Bulling cows

[GTB]

We have about 50/60 cows to bull from Christmas. They are on cubicles and concrete yard so we normally use two bulls, one for the day and one over night. The bulls are kept in a bedded bull pen when not working. Assuming both shifts are equal length which bull will serve most cows, day shift or night? Last year BB bull worked days and Hereford worked nights and out of 46 calves 40 were Hereford x. Would this be down to breed of bull or time of day. BB bull never misses a cow in his share of the spring calving herd.

TIA.

 

[bovine]

More cows will come bulling at night. I would also expect a Hereford to have better fertility than the BB.

 

[Mr Jones]

More cows will come bulling at night. I would also expect a Hereford to have better fertility than the BB.

Quite agree, i check the dairy cattle at midnight when housed and when they are turned out. Most bulling activity seems to start late afternoon/evening.

 

[GTB]

So if I want more BBx calves I should use the BB bull overnight? I'll have two BBs next year.

 

[bovine]

More than likely - assuming his fertility is up to it etc. I'd say the greatest majority of bull fertility problems we see are blues. They generally have smaller testicles for their size (the society even recommended lower scrotal circumference measurements) and we know that larger testicles mean more sperm and the ability to inseminate more cows.

Why not swap them around and let each do a week of nights?

 

[GTB]

Why not swap them around and let each do a week of nights?

I could do that but it would be a job to tell if it worked or not then. If I use BB for all nights and have more BB calves I will have at least proven the point.

 

[bovine]

I depends what your over-riding goal is. Blue calves, tight calving pattern etc.

Have you had both bulls fertility tested so you know they are in top form? A lot of beef cows will stay in heat 12 hours and could have been mated by both bulls, just the blue was of reduced fertility. It's possible.

 

[M-J-G]

So if I want more BBx calves I should use the BB bull overnight? I'll have two BBs next year.

If you have only Blue bulls surely you'll have all Blue calves.

 

[Henarar]

This is most likely a silly thing to say but why is there nothing like raddle for Bulls ?

 

[hillman]

This is most likely a silly thing to say but why is there nothing like raddle for Bulls ?

There is a chin strap with a roller/marker on it , have fun putting it on do !

 

[Henarar]

There is a chin strap with a roller/marker on it , have fun putting it on do !

I have heard of them but never seen one
most folk use something on tups so they know what has been served

 

[M-J-G]

Yep, been on the go a long time.

 

[Henarar]

Yep, been on the go a long time.
View attachment 82816

does anyone use them ? do they work ?

 

[GTB]

If you have only Blue bulls surely you'll have all Blue calves.

I do have two Blue bulls but one of them is only 8 mths old yet.

 

[Henarar]

I do have two Blue bulls but one of them is only 8 mths old yet.

you can give him a couple of matchboxes cant you

 

[GTB]

This will sound like a silly thing to say but at calving time it's often difficult to tell whether the calf is BBx or Hx (mainly Hx cows). However by the time they're 6 months old it's pretty obvious.

Next problem is that we're using an Angus bull with the Blue this year.

 

[hillman]

Why the two different breeds ?
Is it for some replacements ?

 

[GTB]

Why the two different breeds ?
Is it for some replacements ?

Yes and no. The Angus was bought to serve the heifers and hopefully we can keep a few heifers out of him. After he's served them he will have to help the BB with the cows. Planning to have two working BB by this time next year though. I bought a March born BB bull calf last Sat at Welshpool and I'm thinking he'll be old enough to work by this time next year.

 

[Downtrodden Dad]

I could be wrong but will both bulls not be bulling all your cows and one is more fertile than the other. We often take the bull out at night and put him back in for the daytime I dont think he minds bulling one in the morning that was on heat during the night.

 

[GTB]

I could be wrong but will both bulls not be bulling all your cows and one is more fertile than the other. We often take the bull out at night and put him back in for the daytime I dont think he minds bulling one in the morning that was on heat during the night.

Maybe but I prefer to get the cows in calf as fast as possible so the more bulls that serve them the better in a way.