Calves over Bulls lifetime

Jonny B88

Member
Location
ballykelly. NI
We bought two bulls last year one lim and one stabiliser. We bought the stabiliser a few months before he was needed as we had planned to get him used to his surroundings and settle in well. We had to buy the lim at short notice as our own lim had hurt himself in the shed just prior to turnout and had to be put down. The lim bull was around 20 months I believe and had been fed for the show ring whereas the stabiliser was in a pen of his 14 month old roughly peers. He was fit and the lim was fat. The lim turned out sub fertile and developed a twisted penis, only getting 6 cows in calf. The stabiliser got his originally intended 10 heifers in calf within a couple of weeks and then moped up what the lim missed. I'm not bashing limousin or promoting stabiliser as we have had lim for a long time, it was the way they were fed and when they came here how long they had to acclimatise to this place that effected them I believe. Be wary of over fed showy Bulls!!!
 

GTB

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
I think it's almost got to the stage now where you need to keep a spare bull just in case. I'm sure many of the bigger herds are already doing this.
 

Jonny B88

Member
Location
ballykelly. NI
I think it's almost got to the stage now where you need to keep a spare bull just in case. I'm sure many of the bigger herds are already doing this.

Well our bother last year has prompted a move this year to Ai, and i was never keen before but now i see the big advantages.....well best laid plans and all that!
 
I think it's almost got to the stage now where you need to keep a spare bull just in case. I'm sure many of the bigger herds are already doing this.
I keep probably a surplus of bulls in most peoples eyes, so in effect a spare. Have 8 bulls for 240 cows and some heifers on top which varies. All year round calving so bulls not required to cover big numbers at any point, but one Hereford used on heifers, blue bulls liked to be put on blonde cows and blonde bulls on blue cows, means often cow bunches with same aged calves maybe not big enough for one bull, but they all get used, and never seem to have bulls sat idle. Often I think adds to odd bulls longevity, but also seem to have more than enough fall by the wayside. One bought from Carlisle broke its leg on first night he arrived, one bull died of clostridial disease before being worked and got one now for culling with a hernia after one years use. Typical farming, some you have luck with that will cover plenty for 12 years, his replacement only covers a few, as does his replacement and then his
 

GTB

Never Forgotten
Honorary Member
I keep probably a surplus of bulls in most peoples eyes, so in effect a spare. Have 8 bulls for 240 cows and some heifers on top which varies. All year round calving so bulls not required to cover big numbers at any point, but one Hereford used on heifers, blue bulls liked to be put on blonde cows and blonde bulls on blue cows, means often cow bunches with same aged calves maybe not big enough for one bull, but they all get used, and never seem to have bulls sat idle. Often I think adds to odd bulls longevity, but also seem to have more than enough fall by the wayside. One bought from Carlisle broke its leg on first night he arrived, one bull died of clostridial disease before being worked and got one now for culling with a hernia after one years use. Typical farming, some you have luck with that will cover plenty for 12 years, his replacement only covers a few, as does his replacement and then his
Got three here for 100 cows and about 20 heifers. One needs to go as his daughters are coming through. Bought a young bull last year to replace him but he's already left us due to being subfertile.
 
One advantage of having a few more numbers. Whilst I now use a Hereford on heifers, I used to keep a blonde for my blonde out of bb heifers. As they then went to a bb as second calvers it kept it simpler for keeping bulls away from their daughters. And whilst I said, at times possibly don't fully utilise bulls with bunches a touch small for the bull, due to breeds, it does simplify it in other ways. Until autumn calvers when mixed breeds have to be housed together!!
 

onthehoof

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cambs
Well our bother last year has prompted a move this year to Ai, and i was never keen before but now i see the big advantages.....well best laid plans and all that!
I would like to try ai but reports say 60/70 % hold to service so if you have to have a sweeper bull what's the point
 
Never have done, rightly or wrongly. Only had one bunch that scanned badly and that was last year. Normally notice if things repeating, this field is only a mile away, but not a field you drive by and see things if that makes sense. Year before bull excelled himself, and whilst sounds stupid, for certain reasons he was housed with them to give another chance. 3 weeks he covered all scanned empty, bar 1. All I could put it down to was the field runs a lot of sheep and is split, though running both, in 25 acres. I bought 12 cows from a lady, that had very much individual attention, petty if you like, they kept themselves to themselves, never far from bunch, but wonder if when bulling they went to other field, maybe too late the bull followed, then maybe missed one in bunch he left? No idea really but ended up in calf, though 5 months too late
 

Samcowman

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Cornwall
Have a spare Angus here but he will be running with another couple of bulls and 60 cows so can pull him out and put him with another group if needs be as that group only really needs 2 bulls. Have a couple of fleckvieh Bulls for only 30 cows which is over the top but my least favourite one of them will be running with 10 in a couple of small paddocks by the buildings. Blondes I don't usually have a spare but have one this year who won't be working as he throws big hard calves so he will be with some steers putting some more weight on over the summer so if worst comes to the worst I could use him but really don't want to. Overall there's 15 bulls for 350 cows in 11 weeks so technically we have too many Bulls for cows but due to group sizes it has to be that way.
 

Jonny B88

Member
Location
ballykelly. NI
I would like to try ai but reports say 60/70 % hold to service so if you have to have a sweeper bull what's the point

Well if you want to ditch the bull completely there are folks on 100% Ai. I wouldn't fancy that myself. It does however reduce the amount of bulls you have to run so potentially less chance of problems?? Also if he is good he can stay longer as he doesn't necessarily have to bull is daughters as often?
 

canam1

Member
247 calves off of our shorthorn bull between what's been sold and kept for cows. Still this years calves to come off him.
 
Always ai d with milkers to great success, but obviously more closely managed, even the familiarity of being turned to box for ai improves chances I believe, than a suckler who may be quiet, but likely to stress more as more of a change of routine/ away from calf? But spring calvers youd be ai ing them post turn out, which we always found worst conception rate, then autumn calvers seems a chore with all the feeding, guess depends on your workload and setup. Do like the idea of different genetics, love the idea that some genes click with some and not others so playing around, and sticking with those that work and trying again with those that don't. But cant see it happening here unless I downscale
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

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