Backwards calves…the bull?

N

Nenuphar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ireland
livestock 1 said:
Is that the same as the endless list of east calving blue bulls?
I said there’s only a few limmy bulls I would go back to to use
Click to expand...
I don't know much about British Blues but I have used some Belgian Blues on mature cows and every single one needed help, there are no easy calving BB bulls worth using IMV.

On the Limousin side there really is a huge selection of bulls available that are easy calving, even Elgin, who sired the world record price female and bull, has been used extensively on heifers.
 
L

livestock 1

Member
Nenuphar said:
I don't know much about British Blues but I have used some Belgian Blues on mature cows and every single one needed help, there are no easy calving BB bulls worth using IMV.

On the Limousin side there really is a huge selection of bulls available that are easy calving, even Elgin, who sired the world record price female and bull, has been used extensively on heifers.
Click to expand...
When I buy a bull it’s the single most important trait for me. Im not keen on relying on those figures I would rather hear some reliable experience of using these bulls
I’ve bought a lot of cattle incalf and never bought one that wasn’t to an ‘easy calving’ bull according to the vendors 🤓
 
Sharpy

Sharpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ardrossan Ayrshire
livestock 1 said:
When I buy a bull it’s the single most important trait for me. Im not keen on relying on those figures I would rather hear some reliable experience of using these bulls
I’ve bought a lot of cattle incalf and never bought one that wasn’t to an ‘easy calving’ bull according to the vendors 🤓
Click to expand...
Could you be feeding too hard?
 
N

Nenuphar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ireland
livestock 1 said:
When I buy a bull it’s the single most important trait for me. Im not keen on relying on those figures I would rather hear some reliable experience of using these bulls
I’ve bought a lot of cattle incalf and never bought one that wasn’t to an ‘easy calving’ bull according to the vendors 🤓
Click to expand...
Watch your myostatins!
 
Northeastfarmer

Northeastfarmer

Member
Location
Cleveland
Nenuphar said:
I don't know much about British Blues but I have used some Belgian Blues on mature cows and every single one needed help, there are no easy calving BB bulls worth using IMV.

On the Limousin side there really is a huge selection of bulls available that are easy calving, even Elgin, who sired the world record price female and bull, has been used extensively on heifers.
Click to expand...
Everyone I have spoken to have said that blue bulls calve early or on time….unlike a lot of limmys that like to boil them for up to 2 weeks after due date…
 
Optimus

Optimus

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North of Perth
Nenuphar said:
I don't know much about British Blues but I have used some Belgian Blues on mature cows and every single one needed help, there are no easy calving BB bulls worth using IMV.

On the Limousin side there really is a huge selection of bulls available that are easy calving, even Elgin, who sired the world record price female and bull, has been used extensively on heifers.
Click to expand...
Plenty easy calving BB bulls just need to know what your doing with them.
 
Kiwi Pete

Kiwi Pete

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Owaka, New Zealand
What a sh!t thread to read

@Northeastfarmer I hope your luck is soon on the turn as they are horrible stats, I certainly wouldn't rule out your bull based on what has been said so far.
Likely a lack of ability to turn (as discussed) which is as likely a bull issue as a 3rd trimester nutrition issue - done anything much different with the feeding this year? You may have said and I've just skimmed over it
 
P

Pistonbroke

Member
A couple of good suckler herds near here keep a donkey in with the cows coming up to calving. They're irritable sods and won't leave the cows alone,they keep moving and and the theory is the calves turn better. I thought it was bollox but the one lads donkey snuffed it, didn't get replaced and they had the worst calving ever . New donkey for the next year and no problems since. And no,it's not April the first.
 
Woolless

Woolless

Member
Location
Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
Pistonbroke said:
A couple of good suckler herds near here keep a donkey in with the cows coming up to calving. They're irritable sods and won't leave the cows alone,they keep moving and and the theory is the calves turn better. I thought it was bollox but the one lads donkey snuffed it, didn't get replaced and they had the worst calving ever . New donkey for the next year and no problems since. And no,it's not April the first.
Click to expand...
I saw a video once of young bulls getting haltered trained by a donkey which was pulling it along!
 
P

Pistonbroke

Member
Woolless said:
I saw a video once of young bulls getting haltered trained by a donkey which was pulling it along!
Click to expand...
That lad was saying it was funny to watch,if a cow was lazy and lay down a lot ,the donkey would just go up to her and kick her. Cow gets up ,jogs off to somewhere else. His father always had one there and after he retired,son wasn't a believer until the donkey died. Won't go without one now if you paid him
 
Henarar

Henarar

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Somerset
Optimus said:
Plenty easy calving BB bulls just need to know what your doing with them.
Click to expand...
Like all breeds,

we have had some ped blue bulls we have been happy to use on anything including ped blue heifers and they would calve no problem, others need a little more caution, not had any that were any worse than the H,fords we use to have not that they were bad.
some years ago now and I have put it on here before the last real bad calving we had was a angus cross heifer ai'd to an angus
 
Sharpy

Sharpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ardrossan Ayrshire
Pistonbroke said:
A couple of good suckler herds near here keep a donkey in with the cows coming up to calving. They're irritable sods and won't leave the cows alone,they keep moving and and the theory is the calves turn better. I thought it was bollox but the one lads donkey snuffed it, didn't get replaced and they had the worst calving ever . New donkey for the next year and no problems since. And no,it's not April the first.
Click to expand...
Don't know about donkeys, but when we switched from wintering and calving in byres to loose housing incorrect presentations ceased to be a thing. Had one a month ago though, a big calf to a cow that had lost her last calf at 6 weeks so overfeeding would play a part.
 
serf

serf

Member
Location
warwickshire
Henarar said:
Like all breeds,

we have had some ped blue bulls we have been happy to use on anything including ped blue heifers and they would calve no problem, others need a little more caution, not had any that were any worse than the H,fords we use to have not that they were bad.
some years ago now and I have put it on here before the last real bad calving we had was a angus cross heifer ai'd to an angus
Click to expand...
Are Angus / Angus crosses known for narrow calving Chanel ?
 
W

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
Just because a bull has easy calving figures doesnt mean all calves will be born small unless your cows are all similiar. Most will but some cows genetics mean they will throw big calves. EBVs are good but i still prefer to use a bull that looks an easier calver to the eye, not massive boned ,massive in the shoulders etc.
 

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