Holstein Bulls

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I've seen lots of people try them but once the first crop of heifers get to second lactation they tend to stop breeding them

I'm not really sure why because on paper they tick all the boxes
- milk
- decent components
- fertility
- easy calving
- can graze
- cull and calf value
- healthy
Etc... what's not to love? Maybe too good to be true?

Don’t say that.

 

[dinderleat]

You used him before? If so how well do they hold?

Yeah fairly well got calves on the ground, they look like they’ve got some power to them but they might blow over in the wind according to his proof.

 

[Rossymons]

Why?

Over fat and terrible udders. The ones i've seen remind me of suckler cows.

 

[dinderleat]

He looks a lovely bull and I'm not trying to knock him but for me the negative chest width puts me off him, if it was only a slight negative I might think different considering the rest of his proof, to me that and body depth look like his only real negatives

I don’t get caught up on type summary I look at production and health traits. He’s transmitting nearly 97kgs of kgms that what pays the bills not what they look like

 

[Jdunn55]

I don’t get caught up on type summary I look at production and health traits. He’s transmitting nearly 97kgs of kgms that what pays the bills not what they look like

Thats fair enough but I would argue that their ability to last and stand the test of time also helps reduce the bills you need to pay! Narrow cows tend to not last as long imo so more heifers needed and bigger vets bills, I do understand your point though, and if you've never found it a concern until now then there's no need to worry, especially with your herd of cows performing as well as they do

 

[dinderleat]

Thats fair enough but I would argue that their ability to last and stand the test of time also helps reduce the bills you need to pay! Narrow cows tend to not last as long imo so more heifers needed and bigger vets bills, I do understand your point though, and if you've never found it a concern until now then there's no need to worry, especially with your herd of cows performing as well as they do

I don’t keep any passengers so if they don’t perform they are down the road. I always try and buy the best newest bulls available no matter the price. They are breed from some of the best herds in the world so I’m not to worried.

 

[Jdunn55]

I don’t keep any passengers so if they don’t perform they are down the road. I always try and buy the best newest bulls available no matter the price. They are breed from some of the best herds in the world so I’m not to worried.

Price of semen doesn't bother me, an extra £10 for the top genetics is bugger all if it means thousands more kg of fat/protein, thousands less health problems or they're here for an extra few lactations!

 

[Rossymons]

Thats fair enough but I would argue that their ability to last and stand the test of time also helps reduce the bills you need to pay! Narrow cows tend to not last as long imo so more heifers needed and bigger vets bills, I do understand your point though, and if you've never found it a concern until now then there's no need to worry, especially with your herd of cows performing as well as they do

Smaller stature and less body depth as well so its all in proportion. I doubt they'll be hatracks.

 

[dinderleat]

Smaller stature and less body depth as well so its all in proportion. I doubt they'll be hatracks.

Pocket rockets

 

[kp_n_plghng]

Traditionally body depth was negatively correlated to lifespan. Of course we all like seeing decent chest width and decent body depth but as dinder says its the production and health traits which count. I find it much easier to get excited about cows pushing the boundaries of production. That's where its at, fill the tank with quality milk.

 

[cjbailey]

You used him before? If so how well do they hold?

Used him two years on the row. Exceptional fertility. 7 pregnancies out of 10 straws last year 9 out of 12 this year

 

[cjbailey]

Used him two years on the row. Exceptional fertility. 7 pregnancies out of 10 straws last year 9 out of 12 this year

 

[cjbailey]

View attachment 1012430

78% conception rate none of the other sexed bulls above 50. Why we used him two years on the trot

 

[kp_n_plghng]

Useful info @cjbailey thanks for sharing. All on your cows, rather than heifers?

 

[Stuart1]

View attachment 1012299
I’ve 12 or so around 5 months old, I’m not massively impressed by them and the genomics of the heifers I have is average enough. I was hoping for better to be honest but that’s how it goes.

 

[cjbailey]

Useful info @cjbailey thanks for sharing. All on your cows, rather than heifers?

Mixture of both. One of the negatives was a bulling heifer we couldn't get through with the ai rod

 

[Stuart1]

What does everyone think of altaazura? Just used the bull selector and he was top of the list, looks good tbf
And also ranger red? Have a bit of a thing for red cows

Ranger red is top of my list at the moment, I plan on using him very heavily. Got a price about 2-3 months ago for sexed, £75 a dose. Il hold off a while yet

 

[kp_n_plghng]

Mixture of both. One of the negatives was a bulling heifer we couldn't get through with the ai rod

Nothing worse when there's a pricey straw on the end!

 

[som farmer]

That is the biggest comment I get when one of my guys goes on about Fleks. Which is somewhat missing the point if you ask me!

They do have a place. I know of a farmer who feeds them well, they milk well and they finish all their cattle. It makes a difference and just pulls the whole system together.

But to have a flek for cull value alone? You only sell her once, you milk her every day. Potentially having the wrong cow costing the farm thousands to get an extra couple hundred quid at the end seems madness to me.

and the reason we don't really go there, which is a pity, because they look like a sensible dual purpose cow, 1 of ours would touch 800kg, and well covered, peaked at 28.5 litres, plenty of hols 35+, that would be a lot lighter. That's a lot of food, going in, without the same return.
The cow efficiency weighting, has got to be a good idea, just keeping the most efficient cows, is a target we should all aim for, l expect many of us, are 'carrying' some cows.

 

[Jdunn55]

Ranger red is top of my list at the moment, I plan on using him very heavily. Got a price about 2-3 months ago for sexed, £75 a dose. Il hold off a while yet

I revoke my comment earlier about not worrying about the price of semen...