More heifers than bull calves any ideas why?

spin cycle

Member
Location
north norfolk
bull to heifer ratio?....or new bull?

my theory is that multiple servings give more males so if the bull has more females to do he doesn't repeat service as much thus more heifers.....or a certain bull might be lazier so repeat serve less
 

Truenorth

Member
Mixed Farmer
We would be opposite of you.
We have been even or close for 10 + years male/female. But this year on last check was 2/3 male 1/3 female. 8 of 9 bulls was same with much the same cows.
But sorry don't know why.
 

Sir loin

Member
Location
North Yorkshire
bull to heifer ratio?....or new bull?

my theory is that multiple servings give more males so if the bull has more females to do he doesn't repeat service as much thus more heifers.....or a certain bull might be lazier so repeat serve less
Not a new bull and ratio is 1 bull to 25 cows (because we are a closed herd I regularly breed my own bull from AI and use AI and chase up with bulls I breed)
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
The bull we had prior too this one we have now threw 24 bulls 1 heifer in first year, 18 bulls 6 heifers second year, 13 bulls 12 heifers the third year and went infertile after serving 5 cows throwing 3 bulls 2 heifers. Never had a bull that good at throwing bulls before. Probably never happen again!
 

JMTHORNLEY

Member
Location
Glossop
I'm at a 50/50 split this year with bulls and heifers, usually one year more bulls then the next more heifers but I've never been neck and neck.

On the subject of calving though, had a real poor time last year. Lost one calf but had to assist many of them from a new bull, however this year no trouble at all but having VERY thick calving bags. Was with a cow last night and if she hadn't of stood last moment the calf would have still been in the sack. Anyone else seen this before?
 

GmB

Member
Location
S.Glos
I'm at a 50/50 split this year with bulls and heifers, usually one year more bulls then the next more heifers but I've never been neck and neck.

On the subject of calving though, had a real poor time last year. Lost one calf but had to assist many of them from a new bull, however this year no trouble at all but having VERY thick calving bags. Was with a cow last night and if she hadn't of stood last moment the calf would have still been in the sack. Anyone else seen this before?
Yes. Had a couple of calves coming out in their sack this year, bit of luck I was there both times, straight in with the knife.
 

ladycrofter

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Highland
I had a bull that rarely threw a male calf. Reckon the male sperm was defective.
M and F sperm are structurally slightly different at both ends. IIRC, in humans anyway M is a poorer swimmer.
 

delilah

Member
The President of our breed society tells the story of how, when he started out with the breed and was wanting to build numbers, the first 17 calves born were bulls. Decades later and his herd is proof that you just have to stick at it.
 

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
Seen bulls advertised that will throw more hfrs than bulls. Usually pretty even here . I would love bulls that threw all bull calves though, would be far more profitable.
 
Seen bulls advertised that will throw more hfrs than bulls. Usually pretty even here . I would love bulls that threw all bull calves though, would be far more profitable.
We sold a lim bull in Carlisle and ten months later the bloke rang to ask if we'd had calves by him and what split bulls to heifers. Said we had six,three of each. He'd had twenty calves and 18 were heifers,no good to him so was going to claim the bull was infertile,cull him and claim on his insurance. I said how the hell can you do that and he said he was good friends with his vet😳
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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