Stock bull age.

[FarmerDanny1989]

What does everyone think is a cut off age for a stock bull? Like when is it time for the knacker yard?
what’s the oldest bull everyone has used?
Iv a 13 year old Hereford bull currently in with 35 cows but he doesn’t look his age and very sound on his legs and feet.

 

[M-J-G]

While they're fit I wouldn't bother too much, I sold a 10yo for breeding last year.
Our ages are currently
10, 10, 5 & 5.
The pair of 10yo bulls are going to be culled now as they are getting to a point there are very few females left for them.

 

[sticky]

22 was my eldest, he worked when he was 21 and then had a rest.
Had the vet put him down in the yard when it was his time.

 

[Blaithin]

As long as they pass their BSE and the cows keep coming back bred in timely manners, why cull.

 

[tinsheet]

Got rid of a favourite last year AA, he was 12 years old fit as a flea, had 1 tooth missing but was in top condition, felt there was only one way he was going to go. Sad Day, half my herd is his daughters or grand daughters,
May have done another year or two who knows.

 

[M-J-G]

As long as they pass their BSE and the cows keep coming back bred in timely manners, why cull.

It's catching on when they are just about to stop doing those things that's the difficult part as opposed to waiting until afterwards.

 

[Werzle]

What does everyone think is a cut off age for a stock bull? Like when is it time for the knacker yard?
what’s the oldest bull everyone has used?
Iv a 13 year old Hereford bull currently in with 35 cows but he doesn’t look his age and very sound on his legs and feet.

Keep the old boy until his legs go, his feet can be sorted for £50-100

 

[willie waver]

as long as he's still up for the job. age is just a number. same with the ladies, if they're popping out a calf and healthy, they get kept as long as possible

 

[FarmerDanny1989]

He actually came out the cull ring last year I took him home and he served 55 cows last year. I knew the guy who had him and was just coming back on his own so he has paid his way already.

 

[Agrivator]

He actually came out the cull ring last year I took him home and he served 55 cows last year. I knew the guy who had him and was just coming back on his own so he has paid his way already.

But a bull isn't worth keeping if you wouldn't want to use him on his close relatives. Controlled in-breeding is the most reliable way of producing females (and males) that are homozygous for desirable traits.

Or conversely, why wouldn't you want to in-breed.

But a major disadvantage of using an old bull is that if he finally fails to work, 30 or 40 cows end up being 2 or 3 months late, or even later if you can't find a suitable replacement in time.

 

[FarmerDanny1989]

But a bull isn't worth keeping if you wouldn't want to use him on his close relatives. Controlled in-breeding is the most reliable way of producing females (and males) that are homozygous for desirable traits.

Or conversely, why wouldn't you want to in-breed.

But a major disadvantage of using an old bull is that if he finally fails to work, 30 or 40 cows end up being 2 or 3 months late, or even later if you can't find a suitable replacement in time.

So you recommend in-breeding?
What’s the advantages and disadvantages? Iv never really understood this and have always kept away from in-bred pedigree bulls in the past.
I have 8-10 stock bulls here at peak so I’m not short of finding a replacement never tried a Hereford before so he’s a first for me. Always been a Lim man but coming away from them.

 

[Blaithin]

If it works and enhances desired qualities, it’s line breeding.

If you get a fugly mutant, it’s inbreeding.

 

[Ysgythan]

If he’s good enough he’s young enough

 

[Whitepeak]

But a bull isn't worth keeping if you wouldn't want to use him on his close relatives. Controlled in-breeding is the most reliable way of producing females (and males) that are homozygous for desirable traits.

Or conversely, why wouldn't you want to in-breed.

But a major disadvantage of using an old bull is that if he finally fails to work, 30 or 40 cows end up being 2 or 3 months late, or even later if you can't find a suitable replacement in time.

It's also the quickest way to find out want recessive genetic defects are in that bull/genetic line