What bulls to sweep up?

[som farmer]

When you carry on serving, who's winning? Ai or the bull?

the farmer's the winner

getting them i/c is the important bit, anything to improve conception rate is good, just doubling up on chances.

we use 1 straw BB and 1 AA, each service, waste or not but our conception rate is good. Its a bit like silage additive, do we have better silage using it, or not so we keep using it, 'just in case'.

last year we ran about 70% BB 30% AA, this year, the other way round, does that mean the use of 2 bulls works ? But we will continue the policy this year, 'just in case'.

the BB used 2020-2021, Doris, or similar, was very easy calving, with well marked calves, he's no longer available, not sure the name of what's coming out now, but calves are not so good, and not uniformly marked.

 

[Henarar]

short gestation, high calf value and easy calving are the main aims.

British Blue then
Good temperament to in our experience, both bull and calves

 

[Werzle]

South Devon

Worthless in a market as a calf

 

[Werzle]

MRI ...... dutch dual purpose:

https://www.thecattlesite.com/breeds/dairy/111/meuse-rhine-issel

Worthless in a calf market

 

[Wesley]

This was sort of what I was thinking but only had bad experiences with Angus bulls with temperament but maybe they were just unlucky

I’ve always put it down to the Scottish temper. Grew up with Herefords & more recently its been Angus & Holstein & for some reason there’s something about the Angus that always has me on edge when near them.

 

[Farmer Keith]

Modern easy calving lim comes out like a deer and grows like a mushroom but i get what your saying

Not the experience I had this year, all back to AA this time.

 

[frederick]

Heat detection system and ditch the bulls.

For 270 cows we were running 7-9 Angus bulls. Now no bulls on farm which is much easier. Forget the purchase cost and they were costing 400 a year each in feed.

This goes a long way to the heat detection cost before you get better results and the ability to knock off at 5pm

 

[DairyNerd]

What easy calving Limousin Bulls do people use?

 

[Headless chicken]

British Blue then
Good temperament to in our experience, both bull and calves

How would they cope in cubicles? And can they be sourced small enough for heifers?

 

[Headless chicken]

I’ve always put it down to the Scottish temper. Grew up with Herefords & more recently its been Angus & Holstein & for some reason there’s something about the Angus that always has me on edge when near them.

Bought one, quiet as a lamb on the farm, cleared every gate we’ve got here and really didn’t like any of the other bulls. Sold him to a neighbour and he’s been fine there. Other experience was where I worked and they were fine but not as placid as the Hereford

Heat detection system and ditch the bulls.

For 270 cows we were running 7-9 Angus bulls. Now no bulls on farm which is much easier. Forget the purchase cost and they were costing 400 a year each in feed.

This goes a long way to the heat detection cost before you get better results and the ability to knock off at 5pm

Not in a position to spend £60k on heat detection and handling alterations currently to make it all work. Take your point though. The other barrier is the heifers aren’t in a suitable position for ai other than syncs so will need something to cover them

 

[Farmer Keith]

Bought one, quiet as a lamb on the farm, cleared every gate we’ve got here and really didn’t like any of the other bulls. Sold him to a neighbour and he’s been fine there. Other experience was where I worked and they were fine but not as placid as the Hereford

Not in a position to spend £60k on heat detection and handling alterations currently to make it all work. Take your point though. The other barrier is the heifers aren’t in a suitable position for ai other than syncs so will need something to cover them

Cow manager cost the same as 2 decent AA bulls here in 2021. I’ll add that heat detection systems don’t go lame and are not to fertility test. It was a no brainier, only PITA is replacing the ear tags.

 

[frederick]

Bought one, quiet as a lamb on the farm, cleared every gate we’ve got here and really didn’t like any of the other bulls. Sold him to a neighbour and he’s been fine there. Other experience was where I worked and they were fine but not as placid as the Hereford

Not in a position to spend £60k on heat detection and handling alterations currently to make it all work. Take your point though. The other barrier is the heifers aren’t in a suitable position for ai other than syncs so will need something to cover them

But 10 Angus will cost 20-30k

 

[Henarar]

Heat detection system and ditch the bulls.

For 270 cows we were running 7-9 Angus bulls. Now no bulls on farm which is much easier. Forget the purchase cost and they were costing 400 a year each in feed.

This goes a long way to the heat detection cost before you get better results and the ability to knock off at 5pm

why couldn't you knock off at 5pm when you had bulls ? wouldn't they work nights

 

[Beef farmer]

Heat detection system and ditch the bulls.

For 270 cows we were running 7-9 Angus bulls. Now no bulls on farm which is much easier. Forget the purchase cost and they were costing 400 a year each in feed.

This goes a long way to the heat detection cost before you get better results and the ability to knock off at 5pm

That's where we are too. Will ai right through with 2 herds that have tech, and look at adding tech to the 3rd mob. 12 bulls to cash in to go towards it. Always in the way, and lame.
Will get cows in calve tho

 

[frederick]

why couldn't you knock off at 5pm when you had bulls ? wouldn't they work nights

Because first 6 weeks I served to AI. So had to look for bullers

 

[frederick]

That's where we are too. Will ai right through with 2 herds that have tech, and look at adding tech to the 3rd mob. 12 bulls to cash in to go towards it. Always in the way, and lame.
Will get cows in calve tho

I think I gain more in first 6 weeks with ai and loose very little in the last 3.

 

[Beef farmer]

I think I gain more in first 6 weeks with ai and loose very little in the last 3.

Jury is out. Will be our 1st time going right through with ai.

 

[Headless chicken]

But 10 Angus will cost 20-30k

I was thinking more like 2/3 bulls needed….

 

[Farmer Keith]

Jury is out. Will be our 1st time going right through with ai.

Nothing to worry about it works a treat, the “do not serves” milk on better to as they’re not in calf when you’ve finished.

 

[frederick]

I was thinking more like 2/3 bulls needed….

That's up to you.

For 90 heifers that had been synced for ai I bought two new ones and popped the smallest of the old ones in.
For the cows 270 I liked 3 in 3 off for 2 days.

3 bulls covering heifers as well I would have thought you'll be lucky to still have one working at the end rest gone lame.