AI in sucklers

[CharcoalWally]

What age can a bull work from? Can you treat them like ram lambs, buy yearling bulls breed them then kill them?

I start working bulls as soon as they're big enough to start bulling cows, but that'll doubtless vary from farm to farm.

On point 2, then you're presumably not invested in the offspring of said bull , as you'll have killed him before you ever see how he's bred and how easily it has calved? You'll be treating him as a disposable product ?

 

[tupmaster]

would hiring a bull work for you

 

[livestock 1]

would hiring a bull work for you

Not great now with Tb carry on

 

[unlacedgecko]

I start working bulls as soon as they're big enough to start bulling cows, but that'll doubtless vary from farm to farm.

On point 2, then you're presumably not invested in the offspring of said bull , as you'll have killed him before you ever see how he's bred and how easily it has calved? You'll be treating him as a disposable product ?

I'd be using a terminal site so all prgency would be finished regardless.

 

[Woolless]

would hiring a bull work for you

Yes, although biosecurity would concern me. TB not too much of a concern in this part of the world @livestock 1.

 

[Woolless]

@Treg @saly123 Do you synchronise, or just observe for oestrus? You find no need for a bull even as a sweeper?

 

[livestock 1]

Yes, although biosecurity would concern me. TB not too much of a concern in this part of the world @livestock 1.

That Tb map is worrying as it heads slowly north. Most of the bull hire men have packed in due to Tb. I thought bio security would worry you too as you have said

 

[CharcoalWally]

I'd be using a terminal site so all prgency would be finished regardless.

Yes I know, but my point is that the bull will be gone before anything is known about his progeny.

 

[Woolless]

That Tb map is worrying as it heads slowly north. Most of the bull hire men have packed in due to Tb. I thought bio security would worry you too as you have said

One of the big plus points for cattle up here is being free of TB.

 

[livestock 1]

One of the big plus points for cattle up here is being free of TB.

I said that a few years ago it’s near now

 

[hendrebc]

@unlacedgecko When we used to calve all year round I often had a big bull calf of 6 months or so old kicking about the place. I turned one of them in with a cow that was bulling a few times when the bull was either somewhere else or wasn't able to serve for whatever reason. Always worked as long as he could reach
Then get him cut by a vet later on (vet cut all of them then so waited till there was a bunch or the flies went away) not ideal but better than an empty cow. If you had autumn and spring calving cows you could do that. Or keep your bull calves entire for finishing and use one on the cows.

 

[Samcowman]

Have looked into this for this summer to save buying another bull and take the pressure off of the other bull which runs in that block. Costed out synchronising using cidrs and was way too much. At the moment looking at using single jab of prostaglandin and then serve them on hears before turnout.

 

[Woolless]

I said that a few years ago it’s near now

Can't 'like' that. It's a bloody nightmare that needs to be brought under control.

 

[Woolless]

@unlacedgecko When we used to calve all year round I often had a big bull calf of 6 months or so old kicking about the place. I turned one of them in with a cow that was bulling a few times when the bull was either somewhere else or wasn't able to serve for whatever reason. Always worked as long as he could reach
Then get him cut by a vet later on (vet cut all of them then so waited till there was a bunch or the flies went away) not ideal but better than an empty cow. If you had autumn and spring calving cows you could do that. Or keep your bull calves entire for finishing and use one on the cows.

Many years ago, I treated a bull calf that had prolapsed his rectum when trying to bull a cow .

 

[Treg]

@Treg @saly123 Do you synchronise, or just observe for oestrus? You find no need for a bull even as a sweeper?

Just observe for oestrus,
keep a note book on you at all times .
White board in the shed with cow's to watch - reminders e.g - Gallina moo'd funny last night check again or Melody is sniffing others, check again.
No sweeper.
Different bull for heifers.
Different bull for different cow families.
No health issues!
Box of chocolates for Ai person at Christmas to keep them happy

Can't synchronise as I'm Organic but have a couple of neighbours who have bulls but synchronise their heifers & seem to get on ok with that ( saves them getting a bull especially for heifers ).

 

[CharcoalWally]

Many years ago, I treated a bull calf that had prolapsed his rectum when trying to bull a cow .

Good point. They can damage themselves trying to work before they're ready .

 

[hendrebc]

Many years ago, I treated a bull calf that had prolapsed his rectum when trying to bull a cow .

I think he must have been doing it wrong

 

[saly123]

@Treg @saly123 Do you synchronise, or just observe for oestrus? You find no need for a bull even as a sweeper?

We rms ours. Paint them and watch for ones on heat. We haven’t been using a sweeper bull. There was 2 not in calf this year but that was due to cows having issues.

 

[Agriclegend]

All ai here for 10 years. Still learning but the cost of keeping a bull, biosecurity advantages of bringing no cattle on to the farm and advantages of access to a variety of bulls was big draw. I have access to a few ai techs so can also pick according to what is in their flask. If you are checking for bulling behaviour in the dark flashmates are good but not cheap. There is also a bolus system called Smaxtec which is supposed to help with heat detection and warn you when a cow is calving but it is expensive. I would expect to pay around £8 to 10 for ai visit plus cost of straw. 1.5 per cow average seems about right. Also I have a mobile race I set up in the field when they are out grazing, tech comes out to the field before I go to work in the morning.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Yes I know, but my point is that the bull will be gone before anything is known about his progeny.

Not possible to get any easy calving strain of bulls? Like a cattle version of beltex?