A review of beef cattle sexual behaviour, and the factors influencing libido and paternity

Abstract

A review of the literature on cattle sexual behaviour was conducted to identify gaps in our knowledge and potential areas for research that may improve the efficiency and efficacy of bull usage in beef cattle herds in northern Australia. This is highly important because natural mating accounts for the vast majority of pregnancies in these herds and there are the economic considerations of the capital costs per calf produced. Furthermore, the genetics imparted by bulls make a much greater contribution to accelerating the genetic improvement of herds than do those of females, and there are major financial gains to be made from using bulls whose progeny have improved growth, fertility, survival, temperament and carcase attributes.