The United 4-H Beef Club held its second meeting at the home of Becky and Jamie Beals on Wednesday May 20, 2026. The meeting opened with the 4-H pledge and then we were honoured to welcome Dr. Rebecca Cornell, one of our local veterinarians. Dr. Rebecca gave a very educational presentation on bull breeding soundness exams.
Members learned what to look for when selecting a bull for breeding, including scrotal circumference, external and internal examination and sperm evaluation. Two bulls, kindly provided by nearby neighbours, were used for the demonstration. After collecting samples, members examined the results under a microscope to determine whether each bull would pass the sperm evaluation. This was very interesting as we looked at how a vet determines if the sample is good by looking at amount of sperm, the motility, the size and shape and structure.
The meeting was very informative and gave members the opportunity to learn the process and importance of a bull breeding soundness exam to help prevent costly pregnancy failures. Thank you, Dr. Rebecca, for coming to our meeting!
We wrapped up the evening with some club material and refreshments. Our president Andrea Schram thanked our hosts for a great evening.
