Fertility is everything

All of Bannitup’s selection decisions are based on this principle. It’s all very well to be chasing growth or carcase traits, but if this is to the detriment of your female herd, then you’re going backwards.

To this end there are some basic rules we stick to:

1. All heifers are joined to calve at 2 years of age

2. All animals are joined for 7 weeks

3. A female must have a calf every year

4. All females are pregnancy tested. Any empties are culled. There is no exception to this rule

5. Any female who doesn’t have a live calf at weaning is culled. Exceptions might be made if circumstances warrant. E.g. snake bite or an accident beyond her control.

6. Fat is fertility, so sires with low fat EBV’s are avoided

7. Downward pressure is placed on Days to Calving

8. Low birthweight EBV’s are preferred but equal emphasis is given to breeding cows capable of having a reasonable sized calf

As well as pressure being placed on the females, the bulls are also subjected to scrutiny. All bulls before being used in the herd or offered for sale must pass a full BULLCHECKTM examination. The components of this examination are:

1. Scrotal circumference (cm) and tone or resilience
   The current recommendation for two-year old bulls is a minimum scrotal size of 34cm. Any bulls which don’t meet this criterion are culled.

2. Physical examination for faults in the head, legs, joints, feet, sheath and penis
   Bulls will be examined for evidence of general structural faults as well as the physical condition of the reproductive tract that may indicate sub-fertility or infertility. This evaluation will identify bulls that are unsound in legs, feet, sheath and general structure.

3. Semen analysis for motility
   Microscopic Crush-side assessment indicates if the semen is within normal range for colour, has a enough percentage of progressively motile sperm, and if it is suitable to be sent for laboratory evaluation.

4. Morphology (or structure of the individual sperm cells)
   Examination by a trained specialist of the anatomy and structure of individual sperm cells using high power magnification to ensure minimum standards for normal function are achieved.
   
   Sperm Morphology not only assesses a bull’s fertility, it’s also an indicator of his daughter’s fertility. A research project by the Co-operative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies (Beef CRC) in Queensland has established that an increase in percentage normal sperm measured in a morphology test is genetically correlated to his daughter’s fertility. Traits shown to be affected include age at puberty and first post-partum anoestrus interval or a reduction in days to calving. Both traits are integral in achieving high weaning rates and therefore increasing the herd’s profitability. Bannitup is one of the few studs that run this test.