Blonde bulls

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
I've used hashtag, first calves are due end of January. Did look at Glacon but he's more terminal sire whereas I was looking for better maternal traits.
New French catalogue (in English) is here: https://fr.calameo.com/read/001046468829c32593c9e
Quite a few of the bulls have videos of them on YouTube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCJZKuf_iczqPTU6v0Gu1Hlw
Thank you for that I’ll have a look.
Id be more looking to breed suckler/show calves so if you can suggest any bulls that would maybe be fit for the job?
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Lochhead Tyson don't think you can get him anymore he's good for heifers, might be a bit worried about your limx blues to fanfare though. You'll need to keep a good eye on them I would think. Don't know about the other bulls you've mentioned there.
If your looking at getting some french stuff, Faust might be worth considering. I'm waiting to hear what price a straw he is before ordering some up. Hashtag is fine. I'm a bit like whitepeak and looking for a few more material traits.
Iv got I think 15 straws of Tyson in my flask, Iv also a dozen Diego, Elmo and 20 odd Bradbury Evan I think is what you call him. Iv also gotten some more Fanfare but I’ll see how the first lot calve to him before I use him further.
Does Hashtag breed well?
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Did you get cows in calf first time? we bought some french seaman and cows didn't hold to it- spent a bloody fortune! Have you done a AI course yourself?
I did an AI course when I was at uni 10yrs ago, haven't done a refresher just watched a few YouTube videos to jog the old memory 😂
I ai'd a batch of about a dozen heifers to natural heats. Going by what repeats I saw I think 🤞about half held first service. I did serve the rest a second time and then turned out with the bull. Will hopefully tell you better tomorrow once we pd them.
I might synchronise my batch this year and only AI the once. Still undecided though.
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Thank you for that I’ll have a look.
Id be more looking to breed suckler/show calves so if you can suggest any bulls that would maybe be fit for the job?
When looking at French bulls it's probably best to look at what they call the veal bulls or their crossing bulls. They would be more suited to the British Market being thicker, flesher bulls from what I've looked at.
 

davieogrutha

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Orkney
Iv got I think 15 straws of Tyson in my flask, Iv also a dozen Diego, Elmo and 20 odd Bradbury Evan I think is what you call him. Iv also gotten some more Fanfare but I’ll see how the first lot calve to him before I use him further.
Does Hashtag breed well?
Think I have 5 of Tyson left in me tank. Wished I had gotten a few more when I did get them.
Only have the 2 from Hashtag at the moment and they seem to be doing fine.
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Think I have 5 of Tyson left in me tank. Wished I had gotten a few more when I did get them.
Only have the 2 from Hashtag at the moment and they seem to be doing fine.
I’m sure plenty people will still have him in there tank I got him from a Neighbour I just took what Blonde bulls he had to try them.
well that’s promising have you tried any A.I on your commercials?
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
When looking at French bulls it's probably best to look at what they call the veal bulls or their crossing bulls. They would be more suited to the British Market being thicker, flesher bulls from what I've looked at.
Ok I’ll have a look for them thank you for that information.
How did your Pd go for you have you been successful?
Its a nerve racking day for us!
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Ok I’ll have a look for them thank you for that information.
How did your Pd go for you have you been successful?
Its a nerve racking day for us!
Yeah went well, overall 46 out of 49 in calf (94%) so pretty pleased with that! And the batch of 17 heifers were all in calf! Not had chance to go through and check whether they'd held to AI or a later service though.
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Did you get cows in calf first time? we bought some french seaman and cows didn't hold to it- spent a bloody fortune! Have you done a AI course yourself?
So the results! According to scanning dates.
8 due to 1st AI service
1 to 2nd AI service
7 due to later bull services, although that includes 4 xbred heifers I only served with the bull.
So I'm pretty pleased with that tbh, particularly as I hadn't AI'd anything for about 10yrs prior. Obviously could change a bit once calves start popping out.
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Yeah went well, overall 46 out of 49 in calf (94%) so pretty pleased with that! And the batch of 17 heifers were all in calf! Not had chance to go through and check whether they'd held to AI or a later service though.
That’s a good number I’d be happy with that! Was it older cows that never held?
Do you just put them through the cull ring?
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Iv also noticed this morning the Simmental NXT gen sale is on for females and the red ladies next weekend for lims.

Is there a reason why there isn’t or can’t be a blonde female sale at this time of year?
Could call it the blonde babe sale?
I actually think it would be a very positive and good advert for the breed if say some of the top breeders put forward a couple of there best heifers or cows?
Also I think it would open doors to lots of new breeders and some good top prices could be achieved?
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
That’s a good number I’d be happy with that! Was it older cows that never held?
Do you just put them through the cull ring?
Worked it out at 94% so about spot on for the target. Of the 3 that scanned empty, one is 10yr old and has a bad foot, she would have gone this year if she wasn't rearing a calf. The others are a 7yr old and a 5yr old. All three are currently suckling calves so we will decide once we wean the calves what to do with them. Most go through the cull ring at Bakewell except the odd very lean or lame one which go to a local abbatoir. Will possibly sell them after our TB test as there is always a good ring of feeder buyers in Bakewell.
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
Worked it out at 94% so about spot on for the target. Of the 3 that scanned empty, one is 10yr old and has a bad foot, she would have gone this year if she wasn't rearing a calf. The others are a 7yr old and a 5yr old. All three are currently suckling calves so we will decide once we wean the calves what to do with them. Most go through the cull ring at Bakewell except the odd very lean or lame one which go to a local abbatoir. Will possibly sell them after our TB test as there is always a good ring of feeder buyers in Bakewell.
I’d be very happy with a 94%.
I usually end up between 90-95% and I just end up putting them through the fat ring and just now there making very good money for the best ones.
I’m guessing the ones not in calf are pedigree?
Do they make good money for you through the ring?
 

davieogrutha

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Orkney
I’m sure plenty people will still have him in there tank I got him from a Neighbour I just took what Blonde bulls he had to try them.
well that’s promising have you tried any A.I on your commercials?
Yeah. If anything bulling in the spring before turn out I usually give it a go. Got a variety o stuff in the tank so try and pick something to suit the cow. If it's a maternal type I'll use something with a bit o muscle but if it's a muscle type cow I'll go with something plainer to try and keep size and maternal traits.
 

XXFarmerJessXX

Member
Livestock Farmer
I agree with you on that one I can’t see why they don’t put more photos up. I don’t do Facebook but I can ask my friend to show me what’s it called?
Have you done or do much A.I work yourself?

I don't do A.I myself but going to have to start- We have a flask with Genus and they've basically told us that its not worth coming to ours anymore just to do 4 or 5 cows at a time they're concentrating on their bigger customers and dairy :-( can understand but a bit annoying!

A.I is annoying, we synced a load of heifers, probably 8 and then double A.I'd them- Only 1 held! Starting to feel like it's better just to use a stock bull and buy the pedigree in. Just need to weigh it all up.

The group on facebook is 'Blonde Breeders UK & Ireland' they have recommendations and other people tell you how they've got on with different bulls and breeding etc.
 

davieogrutha

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Orkney
I don't do A.I myself but going to have to start- We have a flask with Genus and they've basically told us that its not worth coming to ours anymore just to do 4 or 5 cows at a time they're concentrating on their bigger customers and dairy :-( can understand but a bit annoying!

A.I is annoying, we synced a load of heifers, probably 8 and then double A.I'd them- Only 1 held! Starting to feel like it's better just to use a stock bull and buy the pedigree in. Just need to weigh it all up.

The group on facebook is 'Blonde Breeders UK & Ireland' they have recommendations and other people tell you how they've got on with different bulls and breeding etc.
Thats pretty crud on Genus' part. Even though I'm not successful every time it's been more successful for myself to do it. Can time it far better and not have to wait for a time slot that's not favourable. And it's a bit more satisfying when you see the calf on the ground and you know that you did it.
Tried to look up that FB group but couldn't find it. Be fine to see what's on it.
 

XXFarmerJessXX

Member
Livestock Farmer
Thats pretty crud on Genus' part. Even though I'm not successful every time it's been more successful for myself to do it. Can time it far better and not have to wait for a time slot that's not favourable. And it's a bit more satisfying when you see the calf on the ground and you know that you did it.
Tried to look up that FB group but couldn't find it. Be fine to see what's on it.
ill pm you about fb. yeah bit unfair but can understand (a little) if they kept coming to ours they would have had to charge us extra and it would end up being a fortune. To be honest, A.I rates are shocking if we look at all the conception rates for ours, we try and double up every time and they still don't always hold. got some Bradbury Evan and nothing will hold to that- But i don't know whether its old semen or just a bad time for A.I
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
I don't do A.I myself but going to have to start- We have a flask with Genus and they've basically told us that its not worth coming to ours anymore just to do 4 or 5 cows at a time they're concentrating on their bigger customers and dairy :-( can understand but a bit annoying!

A.I is annoying, we synced a load of heifers, probably 8 and then double A.I'd them- Only 1 held! Starting to feel like it's better just to use a stock bull and buy the pedigree in. Just need to weigh it all up.

The group on facebook is 'Blonde Breeders UK & Ireland' they have recommendations and other people tell you how they've got on with different bulls and breeding etc.
Well that sucks you’d think they would be pleased with any business! Is there no other smaller company’s that could do it for you?
What bulls have you in your flask?
Thats annoying, costly as well! Can I ask which bull it was? Have other people had problems using his semen?
Have you currently got a stock bull or do you just use A.I?
Thanks I’ll get them to have a look!
 

XXFarmerJessXX

Member
Livestock Farmer
Well that sucks you’d think they would be pleased with any business! Is there no other smaller company’s that could do it for you?
What bulls have you in your flask?
Thats annoying, costly as well! Can I ask which bull it was? Have other people had problems using his semen?
Have you currently got a stock bull or do you just use A.I?
Thanks I’ll get them to have a look!

i will be working it out- Got herdwatch app on my phone so will do a quick report and see the conception rates. I'm interested now- We do have 2 stock bulls but normally use A.I on show stock, all heifers and cows have been checked over and theyre all fully fertile and cycling properly so it's got to be A.I that's the issue.. We've got loads of different semen. Shapfell Bongo/ Cyrano/ hadley hank/ aneto/ elite/ the list goes on... if A.I doesnt work and it gets to the desperate stage then we will put them to the bull if not related. the syncing was with different bulls because of the different pedigrees and also breeds- We chucked a couple of lims in over the last few years which has been an utter nightmare!!! can't bloody win with this farming lark :)
 

FarmerDanny1989

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Scotland
i will be working it out- Got herdwatch app on my phone so will do a quick report and see the conception rates. I'm interested now- We do have 2 stock bulls but normally use A.I on show stock, all heifers and cows have been checked over and theyre all fully fertile and cycling properly so it's got to be A.I that's the issue.. We've got loads of different semen. Shapfell Bongo/ Cyrano/ hadley hank/ aneto/ elite/ the list goes on... if A.I doesnt work and it gets to the desperate stage then we will put them to the bull if not related. the syncing was with different bulls because of the different pedigrees and also breeds- We chucked a couple of lims in over the last few years which has been an utter nightmare!!! can't bloody win with this farming lark :)
How do you find the herd watch app Iv heard good things about it but I’m not very good with tech.
That sucks and it’s costly along with time lost! I’m guessing they will be going to the bull then. Which bulls are you currently using for stock bulls? Are you pleased with them. So you have a couple pedigree lims too?
that’s interesting to talk to you as I currently am mostly a lim man but I’m trying to move away from them and into the blondes.
 

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