Worst holstein bulls that I,ve used

[Whitepeak]

Remember when I milked in Alberta the farm would never use a bull with a French sounding name. The reason was it was probably bred in a tie stall barn in Quebec, whereas the system they milked on was a fully slatted freestall shed. Tie stall cows aren't bred to walk about and push into a feed fence. Their reasoning may also have been due to the fact they were Dutch and didn't like the French, and Italians even less!

Where I milk now has some very frail heifers by Roble, not sure they are going to last.

 

[dairydurham]

Remember when I milked in Alberta the farm would never use a bull with a French sounding name. The reason was it was probably bred in a tie stall barn in Quebec, whereas the system they milked on was a fully slatted freestall shed. Tie stall cows aren't bred to walk about and push into a feed fence. Their reasoning may also have been due to the fact they were Dutch and didn't like the French, and Italians even less!

Where I milk now has some very frail heifers by Roble, not sure they are going to last.

Is that Alta Roble ?

 

[Jamer]

Must confess he’s the only bull I really remember the name of because I was young and stupider than now and I paid £150 for a single straw!

His son Outside was the best bull we used. We didn’t half spend on sires in those days, - we all benefit from genomics now whether we use them or not.

 

[In the pit]

Surely if the bulls make the catalogue after the rigorous testing they go through are they not the best of the best of the best

 

[Cowmansam]

Surely if the bulls make the catalogue after the rigorous testing they go through are they not the best of the best of the best

No because they only go to a small number of herds for bulls most of which are show cows not comercial I’ve a cow due to calve in the next week into her 11th held first service to sexed never been lame never had. Mastitis done 85 tons off milk so far but I still wouldn’t get a look in

 

[More to life]

No because they only go to a small number of herds for bulls most of which are show cows not comercial I’ve a cow due to calve in the next week into her 11th held first service to sexed never been lame never had. Mastitis done 85 tons off milk so far but I still wouldn’t get a look in

10 years ago maybe now they test thousands of bulls for genomics the best go to collection

 

[Cowmansam]

 

[Cowmansam]

Well I bet I know at least 30 people with very good cows and none of them have ever been asked

 

[Cowmansam]

It’s still more who you are than anything

 

[More to life]

It’s still more who you are than anything

very few cows are at the required standard in the Uk holstein population

 

[Cowmansam]

Can well believe that

 

[Spudley]

Bullsemen.com?

Yes, it was through bullsemen.com

 

[egbert]

No because they only go to a small number of herds for bulls most of which are show cows not comercial I’ve a cow due to calve in the next week into her 11th held first service to sexed never been lame never had. Mastitis done 85 tons off milk so far but I still wouldn’t get a look in

I'm curious fellas (and lasses?)
(and remember I know nought, oft deliberately buying tup lambs from local hill flocks who have zero management, or bulls from suckler herds simply because I trust the man keeping em*)

Cowmansam's cow at 85 tonnes must be up there to keep a bull from.
Pal of mine had an Ayrshire who'd given 100t+ I recall....same thing, I'd trust his real world experience.
Isn't it all about long lived cheap living cows who'll keep milking?

So why is the genetic job in the hands of smart whizzo companies.
Why don't small groups of you get together and keep the odd entire to collect - for UK only use it's not so dear is it?
You could share info on here, start a thread for it!

*I once travelled afar to buy a bull simply cos he was a pretty colour. Never looked back on that deal.

 

[In the pit]

No because they only go to a small number of herds for bulls most of which are show cows not comercial I’ve a cow due to calve in the next week into her 11th held first service to sexed never been lame never had. Mastitis done 85 tons off milk so far but I still wouldn’t get a look in

Might aswell throw all the fancy catalogues in the bin and breed from your best cows to get a good bull

 

[In the pit]

I worked for people over the years who’ve used Lic bulls which is very frowned upon on here , but when you look at there bulls where they’ve got 100s of daughters in 100s of herds, is that not better than the uks 1 daughter in 2 herds rubbish

 

[Cowmansam]

Might aswell throw all the fancy catalogues in the bin and breed from your best cows to get a good bull

Tried that kept a bull for 2 year bloody thing was gay

 

[Cowmansam]

Don’t like dairy bulls either had them before and not a fan rather a nice quiet Angus to mop up

 

[Cowmansam]

I'm curious fellas (and lasses?)
(and remember I know nought, oft deliberately buying tup lambs from local hill flocks who have zero management, or bulls from suckler herds simply because I trust the man keeping em*)

Cowmansam's cow at 85 tonnes must be up there to keep a bull from.
Pal of mine had an Ayrshire who'd given 100t+ I recall....same thing, I'd trust his real world experience.
Isn't it all about long lived cheap living cows who'll keep milking?

So why is the genetic job in the hands of smart whizzo companies.
Why don't small groups of you get together and keep the odd entire to collect - for UK only use it's not so dear is it?
You could share info on here, start a thread for it!

*I once travelled afar to buy a bull simply cos he was a pretty colour. Never looked back on that deal.

Problem with keeping a bull back is the wastage rate could end up with a ruck off dairy bulls that produce crap that you have to keep eating grass a productive milker could be having but yes I do agree with the idea the practice on the other hand isn’t suitable for our farm anyway I did keep a bull calf from a 14th lactation cow kept it for 2 years and he turned out a dud

 

[egbert]

Problem with keeping a bull back is the wastage rate could end up with a ruck off dairy bulls that produce crap that you have to keep eating grass a productive milker could be having but yes I do agree with the idea the practice on the other hand isn’t suitable for our farm anyway I did keep a bull calf from a 14th lactation cow kept it for 2 years and he turned out a dud

simple genetics innit?
Use something you collectively rate as an AI sire on your best cow.
Retain male entire, one of you feed him to 18 months, collect him, chop him.

do it spread over 3-4 options, and I can't believe you won't get a beaut.

 

[Cowmansam]

There is that
If I had the facility’s to keep a few dairy bulls I would I’m just not comfortable with having them in cubicles or old fashioned bull boxes