Stewart encourages Southeast producers who buy bulls from the Midwest or North to buy in the fall. Most cattle can't adapt if they are turned out and hit head-on with the Southeast's heat, humidity, parasites and insects. Stewart warns producers to watch imported cattle that have been acclimated during their first breeding season to be sure they are holding up. Jones, manager of Briggs Ranch, has been buying Angus bulls for the last 10 years to use on the ranch's replacement heifers. He says it's hard to introduce bulls into south Texas' high-humidity environment in the summer, but buying yearlings in the winter or early spring seems to work.
Some cattle are simply genetically incapable of adapting to altitude.
For many other situations, the more drastic the move means the more time that should be allowed for adaptation to the new environment. He reminds producers that checking health regulations should be a standard operating procedure for any bull purchase, especially for long-distance purchases. After breeding season Don't forget your potential herd sire after the breeding season. He still needs to be treated with care. Young bulls should gain about 2 pounds per day after the breeding season in order to recoup breeding-season weight loss and gain about 300 to 500 pounds total by the beginning of their second breeding season.