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How long to keep a bull?

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Steve From Arka

10-20-2006 06:37:51

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For you true cattlemen. How long do you normally keep a bull? I have a charolais that I have had 5 or 6 years. He was probably 4 years old when I got him. Making good calfs and I don't think he has missed any cows. Well pleased, but I'm thinking he's at the age to be repaced.

I sure don't want to miss a calf crop. Should I have him tested and keep him if ok or trade due to age?

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Lloyd Llama

10-21-2006 17:18:45

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

I"d keep him about as long as it takes to get the cattle trucker to your place and haul him off. Darn near lost boss lady"s father to a bull..... They"re not worth the danger. AI rules!

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Elmer's Grassman

10-20-2006 17:37:51

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

Actually line breeding when done correctly is the best way to improve a herd. Constant changing of bulls or lack of good masculine bulls has ruined alot of America"s cattle herd. I would think if he"s that good you"ld want him to breed his daughters and maybe even there daughters. Good Luck.

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JOHN HARMON

10-20-2006 16:59:49

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

When I Dairy Farmed I kept a bull until he decided that he did not like me being around his area then i would wave bye-bye to him and get another one and start the routine over. None of them liked having me loose in thier area.

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Hard Knocks

10-20-2006 14:03:50

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

I always keep 2 bulls with my commercial herd
one a little older than the other and get a 3rd before I sell the older one.Good thing about bulls is usually the bigger they are the more they bring per pound.

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Steve From Arkansas

10-20-2006 15:11:25

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Hard Knocks, 10-20-2006 14:03:50

Do the bulls run together? I've never had two on the same farm, I thought they would fight. I guess enough cows keep them too busy to fight?

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Hard Knocks

10-20-2006 17:49:21

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 15:11:25

Rarely do they ever fight because of the difference in size.Actually ran 3 large Canadienne bulls together for several years of course they are a very docile breed anyway.Another benefit of running 2 or more bulls together is that they rarely get out of the field guess they don't want to leave the cows with the other one.

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Tom in TN

10-20-2006 10:31:14

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

Steve,

Maybe it's just a local thing with no real basis in fact, but around here, we rotate our bulls out every two years. The thought is that when they start breeding back onto their own progeny, genetic problems will develop in the herd.

I have a good friend that buys a young, fertility tested bull every two years. I then buy his old bull from him and keep him for two years. I then try to sell him to someone else. If I can't find a buyer, he goes to the auction.

One of my neighbors has an old hereford bull that he's had for about 10 years. The old bull still services his cows (about 20 head), but his cows are really small without good conformation. I don't know if that's from inbreeding or just poor original genetics, but he's a poster-child for why the rest of us rotate our bulls more frequently.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

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Steve From Arkansas

10-20-2006 15:08:15

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Tom in TN, 10-20-2006 10:31:14

I don't think inbreeding is ever a good thing. I actually have cattle at two different places and another bull. If I keep heifers, it's only from the cattle here at home and I move them to the other farm.

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Stinky Cheese

10-20-2006 13:45:57

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Tom in TN, 10-20-2006 10:31:14

My little brother (5th child) is short and not too bright. We always told him that mom and dad should have stopped at 4. That the good genes were all used up before he came along.

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Steve From Arkansas

10-20-2006 09:20:29

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

Thanks for all the replys. Sounds like it's time to get a young one to take his place. Just hate to get rid of a good gentle bull that never gets out. Hopefully his replace ment will have good manners to.

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kyhayman

10-20-2006 09:01:36

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

I buy them as yearlings, off of the Indiana performance test. Keep them a year backing up the old bull, sell the old one, turn then new one out for two or three seasons and then sell him. Usually they pick up enough weight that it only costs me the annual upkeep.

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R. John Johnson

10-20-2006 07:57:49

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

He's getting up there. How are his feet and legs? If these are getting poor he's done. A vet can do a semen test before turn out to see if he's still working. My suggestion would be to buy a yearling bull as a "junior partner" for next year (Assuming the old guy is still OK). Run both and get rid of the old guy next year. One can never have enough bull power.

John

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Brokenwrench

10-20-2006 07:19:08

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

Another thing to watch is if the bull starts to get cross.
Around here is mostly dairy country, alot of the bulls are kept in the cow yards, heifer yards, etc. There tends to be alot of human contact compared to one out on pasture. I guess we never kept a holstein bull long enough for it to get lazy, they always got mean first. Then they were gone.

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Brokenwrench

10-20-2006 07:21:46

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Brokenwrench, 10-20-2006 07:19:08

Sorry, I missed that you were referring to a charlois bull. I usually speak without thinking, I guess sometimes I type that way too.

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Nebraska Cowman

10-20-2006 06:55:35

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

Watch the bull. If they start staying off by themselves when they should be with the cows they have stopped working for a living. I know we had a wreck several years ago. About 50 cows in one pasture with one bull. Along about mid July when most of the cows should have been bred I noticed one or two cows in heat everytime I went to the pasture. OOPS

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Lou

10-20-2006 07:01:07

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Nebraska Cowman, 10-20-2006 06:55:35

Im starting to feel that way some days.

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Nebraska Cowman

10-20-2006 07:19:57

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Lou, 10-20-2006 07:01:07

I feel that way for days at a time.

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the tractor vet

10-20-2006 06:42:58

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to Steve From Arkansas, 10-20-2006 06:37:51

Now that one i am not sure on as Cows may come and cows may go but the BULL Around here goes on forever !!!!!

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Steve From Arkansas

10-20-2006 06:49:49

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Re: How long to keep a bull? in reply to the tractor vet, 10-20-2006 06:42:58

I think I know what your talking about.LOL

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