Blonde bulls

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
That’s a great prize someone would of been delighted winning that!
Would they be the best in the breed with semen available?
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Polynices, is that the polled bull from Norbreck?
Has any one used him or plan to be?
Not sure if they are the best, maybe what the society was able to get donated. But yes a great prize!

Yes, Polynices is the Norbreck bull. I haven't used him and I don't think I will do. Imo there are better polled bulls out there.
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Screenshot_20211230_160448_com.facebook.katana.jpg
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Not sure if they are the best, maybe what the society was able to get donated. But yes a great prize!

Yes, Polynices is the Norbreck bull. I haven't used him and I don't think I will do. Imo there are better polled bulls out there.
What would your thoughts be on the best bulls in the breed?
Interested to know your views on why you wouldn’t use him?
Have you any info on any other polled bulls?

Nice calf is he hard calving then if he is for mature cows?
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Thought this might be good to share in this post.
Anyone up for sharing photos of there Favorite animal they have bred?
Favorite stock bull and cow they have owned and perhaps maybe even commercial blonde bred animal as well?
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Thought this might be good to share in this post.
Anyone up for sharing photos of there Favorite animal they have bred?
Favorite stock bull and cow they have owned and perhaps maybe even commercial blonde bred animal as well?

Screenshot_20220110_133550.jpg

My 2021 show team
Both homebred and sired by our senior stock bull Silverwood Len (full brother to Silverwood Mark)
Priya (left) is due next month to Joystick Pp
Roxy will be served in a few months
 

Davy_g

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Down
That’s a great prize someone would of been delighted winning that!
Would they be the best in the breed with semen available?
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Polynices, is that the polled bull from Norbreck?
Has any one used him or plan to be?
I seen Polynices at the current owners. He doesnt resemble the bull in the photos unfortunately. The chap with me was thinking of buying some straws till he seen him. I suppose the question you should ask is are the current owners impressed with him. I suppose the jusy is out till calves hit the ground.
 

Davy_g

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Down
2.jpg3.jpgmav.jpgO My.jpgsid.jpgsidey.jpgupload 1.jpg

Some randoms over the last year - quick description.
2 heifer calves recently showed. Red heifer is April born the white is March.
Old stock bull Maverick. Now dead.
Newer stock bull O My. Again dead - unfortunately. I am calving to him now and 3 heifers in a row - good.
Photo of Sidney as a calf and next photo of him last week. April born and just weaned.
Two young bulls recently shown, boy on the left is a year in Feb and the boy on the right was a year old in September.
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
I seen Polynices at the current owners. He doesnt resemble the bull in the photos unfortunately. The chap with me was thinking of buying some straws till he seen him. I suppose the question you should ask is are the current owners impressed with him. I suppose the jusy is out till calves hit the ground.
Interesting to hear that! Have you seen any calves by him at all? Bit of false advertising that!!
Is it Norbreck that own him or has he been sold on?
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
View attachment 1009322View attachment 1009323View attachment 1009324View attachment 1009325View attachment 1009326View attachment 1009327View attachment 1009328

Some randoms over the last year - quick description.
2 heifer calves recently showed. Red heifer is April born the white is March.
Old stock bull Maverick. Now dead.
Newer stock bull O My. Again dead - unfortunately. I am calving to him now and 3 heifers in a row - good.
Photo of Sidney as a calf and next photo of him last week. April born and just weaned.
Two young bulls recently shown, boy on the left is a year in Feb and the boy on the right was a year old in September.
You know how to breed them sir!!
Some crackers there!
Hopefully you have more luck with your next stock bull!
 

Davy_g

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Down
Interesting to hear that! Have you seen any calves by him at all? Bit of false advertising that!!
Is it Norbreck that own him or has he been sold on?
In fairness I have seen no calves and he is the only joiner calf I seen.
wouldn’t say it’s false advertising- the bull was fed in show condition for selling in the photos and did look the part. The question to ask would be how much meal was the bull getting to be in that condition. 5kg a day then fine. 10kg a day then that tells me he would be killed on my farm.
norbreck bought him from the breeders and took the semen. They then sold him to the current owners. He is with a good herd and being used selectively.
I will watch with interest how the calves do.
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
In fairness I have seen no calves and he is the only joiner calf I seen.
wouldn’t say it’s false advertising- the bull was fed in show condition for selling in the photos and did look the part. The question to ask would be how much meal was the bull getting to be in that condition. 5kg a day then fine. 10kg a day then that tells me he would be killed on my farm.
norbreck bought him from the breeders and took the semen. They then sold him to the current owners. He is with a good herd and being used selectively.
I will watch with interest how the calves do.
I've only seen one Joiner calf, it was shown as a calf at foot and I wasn't that impressed tbh. But I can understand why he was used.
I too haven't used Polynices, would have liked some updated pics before I ordered. Might not bother if he hasn't matured out into a nice bull. But to be fair, he must have been nice as a youngster for Norbreck to take collections from him.
Where is he now? He's still registered to the breeder on the database. No progeny registered yet, but I can't remember how long he's been available so don't know when the first calves would be due.

Looking forward to seeing how my dabble into polled genetics works out. Got 2 due to Joystick Pp next month. If they calve in OK I'll probably serve more to him this time.
 

Davy_g

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Co Down
Where is he now?

Not far from you Stuart - Shentons.

I will follow with interest your Joystick calves. Its really the calving ease (by shorter gestation) that interests me. After that if they do well is a bonus. I have bottled it and went back to Wagyu for heifers after a section in October to Glacon. I would prefer to stay pedigree as it is a bit of a waste of a calf going Wagyu.

I used to say selling bulls to dairy was a waste, but its a market we can not ignore. They need shorter gestation than what im currently getting 288 to 298 days and the odd one over 300!
 

noagain

Member


















e must have been nice as a youngster for Norbreck to take
e photos and did look the part. The question to ask would be how much meal was the bull














I've only seen one Joiner calf, it was shown as a calf at foot and I wasn't that impressed tbh. But I can understand why he was used.
I too haven't used Polynices, would have liked some updated pics before I ordered. Might not bother if he hasn't matured out into a nice bull. But to be fair, he must have been nice as a youngster for Norbreck to take collections from him.
Where is he now? He's still registered to the breeder on the database. No progeny registered yet, but I can't remember how long he's been available so don't know when the first calves would be due.

Looking forward to seeing how my dabble into polled genetics works out. Got 2 due to Joystick Pp next month. If they calve in OK I'll probably serve more to him this time.
I see Doncombe have their first polled calves off their German bull
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Not far from you Stuart - Shentons.

I will follow with interest your Joystick calves. Its really the calving ease (by shorter gestation) that interests me. After that if they do well is a bonus. I have bottled it and went back to Wagyu for heifers after a section in October to Glacon. I would prefer to stay pedigree as it is a bit of a waste of a calf going Wagyu.

I used to say selling bulls to dairy was a waste, but its a market we can not ignore. They need shorter gestation than what im currently getting 288 to 298 days and the odd one over 300!
Oh right, might have to pop over for a visit. Tbh I've never actually been to Shenton's. Have they got 2 of Abbie's bulls then? I'm sure they had another Joiner son off her a while ago.

The polled gene has always been an interest of mine ever since we had holsteins, hence why I'm having a dabble. And don't worry, I'm sure they'll be plenty of photos on Facebook.

Fingers crossed we go on alright with my heifers this time. If we have any problems I might be running the next batch of heifers with Jane's Longhorn bull 😂

We've always sold quite a few bulls into dairy herds, but gestation length has never come up in conversation. However I understand its probably the number 1 reason the likes of cogent/genus give for not stocking/promoting Blonde bulls.
Interesting to hear what your average gestation is, I'll have to look up what ours was last year. I've 2 heifers just springing atm to Eddie and Hashtag, currently 285 and 288 days. The Eddie is 285days and looks the closest to calving!
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Not far from you Stuart - Shentons.

I will follow with interest your Joystick calves. Its really the calving ease (by shorter gestation) that interests me. After that if they do well is a bonus. I have bottled it and went back to Wagyu for heifers after a section in October to Glacon. I would prefer to stay pedigree as it is a bit of a waste of a calf going Wagyu.

I used to say selling bulls to dairy was a waste, but its a market we can not ignore. They need shorter gestation than what im currently getting 288 to 298 days and the odd one over 300!
The Shentons is that Bridge blondes?
They must have a big herd must have some amount of stock bulls anyways!
Shorter gestation?
Do you find blondes to have a long gestation?
Your 288-300 seems about the same as mine only shorter I seem to get is with the blues, the lims can be worse than 300 days along with the Charolais!!!
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
The polled gene has always been an interest of mine ever since we had holsteins, hence why I'm having a dabble. And don't worry, I'm sure they'll be plenty of photos on Facebook.
Do you think the polled is the way forward with blondes?
Are much pedigree breeders now going down the polled route?
I’d certainly like more polled breeding cows and calves around the place would make life a heck of a lot easier.
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Do you think the polled is the way forward with blondes?
Are much pedigree breeders now going down the polled route?
I’d certainly like more polled breeding cows and calves around the place would make life a heck of a lot easier.
Depends how any animal wealth regulations/laws change. If as I'm thinking it will go, like it already has in many European countries, that disbudding/dehorning cattle becomes a vet only procedure then polled cattle are definitely the future.
If not, then like you I just like the fact we'll have a few less to dehorn 😂

I don't think many breeders are actively breeding specifically for polled, except maybe the exmoor herd, who bred the bull at Norbreck.

Whilst I am interested in the polled gene, that isn't my only breeding goal, I only ordered 10 straws and currently have 2 pregnancy's. There are lots of other things I am continually looking to improve in my herd.
 

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