BREEDING SOUNDNESS EXAMINATION OF 1,952 YEARLING BEEF BULLS IN NORTH-CAROLINA

During a 12-yr period, breeding soundness examinations (BSE) were perf ormed on 1,952 yearling bulls of 4 different breeds: Angus (n=852); Ch arolais (n=205); Polled Hereford (n=520); and Simmental (n=375). The y earling bulls had satisfactorily completed a record of performance tes t at 1 of 4 North Carolina test stations. The 1976 BSE guidelines of t he Society for Theriogenology were used; however, semen analysis was n ot always conducted as determined by test station policy, and thus few er bulls had a satisfactory score while more bulls had a questionable score when semen analysis was also performed. No statistical differenc e was observed in bulls scoring unsatisfactory between years with and without semen analysis. Overall, 85.2% were classified as satisfactory , 9.0% as questionable and 5.7% as unsatisfactory. The mean BSE score was 77.0. Simmental bulls had the largest mean scrotal circumference ( SC), followed by Angus, Charolais and Polled Hereford bulls. Final tes t weight had the greatest effect on SC. Mean sperm motility score was 12.8, and mean total sperm abnormalities 24.9%. Penile fibropapillomas were diagnosed in 2.8% of the yearling bulls. The incidence rate of p ersistent frenulums was 4.4%. Angus bulls had the highest incidence of penile fibropapillomas and persist ent frenulums. The incidence of pe rsistent frenulums was greater (P<0.01) in 11-mo-old bulls than in 12- to 15-mo-old bulls. Breeding soundness examinations of 11- to 15-mo-o ld bulls provide valuable information for selecting bulls for breeding programs.