Optimal reproductive performance is of paramount importance for the success of a beef cattle enterprise, says founder of Gule Agri Consulting Ndumiso Gule. He hosted a one-day practical course in beef selection and genetics early this month in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal.
“If you invest money and use a good bull, then you are assured that the progeny will be better than their mother’s and you will be breeding progressively,” says Gule.
There is no question about Gule’s unmatched passion and energy for the development of black farmers. Gule Agri Consulting is a 100% black owned AgriSETA accredited company specialising in livestock production skills and knowledge transfer.
He adds, “the main core of the course was genetics and selecting the right bull [because] we are all breeding towards profitability.”
Gule Agri Consulting is also a member of the Beefmaster Breeders Council. It is currently working toward improving beef production for new age farmers to supply export markets. Gule is firm in his belief that economic transformation is possible through improving farming.
It’s all in the breed
At the one-day session, Gule shared expertise and insights on how farmers can help their cattle breeds thrive in different environments in Mzansi, as well as tips to identify top breeding bulls at auctions. He also unpacked how size is everything when it comes to selecting a bull to build a thriving herd.
“We had a discussion around matching the right type of beef animal with the right type of environment. It is not only about adapting but it is also about increasing production,” he says.
“Before we chase the growth figures and the performance, an animal must first adapt in that environment.”
Gule also tells Food For Mzansi, “Indigenous breeds like the bos indicas breeds play a huge role in the [KZN] environment because they bring in the hardiness as well as the adaptability, whereas the European breeds which fall under the bos taurus type, bring in the meat production and the milk from the females.”
The bigger, the better
Purebred breeders strive for the perfect reproductive bull and go to great measures to select for scrotal size.
Gule explains that it has long been accepted that scrotal size is a good measure of sperm production. He emphasises that larger testicles generally should produce more sperm, making the bull more fertile. “The bigger the testicles, the better the bull’s ability to mate with many females,” he says.
“We don’t like a bull that is below 36cm (scrotal circumference), we really like a bull that is above 38 or 40cm – those are the bulls we want [at auctions.]”
While the future of farming is female, Gule says that good genetics from the bulls in your herd are what matters the most when it comes to making it big in the cattle industry.
“The bull determines the direction of the herd. If you use a bad bull and you don’t cull or sell off its progeny, you will have those bad genetics in your herd for a minimum of 12 years, unless you cull everything.
“When we want to improve genetics in our herds, we do not sell all of our cattle, we buy a bull and we change genetics using a bull,” he says.
ALSO READ: Farming is hard work, says 29-year-old livestock enthusiast
Sign up for Farmer’s Inside Track: Join our exclusive platform for new entrants into farming and agri-business, with newsletters and podcasts.
