@the_farm_grind: Had the vet out today to test my bulls before breeding season - checking fertility and screening for the usual STD’s like vibriosis and trich. This is something I do every year, non-negotiable, no matter how well a bull has performed before. My favourite bull didn’t pass. According to the vet his testes have gone soft - they are not firm and elastic the way they should feel, which points to some kind of injury. On top of that we picked up other signs in his semen and the consistency wasn’t good either. For a breeding bull, that’s the end of the road. But this is exactly why you test. If I’d skipped it and run him with the cows in November, I’d only have found out at pregnancy testing - with half the herd empty and a whole year lost. 🐂 #farming #cattle #ranch #country #livestock