Bull selection is an important investment decision for your business. It can be the single, most powerful tool for genetic improvement in your herd.

Because each bull contributes half of the genetics to every calf he sires, the genetic influence of bulls introduced into your herd is persistent and multi-generational.  It will shape the profitability of your herd for many years to come, especially if you're breeding your own replacement heifers.

So, what’s important in bull selection?

It's simple; PROFIT.

That is, select bulls who will produce more profitable progeny in your herd.  To best achieve this, requires bulls be a good fit for your program & well suited to your particular environment.

We urge buyers to look for OBJECTIVE INFORMATION describing the breeding functionality of bulls & the genetic potential they can pass onto their progeny, to reliably select those bulls best suited to your program & environment.

Above all else, it is OBJECTIVE INFORMATION which will enable you to make better informed, more reliable, more accurate breeding & bull selection decisions.  In turn, this will drive PROFIT in your herd.

This is why we consider our pre-sale bull testing & assessment program to be integral to the success of your bull selection.  It ensures independent, quantified, OBJECTIVE INFORMATION describing as accurately as possible the Fertility, Health Status, Temperament, Feet & Structure, Pedigree & Genetic Merit across the full range of production traits for our Bull Sale Team.

Our commitment to you; detail all this OBJECTIVE INFORMATION in our Bull Sale Catalogue so you have the tools you need at your fingertips to make better bull selection decisions for your operation.

What do we mean when we say OBJECTIVE INFORMATION?  Please read on to find out.

BULLCHECK™

Whilst emphasis is often placed on selecting for female fertility in a breeding herd, it is less to common for this same rigour to be applied to bulls.

However,  fertility in an individual bull will likely have a greater impact on your profit than fertility in an individual cow. This is because one bull can be used to breed up to 40 females via natural service. So infertility &/or subfertility in a bull, resulting in the poor reproductive performance in your female herd will prove very expensive.

This is why we believe it is so important, as both a buyer & as a seedstock producer, to have an objective assessment of a bull’s fertility before he steps into a sale ring.

BULLCHECK^TM is an objective assessment of bull fertility according to defined & documented standards across set components. It has been developed by Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV), part of the Australian Veterinary Association Limited, for this specific purpose & is conducted by a qualified veterinarian accredited with ACV.

BULLCHECK^TM sets out clear, concise methods & guidelines for vets to assess bulls according to these standards. It objectively substantiates a bull has a high probability of being fertile at the time of examination & the foreseeable future, save any unforeseen adverse events, injury or disease. It is founded on Australian research, peer reviewed literature & extensive in-field experience of Australian veterinarians.  It is the 'gold card' - the highest possible standard currently available - for an objective fertility measurement of a bull's reproductive soundness that is transparent & consistent, no matter the breed.

What components are included in our pre-sale BULLCHECK^TM testing?

• Scrotal circumference measurement in cm – to determine if above the minimum circumference according to age, weight & breed, plus a visual appraisal & palpation to assess scrotal body, shape & testicular tone, symmetry & evenness of testes, check for the presence of recognised conditions of the testes/scrotum.
• Physical examination of the bull & reproductive tract - foot & leg conformation, gait, leg joints, head (e.g. undershot/overshot jaw, lumpy jaw), inspection & evaluation of the penis, prepuce & sheath for the presence of infections, warts or injury, assessment of sheath depth, umbilicus & preputial eversion, palpation of internal sex gland via rectal entry for irregularities & infections, assessment to ensure the penis can be extruded, examination of the penis in the extended position.
  
• Sperm Motility - see below
• Sperm Morphology - see bleow

Our experience has been that few bulls are found to be completely sterile. Whilst bulls who repeatedly fail BULLCHEK^TM may not necessarily be sterile, they can at least be accurately described as having reduced &/or low fertility at that point in time.

It could be that if given time, these bulls may ‘regain’ their fertility to test compliant to BULLCHECK^TM standards. However, until such time, which is often indeterminate, that bull really has no place in any sale ring.

2025 will be the 19th consecutive year, in which we offer Angus Bulls pre-sale tested according to  BULLCHECK™ standards at our on-property Bull Sale.  We are one of just a select few seedstock producers with such a record.

CLICK HERE for more in-depth detail about BULLCHECK^TM (published by Australian Cattle Veterinarians).

SPERM MOTILITY

A crush side test for sperm quantity & its ability to move forward. At only about 60µm long, sperm cells need to be motile to get the job done!

Often referred to as a ‘crush side’ semen test, using electroejaculation, a semen sample is collected & examined ‘crush side’ to evaluate semen density, colour & motility (the % of individual sperm progressing forward). Our vet uses an ISperm to do this; digital technology using sperm recognition software with an iPad mini camera to determine the percentage of sperm motile, progressively motile & their associated velocities.

A threshold guide for acceptable minimum Sperm Motility is >30% progressively motile sperm.

However, only those bulls testing ≥50% progressively motile sperm in their semen sample make our Bull Sale Catalogue.  Look for the BULLCHECK™ logo (see below) in our Bull Sale Catalogue to see Sperm Motility test results for each Lot.

SPERM MORPHOLOGY

We are one of a select few Angus studs who pre-sale test & report Sperm Morphology results in our Bull Sale Catalogue.

Morphology of the sperm is the anatomy or structure of individual sperm cells.  It is not the same as Sperm Motility & we urge buyers not to confuse the two.

Sperm Morphology CANNOT be tested 'crush side'.  It requires a large, expensive & specialised laboratory microscope to examine individual sperm in a preserved semen sample to assess the head, tail & mid-piece.

Why would you care about Sperm Morphology?

Sperm Morphology testing will ‘weed out’ those bulls who are the true loser’s when it comes to fertility, which crush side Sperm Motility testing on its own will not.

Sperm Morphology is a heritable trait, genetically related to the interval from calving to first oestrus cycle in females. Australian research has consistently shown Sperm Morphology to be positively associated with either pregnancy rate or calf output in beef breeding bulls.

Bulls who repeatedly fail to meet minimum standards for Sperm Morphology are at worst infertile, & at best, sub-fertile.  Though sub-fertile bulls may still sire calves, they'll likely be costly, late calves because their subfertility can produce a non-viable embryo so the female fails to conceive on that cycle.  Not her fault, but this forces the female/s into the next joining cycle.  It is difficult for her to then break out of this late calving cycle, increasing her chances of PTE in a subsequent joining.  If you’re multiple-sire joining, it can be almost impossible to identify sub-fertile bulls as others in the joining team may cover for them. This exposes those fertile bulls to a greater risk of injury & thus more cost to you.

At least 100 sperm are assessed in the preserved semen sample to test Sperm Morphology to BULLCHECK^TM standards.  Abnormalities in the sperm are categorised according to the anatomical site of defects - ie whether the defect is present in the head, tail &/or mid-piece.  Defects are classed as compensable or non-compensable.  Defects are considered compensable if they can be compensated for by increased sperm numbers.  Non-compensable defects cannot be compensated for by the addition of more sperm because though these sperm can fertilize eggs, the eggs are not viable.

Minimum ACV standards in Australia for Sperm Morphology are:-

1. Up to 30% of sperm in a semen sample with compensable defects is acceptable.
2. Up to 20% of sperm in a semen sample with non-compensable defects is acceptable.
3. Normal Sperm - in addition to the tolerance levels for sperm in a semen sample with compensable & non-compensable defects, BULLCHECK^TM sets a minimum requirement for the presence of normal sperm:-

(a)  >70% normal sperm for bulls used in single sire matings or AI

(b)   >50% normal sperm for bulls used in multiple sire matings

Look for the BULLCHECK™ logo (see below) in our Bull Sale Catalogue to see test results for each Lot.

BEEF CLASS STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENT SYSTEM

Structural problems impact negatively on both the reproductive & growth performance in your beef herd.  It is widely recognised that structural problems in bulls have detrimental effects on conception rates, calving patterns & thus profitability.  Similarly, females with inadequate structural characteristics are more prone to weaning lighter calves or conceiving later in the breeding season than their more functional counterparts.  These structural problems filter through the beef supply chain, reducing income & productivity for the producer, backgrounder, feedlot etc.

Prior to cataloguing, Eastern Plains Angus Sale Bulls have been independently assessed for structure by Liam Cardile, LRC Livestock, using the Beef Class Structural Assessment System.  Liam provides 6 individual scores for front & rear claw set, front & rear feet angle, rear leg side & hind views + a sheath, temperament & muscle score.  Bulls deemed inadequate have been culled from the sale draft & sold for slaughter.

Liam is an experienced assessor, & structurally assesses many leading seedstock herds in Australia of differing breeds.  He is not involved in genetic marketing or specific breeding advice/consultancy, so there is no conflict of interest to influence his stock appraisal.  The merit & integrity of the structural data provided by Liam & LRC Livestock is recognised throughout the seedstock industry as being truly & fully independent.

Look for raw Structural Scores along with those for Temperament & Muscle Score in the Lot details for each bull in our Bull Sale Catalogue. Click here for more info on Beef Class Structural Assessment.

PESTIVIRUS

All bulls catalogued for our Bull Sale have been ear notch tested negative for Pestivirus by Swans Veterinary Services, WA .

Pestivirus (also known as BVDV) commonly causes, but not limited to, abortion, reduced fertility, stunted calves + a period of immune suppression which can lead to calf scours, pneumonia and other diseases.

It is spread by contact with infected animals & especially Persistently Infected (PI) animals commonly called 'carrier' animals.

A PI bull, though it may exhibit no outward symptoms at all, present fat & sappy on sale day, & live a long & productive life, will shed & spread Pestivirus in all its’ bodily fluids all its’ life.  It is worth noting, there have been EKKA Grand Champion winners that have later been verified Persistently Infected with Pestivirus!

Vaccinating a PI bull will not cure it, nor prevent it from spreading Pestivirus.

An ear notch test is the best means of identifying PI bulls.  Minimise your Pestivirus risk by purchasing bulls that have been ear notch tested PI negative.

In addition to having been ear notch tested PI negative, all our sale bulls have been vaccinated with Pestigard™ which will protect the bull should it come into future contact with Pestivirus (which can commonly occur during transit).  We recommend an annual booster vaccination program for your bull.

As a measure of best practice, we feel specific mention that bulls have been PI tested + vaccinated with Pestigard™, including vaccination dates, should be printed in every bull sale catalogue.  Surprisingly, this is not a given (?).  We urge buyers to make a point of looking for this information in a bull sale catalogue to avoid ambiguity & minimise the risks associated with Pestivirus.

In our Eastern Plains Angus Bull Sale Catalgue, you will find this information is printed on the HEALTH INFORMATION pages, as well as on the page displaying the BULL TESTING CERTIFICATION provided by our consulting veterinarian, Guyra District Veterinary Services.

VETERINARY HEALTH

All bulls catalogued for our Bull Sale have received the following vaccinations & treatments:-

• Tick Fever trivalent (3 germ) vaccine
• Vibrovax
• Pestigard
• 7in1
• Bovi-Shield MH-One (single dose)
• Rhinogard IBR intra nasal spray
• treated with worm drench (Dectomax pour-on)
• Selovin LA

Please see the HEALTH INFORMATION page in our Bull Sale Catalogue for dates on which vaccinations & treatments were administered.  This provides full disclosure of the vaccination status of our Bull Sale Team & also assists purchasers in maintaining a timely booster program for better vaccine efficacy.

As well, a National Cattle Health Declaration is provided to purchasers at delivery.

Pestivirus, Vibriosis, and Lepto can silently reduce your herd fertility.  Inexplicably, it is not a given that sale bulls be vaccinated for these economically significant diseases.

We urge purchasers to manage these disease risks in their herds by purchasing bulls with a known & documented vaccination history.

ESTIMATED BREEDING VALUES (EBV's) - THE FULL MONTY!!

Our stud Angus herd is performance recorded & registered with Angus Australia & the TransTasman Angus Cattle Evaluation (TACE), formerly Angus BREEDPLAN.

Since the inception of formal performance recording of Angus cattle in Australia in the early 1970's, we have been submitting raw data for the calculation of EBV's.

This includes birth weight & date, calving ease scores, calf fates, multiple birth codes, 200D, 400D & 600D weights, scrotal size, ultrasound scan data for rib & rump fat, eye muscle area & IMF (marbling), AI & natural joining dates used to calculate gestation length & days to calving EBV's, preg test results for females, fate & disposal codes for females, mature cow weights, mature cow heights, mature cow body condition scores, coat type scores, docility scores & structural scores.

We are one of just a few Angus seedstock herds to record & report such comprehensive, high quality raw data to TACE on a routine basis across our entire registered Angus herd.  Ultimately this supports more informed breeding decisions for both our clients & in our own breeding program.

Additionally, Genomics testing has been conducted on all sale bulls to give Genomically Enhanced EBV's.

Our long held practice of consistent & extensive raw data submission, along with Genomics, ensures EBV's for our Sale Bulls have higher accuracies.

This means those EBV's more truly reflect the genetic merit of that bull & more reliably predict the performance of his progeny.

Look for TRAITS OBSERVED in a bull sale catalogue to gauge how much raw data has been collected on individual bulls & whether Genomics has been conducted.  You may be surprised, or disappointed, to learn how little or how much raw data has actually been submitted for some drafts of sale bulls!!  The more TRAITS OBSERVED the better.

Importantly, we include the complete set of TACE EBV's for each bull in his Lot Details in our Bull Sale Catalogue - the full monty!  Surprisingly, this is not a given.

We urge buyers to be aware it is not uncommon for some EBV’s to be omitted from sale catalogues.  Docility & structural EBV’s; Claw Set, Foot Angle & Leg Angle, are oftentimes a case in point.

However, if a seedstock vendor neglects to print the full set of EBV’s for all the production traits in their sale catalogue, this means you won't have a clear picture of the genetic merit of a bull nor the performance potential he can offer his progeny.  The omission of even just a few EBV's from a sale catalogue, will limit your ability to make accurate & informed breeding & bull selection choices.

TACE Selection Indexes - all the economically relevant Selection Indexes are printed in the Lot Details for each bull in our Bull Sale Catalogue - (a) Angus Breeding Index, (b) Domestic Index, (c) Heavy Grass Index & (d) Heavy Grain Index.  We are one of just a select few Angus seedstock producers to include these 4 Selection Indexes in our Bull Sale Catalogue.

SIRE ASSURED

All bulls in our Bull Sale Catalogue are identified as SIRE ASSURED meaning the bull has been DNA verified to his Sire, denoted by the superscript SV at the end of this name.  This provides buyers with peace of mind that the bull's sire is as printed in our Bull Sale Catalogue.

JOHNES BEEF ASSURANCE SCORE

J-BAS8  -  Eastern Plains Angus has a Johne's Beef Assurance Score 8.  This is the highest level of assurance in Australia.

This means bull's are free to travel into all States.

We have been testing & monitoring for Bovine Johne's Disease since 1998 & are one of the original seedstock herds who have been part of the National scheme since this time.  We continue our involvement under the guidance of Dr Leisa Brown, Guyra District Veterinary Services, who is accredited with Australian Cattle Veterinarians.

EUROPEAN UNION ACCREDITATION SCHEME

Eastern Plains is an EU accredited herd.

RECESSIVE GENETIC CONDITIONS

The genetic status for recessive genetic conditions AM, CA, NH & DD is identified in our Bull Sale Catalogue - look for "GENETIC STATUS:" in the Lot Details for each bull.

The genetic status for recessive genetic conditions is identified for animals as "Free", "Carrier", "Free Untested", "% Carrier" or "Affected" - eg DDF, DDC, DDFU, DD50%, DDA

For up-to-date & the most current information about recessive genetic conditions please visit Angus Australia.

See also the page RECESSIVE GENETIC CONDITIONS in our Bull Sale Catalogue.

We actively manage our stud herd for these conditions using DNA testing & pedigree information.