Breeding capacity, behavior and fertility of bulls with Brahman genetic influence during synchronized breeding of beef females

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the feasibility of using bulls of Brahman-derived breeds for synchronized breeding of females treated with Syncro-Mate-B (SMB). Suckled, postpartum cows (n = 261) and virgin heifers (n = 227) were given the standard SMB treatment. Calves were removed from cows for 48 h beginning at implant removal, and individual bulls were placed in pens with 15 to 20 females ( x = 1:15.7 ) for 48 h beginning at implant removal. Bulls (n = 31) were 18 to 36 mo of age and had scored satisfactorily on a breeding soundness evaluation (BSE). The mean ± SEM percentage of females in estrus, percentage of estrous females serviced and percentage of total females serviced were 77.2 ± 2.4, 72.9 ± 2.9 and 55.7 ± 3%, respectively. Total average services per bull was 23.6 ± 1.6; however, average number of individuals serviced was only 8.6 ± 0.42. Mean ± SEM percentage of females conceiving of those serviced, percentage conceiving of those in estrus and percentage conceiving of total females available were 57.3 ± 3.7, 40.6 ± 2.6 and 32.6 ± 2.5%, respectively. Mean BSE scores of eight Simbrah bulls tested immediately before and 5 d after synchronized breeding did not differ (P > 0.05). These data suggest that the conception rate of Brahman-influenced bulls servicing SMB-synchronized cows is within the normal range. However, the total number of individual females serviced and the total pregnancy rate under the protocol employed was low. This occurred because all estrous females were not inseminated, and some bulls exhibited unpredicted low fertility.