Through the efforts of many veterinarians, breeding soundness examination of bulls has emerged as an important tool to improve the reproductive efficiency of cattle. Breeding soundness examinations of bulls will enjoy even greater acceptance in the future as the cattle industry becomes more efficient. Management of bull selection, and evaluation of the bull's performance are important aspects of beef improvement. Breeding soundness examinations can be used as a diagnostic aid in herd fertility problems. For example, if bulls in a problem breeding herd are satisfactory potential breeders one needs to look for an infectious disease, cow infertility, nutritional deficiencies or other condition as the cause of infertility. It should be noted that the breeding soundness exam does not reflect the bull's past soundness, nor does it define the bull's ability in the future, but it does allow one to make a prognosis of future fertility.