rations and the poundage fed to each bull. The veterinarian needs to determine what body condition scores were attained at different stages of development. Management practices should be established with regard to large or small group facilities, parasite control, pasture or dry lot, through space, and water availability. These management practices can influence the level of foot problems and increased incidence of diseases such as vesiculitis. The herd vaccination program should be ascertained, if for no other reason than for buyer information. Information on disease control programs should be established for buyer information and the reason for those programs. The history of disease in the herd may explain the results of the BBSE examination and again be useful information to the herd owner and/or buyer.
Basic Physical Examination
For a bull to survive and function as a natural service sire (pasture or range environment), he must be able to walk, eat, see, and bear weight on his back legs. Thus, a basic examination should begin with a history, examination at a distance, and an assessment of a bull's conformation, gait, and overall appearance.
Examination at a Distance
If possible, the bulls should be observed from the fence of the holding pen while they are standing quietly. This is a good time to observe their conformation, and overall appearance. Bull identification numbers are collected for those that will need closer examination for any problems that may be seen. Move through the bulls slowly while noting any other problems. This is a good time to observe each bull's gait, possible foot issues, sight deficiencies, and bilateral symmetry. If they are being unloaded at a veterinary facility for BBSE, watch them as they are being unloaded as stepping off a trailer can exacerbate lameness signs that you can check more closely. The absence of bilateral symmetry is the examiner's guide to areas of potential abnormalities.
Conformation
Selection for conformation has been influenced by judges for show purposes and is not always the conformation most desirable for durability of the bull in a pasture or range environment. Because a bull is required to cover large areas and mount and lunge multiple times in a single day, feet and legs are often the trait that determines his ability to service cattle and his longevity as a sire. Hoof and hock abnormalities lead to lameness, which affects his ability to accomplish this purpose, as well as lowering sperm quality. Screw claw, chronic laminitis, and interdigital fibromas are common. The incidence of screw claw (Figure 8.1) appears to be increasing in beef breeds and is considered heritable by the American Association of Bovine Practitioners Lameness Committee [1]. Moving up the legs, stifle and hock injuries such as collateral ligament rupture, meniscal injuries, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture should all be investigated as they will interfere with copulation and fertility [2]. Less common and sometimes more difficult to diagnose are shoulder injuries and spinal injuries or disease [2]. These abnormalities should be recorded in the feet and legs section of the BBSE form. Defects that may be inherited should be listed in the comment block with a statement that recommends use in a terminal cross only. Research has shown that animals with shorter hoof length and greater dorsal hoof angle develop less hoof lameness [3]. Dorsal hoof angles of 50 and 55° in the rear and front hooves, respectively, appear to be the more desirable. The angle of the hock should be between 155 and 170° – this being based on information derived from the Conformation Determination System (CDS), which was a method of relating hock angles of dairy heifers with other anatomical landmarks and then correlating those metrics with the incidence of future unsoundness [4].
Figure 8.1 A three‐year‐old Angus bull that exhibits the screw claw abnormality. This bull will require annual hoof trimming to remain sound.
Examination Close Up
Once the bull enters the chute, the examination should begin with the head. The areas on and around the eyes should be examined for squamous cell carcinomas, corneal damage, and lymphomas. The nasal passages are checked for even and equal air flow, the oral cavity is examined for abnormalities, and the age of the bull is confirmed by checking the dentition (Figure 8.2). This is also a good vantage from which to observe the front feet for interdigital fibromas and the screw claw abnormality.
Figure 8.2 Examination of the oral cavity and dentition to assess aging.
Examination of the Reproductive System
Scrotum and Testicles
The scrotum, testes, and spermatic cord should be examined carefully for fluid, fibrotic tissue, size, symmetry, shape, and texture. The scrotum should be examined for scars and its ability to extend or stretch to allow the testicles to cool. The testes should be palpated and have the texture of meat and be freely moveable within the scrotum. Any fibrotic or swollen areas should be noted. The epididymides should be palpated from the head dorsally, down the body, ventrally to the tail, for abnormalities such as epididymitis or fibrosis. The spermatic cord is palpated from the external inguinal ring distal to the testicle for abnormalities such as hernias, hematomas, fibrosis, or fluid. The external prepuce should be observed and palpated for abscesses and swellings, as well as hematoma of the penis directly anterior to the scrotum. Problems identified during scrotal examination can include scrotal skin lesions such as frostbite, dermatitis, scrotal edema, and blood warts. There are several normal variations of scrotal shape and testicular positioning within the scrotum. Thus, the presence of hydroceles and hematoceles as well as inguinal hernias must be ruled out in bulls with aberrances in scrotal size and shape [2, 5].
Ancillary testing utilizing ultrasound or thermography, although usually not necessary to classify a bull by the SFT standards, can be useful to further investigate abnormalities discovered during the physical examination [2].
Internal Reproductive Genitalia
A transrectal examination is utilized to evaluate the internal reproductive genitalia and can be aided or enhanced with the use of ultrasound. Each of the secondary sex organs should be carefully identified and palpated for any changes from the norm. The urethralis muscle is the first to be encountered and should be palpated for abscesses and tumors. As you palpate forward, the prostate and seminal vesicles (vesicular glands) are encountered. Palpation of both vesicular glands should begin at the bifurcation with the vesicle surrounded by the hand as it is palpated toward and to each distal endpoint. Texture, size, the presence of heat or pain, and distinction of the lobulations should be noted. Vesicular adenitis is one of the most common abnormalities suggested by the internal reproductive examination. Evidence of previous infection or injuries to the seminal vesicles can also be diagnosed by the presence of fibrosis and adhesions. Approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of vesicular adenitis are discussed in Chapter 14. The paired ampullae should be examined next for abnormalities as well as gently massaged to aid in semen collection. The examiner should use the transrectal examination as an opportunity to palpate the internal inguinal rings for size and the presence of hernias. The caudal abdomen should also be palpated for the presence of enlarged lymph nodes that could be suggestive of infection or neoplasia [5].
