Are your bulls and rams fertile?

This follows new statistics that show that one in five rams are infertile and one in three bulls are sub fertile.

The consequences for farmers of such underperforming livestock can be serious. With fewer or no lambs or calves being born, breeding patterns will be disrupted. Farmers can reduce these risks by carrying out some simple checks before mating gets underway, with funding from HCC to help.

Dewi Hughes, HCC’s Project Executive, said,

“Rams and bulls have to be in good body condition (fit but not too thin or too fat) with a good libido and capable of producing viable semen. In other words they have to be ready, willing and able. While farmers can ensure that their livestock are in the correct body condition, the only way to determine semen quality is through a microscope and this is where we can help.”

HCC can provide a maximum of £70 funding in one year towards the semen testing of bulls and a maximum of £50 in one year towards the semen testing of rams. All farmers have to do is arrange a date with their vet to complete the fertility test and send in a claim form to HCC, with a receipt from the vet and the results of the examination.

Further details on semen testing for bulls can be obtained on the Hybu Cig Cymru website.