Andrological characteristics of young beef bulls of different breeds in Hungary

This study examines the andrological characteristics of young beef bulls from various breeds in Hungary. Data were collected from 1,714 bulls between April 2018 and December 2024, with 1,198 bulls included in the analysis after exclusions. The research focused on breeds such as Angus, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Charolais and Limousine, assessing fertility through bull breeding soundness evaluations (BBSE). Physical exams, including scrotal circumference and semen quality analysis, were performed to determine breeding potential. Based on the results, andrological characteristics of young beef bulls are given. Mean scrotal circumference for bulls aged 10-14 months was 35.98 ± 2.73 cm. Total motility of sperm cells was above 30%, while progressive motility was above 50%. The mean of spermatozoa with normal morphology was more than 80%. The study highlights the importance of selecting fertile bulls to improve herd fertility and compares key andrological traits across different breeds.