%
Cotton seed – 10%
Mineral mixture – 2%
Salt – 1%
Attendants
Both the attendants and the bulls should be familiar to each other. Regular changing of attendant should avoided. In case of all the attendant should be changed in one time. The person engaged for feeding, watering. grooming, brushing, leading and exercise should be familiar to the bulls.
Restraining
A bull should never be left free without restraint. A Nose ring greatly help in restraining the bulls. The nose ring should be of better quality. The attendant can control a bull with the help of rope fastened to the nose ring. A hook of suitable size attached securely to a strong and long Wooden handle(about 5’-6 ‘long) is of help in separating fighting bulls. Nose strings are also used across the nasal septum to have control on bull. Nylon ropes are found better compared to rope made of cotton thread. Nylon ropes are more strong and more durable.
Exercise
The bulls have tendency to fight which may be fatal to bulls as well as to attendant and there fore loose handling of the bulls should always be avoided. Heavy and sudden exercise should always avoided. A total of above 1 km walk on semen collection days and 2 km walk on days when the bull are not utilized for semen collection in considered optimum for their exercise. The bulls which are not sick should be given exercise daily. Exercise keeps their body tone fit and keeps them active.
“Morning exercise is better”.
If for some reason or the other morning exercise is not possible, the bull may be given exercise in the afternoon hours. Too extreme weather are not suitable for exercise. Bull exerciser is a very convenient tool for giving exercise to the bull. In absence of the bull exerciser, the bulls may be given exercise in open but protected field. Buffalo Bulls are difficult to harness in bull exerciser.
Health Check up
The breeding bulls should be checked daily. Any deviation, e.g. poor food intake, depression, uneasiness, fever, diarrhea, constipation, cold, cough and bull’s behavior etc. should be noted cautiously. The whole body should be inspected thoroughly. The cause of disease should be investigated and treatment should be given promptly. Bull suffering from infectious or contagious disease should be immediately segregated from other bulls and put in segregation box. All health records of the bulls should be maintained.
Vaccination
As the Prophylaxis is better than Cure, the periodical vaccination must be done for developing immunity against diseases. The immunization schedule shall be strictly followed to combat various diseases by producing antibodies against various bacterial antigen. The bulls should be vaccinated as per as vaccination schedule programmed for HS, BQ, Anthrax, FMD, Rinderpest. In addition there should be vaccinated against Brucellosis, Johne’s disease, T.B. and Vibriosis.
Safety Practice
Dairy bulls are recognized as the most dangerous domestic animals. The aggressive nature due to its strength and agility should be given due to considered for safety of the bull handlers. Each bull should have nose rings for restoration. Continuous gentle handling of bulls from calfhood through matured life is important. Breeding bulls should be provided with utmost comfort. Regular timely feeding and exercise. Bulls should not be aroused to become furious.
Conclusion
ü Improve Breeding
ü Maximum Utilization of Bull through A.I.
ü Control the vices of Bulls
ü Improve Sexual desire of Bulls
ü Less chance of Infertility
ü Maintain the soundness of Bull by exercise
ü Regular health check may reduce the chance of infection of disease.
ü Maintain the Nutrition given to bulls by Ration schedule.