HCC / Meat Promotion Wales is offering Welsh farmers £70 towards the cost of semen testing bulls. A semen test typically costs £75-£100 per bull. If a bull underperforms this can affect the number of calves born as well as the calving pattern. Semen testing is carried out by a vet as part of a bull pre-breeding examination which is backed up by a written report.

Bulls with satisfactory semen test results (a score of over 75% for sperm motility and morphology) benefit from a 10% discount on fertility insurance through Taurus.

To secure funding, please visit www.hccmpw.org.uk. The process is a simple one: arrange a date with your vet to complete the fertility test; then send in the claim form with a receipt from your vet and the results of the test.

Farmers can reduce the risk of poor bull performance by doing some simple checks before mating gets underway. To get cows in calf a bull has to be ready (good physical shape), willing (good libido) and able (good semen quality).

For further information, please visit www.hccmpw.org.uk or telephone 01970-625050