why are bulls circumcised
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Bull
A bull is an intact (i.e., not castrated) adult male of the species Bos taurus. More muscular and aggressive than the females of the same species, the cows, bulls have long been an important symbol in many cultures, and play a significant role in beef ranching, dairy farming, and a variety of other cultural activities, including bullfighting and bull riding.
Nomenclature
The female counterpart to a bull is a cow, while a male of the species that has been castrated is a steer, ox, or bullock, although in North America, this last term refers to a young bull. Use of these terms varies considerably with area and dialect. Colloquially, people unfamiliar with cattle may refer to both castrated and intact animals as “bulls”.
A wild, young, unmarked bull is known as a micky in Australia. Improper or late castration on a bull results in him becoming a coarse steer, also known as a stag in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. In some countries, an incompletely castrated male is known also as a rig or ridgling.
The word “bull” also denotes the males of other bovines, including bison and water buffalo, as well as many other species of large animals, including elephants, rhinos, seals and walruses, hippos, camels, giraffes, elk, moose, whales, and antelopes.
Characteristics
Bulls are much more muscular than cows, with thicker bones, larger feet, a very muscular neck, and a large, bony head with protective ridges over the eyes. These features assist bulls in fighting for domination over a herd, giving the winner superior access to cows for reproduction. The hair is generally shorter on the body, but the neck and head often have a “mane” of curlier, wooly hair. Bulls are usually about the same height as cows or a little taller, but because of the additional muscle and bone mass, they often weigh far more. Most of the time, a bull has a hump on his shoulders.
In horned cattle, the horns of bulls tend to be thicker and somewhat shorter than those of cows, and in many breeds, they curve outwards in a flat arc rather than upwards in a lyre shape. It is not true, as is commonly believed, that bulls have horns and cows do not. The presence of horns depends on the breed, or in horned breeds on whether the horns have been disbudded. (It is true, however, that in many breeds of sheep only the males have horns.) Cattle that naturally do not have horns are referred to as polled, or muleys.
Castrated male cattle are physically similar to females in build and horn shape, although if allowed to reach maturity, they may be considerably taller than either bulls or cows, with heavily muscled shoulders and necks.
Misconceptions
A common misconception widely repeated in depictions of bull behavior is that the color red angers bulls, inciting them to charge. In fact, like most mammals, cattle are red–green color blind. In bullfighting, the movement of the matador’s cape, and not the color, provokes a reaction in the bull.
Beef production
Other than the few bulls needed for breeding. The vast majority of male cattle are castrated and slaughtered for meat before the age of three years, except where they are needed (castrated) as work oxen for haulage. Most of these beef animals are castrated as calves to reduce aggressive behavior and prevent unwanted mating, although some are reared as uncastrated bull beef. A bull is typically ready for slaughter one or two months sooner than a castrated male or a female. And produces proportionately more and leaner muscle.
Frame score is a useful way of describing the skeletal size of bulls and other cattle. Frame scores can be used as an aid to predict mature cattle sizes and aid in the selection of beef bulls. They are calculated from hip height and age. In sales catalogues, this measurement is frequently reported in addition to weight and other performance data such as estimated breed value.
why are bulls circumcised
Breeding soundness of beef bulls after circumcision: 33 cases (1980-1986)
Case records of 33 beef bulls that had preputial prolapses and underwent circumcisions were reviewed. Data retrieved included age, breed, duration of preoperative medical treatment, complications of surgery, length of time from surgery to first breeding. Ability of bull to copulate, duration of active breeding, and complications resulting in breeding unsoundness. The mean age of all bulls was 3.5 years (1 to 7 years).
Breeds represented included Santa Gertrudis (n = 13), Beefmaster (n = 8), Brangus (n = 7), Brahman (n = 4), and Angus (n = 1). The mean duration of medical treatment before surgery for all bulls was 16.4 days (2 to 38 days). There was no statistically significant difference between the mean duration of medical treatment before surgery between bulls that became breeding sound (16 days). Compared with those that were breeding unsound (19 days).
14 day
However, bulls requiring more than 14 days of medical treatment before surgery were approximately 3 times (relative risk, 2.8) more likely to develop postoperative complications than those bulls requiring 14 days of treatment or less. Eleven bulls (33%) developed one or more postoperative complications.
The complications resolved in 4 bulls, but 7 were never able to breed. Of these 7 bulls, 4 had problems directly related to the circumcision, 2 had extensive fibrosis of the prepuce already present at surgery, and 1 was discharged from the hospital with no apparent complications but was never able to breed. Twenty-five of the 33 bulls (76%) were breeding sound for 1 or more years after surgery.
Most penile problems found in bulls can be corrected
Almost every purebred 12- to 15-month-old bull calf will have a breeding soundness exam performed by a veterinarian.
The consistency of this exam is very good in the profession. The ReliaBull scrotal circumference tape has made scrotal circumference measurements accurate and consistent.
As well, breeding soundness evaluations can identify penis issues, most of which can be corrected. In the life of a breeding bull, penile problems can develop. Because of the value of the bull, medical or surgical treatment is often called for, and prognosis is often reasonable.
Large animal veterinarians must have some idea as to the cost and outcome of treatments. And perform the tasks themselves or refer the procedure to another veterinarian, if necessary.
Sometimes, the goal is simply to collect semen for freezing.
Young bulls
The most common penile problems in young breeding bulls are frenulums, hair rings and penile warts.
To examine the penis for abnormalities, it is ideal to get protrusion. Some veterinarians sedate to ensure protrusion happens.
Most wart removals heal quite well and I am surprised by the outcome. However, if warts are wrapped around near the tip of the penis, it makes for a more cautious prognosis.
Depending on the potential value of the bull, more than one attempt to remove the warts can be made.
Sedate the bull, apply local freezing in most cases and be ready to ligate large bleeders or over-sew the cut. On the cuts, be cognizant of the urethra.
Most veterinarians who have purebred cattle breeders as clients will run into warts. They need to be indicated on the BSE form for full transparency and rechecked to ensure there has not been regrowth.
Old bulls
Penile problems on older breeding bulls originate from cuts, prolapses of the sheath and the rarer corkscrew and rainbow deviations.
Cuts require visualization to determine severity, using hydrotherapy if prolapsed, NSAIDs if found acutely and perhaps flushing of the area and time to rest and heal.
Rest from breeding will often yield an 80 percent prognosis on return to function. This is usually excellent news considering the value of most breeding bulls.
Often, we see unfound cuts that have healed from the year before, evidence that bulls have a great ability to heal.
With paraphimosis (a prolapsed sheath), hydrotherapy should be frequent. Once the penis can be retracted inside the sheath the bull must be given time to rest.
A severe, non-resolving prolapse of the sheath, or paraphimosis, may result in the need for a circumcision and although these are done infrequently, they can be curative and there are recognized techniques out there. Removal of the extraneous sheath and attaching the ends together is the technique in a nutshell.
We are taking an unusable bull and potentially giving it the ability to breed again. If it is able to return to function and breed, that is a good win.
If it remains unable to breed, slaughter for salvage is still in the cards.
When attempting these procedures. I find a tilt table with good access to the underbelly is best and standard aftercare may be successful.
In very valuable bulls, we are sometimes correcting the condition so good quality clean semen can be collected and frozen.
Outcomes for bovine penis issues are often favourable. Your veterinarian can provide an idea as to prognosis and the time period necessary. Since most of these cuts occur during the breeding season. It usually means the bull will have to wait until year’s breeding season to be bred again.
Delayed or incomplete separation of the penile and preputial epithelium
During puberty, the penis of young bulls grows in length and diameter and a sigmoid flexure develops. The surface epithelium of the free portion of the penis is firmly attached to the epithelium of the prepuce at birth and these interdigitating tissues begin to separate at ~4 weeks of age and proceed caudally until complete separation occurs between 8 and 11 months of age (Ashdown, Reference Ashdown1960).
In recent years, our hospital has seen an increased number of bulls over 11 months of age with incomplete separation of the epithelium of the penis and prepuce. Which prevents complete penile extension (Wolfe D.F., unpublished results). Manual traction of the free portion of the penis and prepuce may complete the separation but avoid excessive force to prevent tearing or hemorrhage of tightly adhered tissues. This condition may be associated with later maturity and perhaps may have an undesirable heritable component.
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