Fresian bull feeding options

[FarmerK]

I may have chance of some 3/4 fresian bulls in the autumn at handy money and I was just wondering what everyone’s thoughts on this was.
Few things,
Should I castrate them
Straw shouldn’t be a problem
We have any amount of silage (some a red clover/ryegrass lay)
No arable land so feed would have to be bought it
Would it be easier to just tick them over and sell as stores or push them hard and finish them?
Possibility of grazing

Thanks

 

[nelly55]

No money in just ticking bulls over,most places want bulls under 16 months.We have steered all ours this year had enough of issues of bad temper

 

[betweenthelines]

If you know what "handy money" will for cattle in 6 months time, why not give up farming and buy a few lottery tickets?

 

[J 1177]

Depends on your area there tends to be more of a market oop north for bulls in the marts. I find fr bulls need to be taken to fat they never seem to do as well as store.
Unfortunately feed isn't cheap, we feed wheat, barley, 60% protein and beans to our growing bulls and just barley, wheat and 60%protein to the finishing ones. Straw in the ring feeders.
Other people will know better but stock feed potatoes as part of the ration may be an option.
If your only keeping a few you may be find it easier to buy a blend from a feed firm.
As bulls they want to be away around the 15month mark because they really start shifting some gear then

 

[FarmerK]

I’ve just heard bad reports about bulls being aggressive and I was curious as to wether many people just ring them as calves and grow them as steers

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I may have chance of some 3/4 fresian bulls in the autumn at handy money and I was just wondering what everyone’s thoughts on this was.
Few things,
Should I castrate them
Straw shouldn’t be a problem
We have any amount of silage (some a red clover/ryegrass lay)
No arable land so feed would have to be bought it
Would it be easier to just tick them over and sell as stores or push them hard and finish them?
Possibility of grazing

Thanks

If you have cheap fodder feed them but they will need castrating, bulls need a lot of concetrates to keep them moving

 

[J 1177]

I’ve just heard bad reports about bulls being aggressive and I was curious as to wether many people just ring them as calves and grow them as steers

I find they tend to be ok if bucket reared from calves the aggression seems to kick in with fr bulls around 17months old. I know a man that swears heifers are worse and he keeps a lot of cattle.
Depends on your outlets really, iv always quite fancied running some fr bullocks on some rough grazing iv got and slow rearing them but it needs better fencing first.

 

[Derrick Hughes]

I’ve just heard bad reports about bulls being aggressive and I was curious as to wether many people just ring them as calves and grow them as steers

Aggressive yes I'm very lucky to be alive, don't mess with them unless you know what you are doing and even then you can be caught out . Nothing is worth a life

 

[J 1177]

Aggressive yes I'm very lucky to be alive, don't mess with them unless you know what you are doing and even then you can be caught out . Nothing is worth a life

Did you have a doo with bulls FT? i know mine have been fine up until now, thankfully. Still have to watch them

 

[Sid]

@gone up the hill finishes 1500 cattle a year

He will have a plan!

He said anything was making £200 at market this week, so don't really fancy you chances of much profit in fri bulls tbh

 

[Derrick Hughes]

Did you have a doo with bulls FT? i know mine have been fine up until now, thankfully. Still have to watch them

500 FB add lib to 16 Months
Was always an odd one if every batch . Would never take their eye of you when you were around , watching out of the corner of their eye. Was loading a batch one day up a race. Last one in , I went in to push it on , came straight at me and pushed me against the wall. I managed to get free and pulled myself over the gate,
One of the lads had a do with one as well

 

[J 1177]

500 FB add lib to 16 Months
Was always an odd one if every batch . Would never take their eye of you when you were around , watching out of the corner of their eye. Was loading a batch one day up a race. Last one in , I went in to push it on , came straight at me and pushed me against the wall. I managed to get free and pulled myself over the gate,
One of the lads had a do with one as well

Bloody el I can see your point 're taking their knackers off

 

[glasshouse]

I’ve just heard bad reports about bulls being aggressive and I was curious as to wether many people just ring them as calves and grow them as steers

You just heard that bulls can be aggressive?