Bull Inspections Update

Conducted on all young bulls intended for full pedigree registration since 2017, the Society’s bull inspections process has now collected eight years’ worth of young bull data, which is used to continually inform development.

The 2024 calendar year of inspections was conducted slightly differently than in previous years, with breeders this time seeing the introduction of a minimum weight-for-age requirement. The suggested figures were scaled according to frame score, and the minimum requirement for both weight-for-age and frame score have been purposely set low to allow as many bulls to qualify for full registration as possible.

Throughout the development of the young bull inspections process, the BWCS’ committees have worked at length to ensure that inspections are inclusive and accessible for breeders operating all types of management systems. It is imperative that the breed retains the widest range of bloodlines, contained within as many herds as possible, therefore ensuring that any unique qualities of the breed cannot be unintentionally excluded as a result of any requirements of registration.

Society young bull inspections conducted 2017 - 2024
Number of bulls recorded (total)	249
Number of bulls passing inspection (92%)	229
Number of bulls failing inspection (8%)	20
Total number of breeders submitting bulls for inspection	59
Avg. no. of bulls forward per participating breeder (total 2017 - 2024)	4.22
Avg. no. of bulls forward per participating breeder (per year)	0.53
Averages for bulls passing inspection
Average frame score	5
Average adjusted 400 day weight (kg)	450
Average condition score at inspection	3
Average age at inspection in months	14
Average age at inspection in days	436
Reasons for bulls failing inspection
Incorrect testicles	13
Below required frame score and/or minimum expected weight for age	4
Incorrect mouth	3
Scurs	1

We can see from the data shown in the above table that since inspections were introduced for all bulls intended for pedigree registration born on or after 01.01.2016 (inspections on these bulls began in 2017), 92% have been allowed to qualify for full registration, with 8% identified as unsuitable, based on the scheme’s requirements. It is worth mentioning that a Society Bull Inspection passes no judgement whatsoever on the perceived quality of any particular bull, and is intended as an entirely data-driven exercise to identify and exclude breeding faults from the pool of potential new sires entering the national herd, leaving breeders entirely free to make their own assessment of which bulls may then suit their specific requirements.

To the end of 2024, a total of 59 breeders submitted at least one bull to inspection for full registration, making the average number of bulls forward 4.22 per participating breeder for the eight years of the scheme, or 0.53 per participating breeder per year. When compared to the total number of breeders registering calves of either sex across the same period (162), these figures appear to represent a healthy proportion of herds, showing that around 36% of registering breeders have submitted at least one bull calf for full registration in that period.

Update to weight tape measurements

It should be noted that the data shown in the above table is not directly comparable with previous publications. At an inspectors’ training day in November 2023, it was decided that where estimated weights were recorded (weight tape measurements taken in the absence of an actual weight), the higher reading on the tape was more accurate than the previously-used lower estimate, therefore tape weights recorded prior to this decision have now been converted to the higher scale, and the adjusted 400 day weight averages updated. Adjusted 400 day weights are always calculated using actual weights where available, with the estimated weight used if not.

The average adjusted 400 day weight shown here may therefore only be viewed as an approximation, but it does demonstrate an average daily liveweight gain of just over 1kg/day (from an average birthweight of 40kg) across all management systems. As a breed which is intended to mature naturally at a moderate rate, this average figure certainly supports what is required to produce a breeding population with an average frame score of 5 (see graph below).

Frame score distribution

Looking at the above graph showing how many bulls have been recorded at which frame score, we can see that the distribution falls mainly between scores 4 and 6, equivalent to a mature hip height of between 53 and 57 inches. This evidence supports the breed’s aim to achieve a medium-sized adult animal, and remains consistent with the advertised qualities of British White cattle.

Scrotal circumference and fertility

The second graph on this page shows the distribution of scrotal circumference measurements, mapped by days of age at inspection. The data shown on this graph does not include bulls which failed inspection for having either undersized or incorrect testicles. The picture shows that the vast majority of bulls passing inspection recorded a measurement of 30cm or above by 300 days (10 months) of age. This evidence seems to support what we know anecdotally, that British White cattle - along with most other British native breeds in general - display good scrotal circumference, a trait which is well-known to be positively linked to bull fertility.

According to various studies, it has also been evidenced that increased scrotal circumference is associated with improved female fertility and earlier age at puberty in a bull’s daughters - a trait we know to be common in British White cattle. From the data collected so far, we can see that the bulls passing inspection have recorded more than adequate scrotal measurements, and from this research the Management Committee have been able to distinguish their general minimum acceptable values.

Scheme development

As more information is collected and reviewed each year by the BWCS Management Committee, the inspections process gains knowledge by which to amend certain aspects, or to leave them as they are. At this point, the Committee are satisfied that these inspections are allowing through a generous number of bulls to give breeders plenty to choose from, whilst also identifying and excluding any animals with serious faults, which is exactly the balance the Society tries to achieve with this scheme.