Re: bull question

Posted by Hal/WA on February 22, 2007 at 16:52:35 from (66.45.175.118):

In Reply to: bull question posted by Chris in WI on February 21, 2007 at 11:10:25:

I think it depends on the bull, and if you need the count to be optimum.

When I was a teenager, we got a new Hereford bull. He was a good looking bull, but only about 8 months old when we got him. He went to work right away and various cows got bred.

When he was not quite a year old, I found that our largest Holstein milk cow was in heat, and the young bull was not having much success in trying to breed her. He tried over and over, but was too short and ended up falling over backward after he had mounted. The cow was very tame and used to being handled, so I put a halter on her and led her to the creek. The cow and I stood in the water and the bull stood on the creek bank and managed to complete what he was trying to do.

All of the calves we got from that bull were really good. I cannot say if he was 100% successful in getting all of the cows pregnant on the first try, but the Holstein did. My Dad was a little concerned about a few heifers that were bred earlier than they should have, but they carried their calves to term and did not seem to be damaged. Of course the bull grew a whole lot and the next year he didn't need any outside help. We kept him for 3 years and then sold him to a neighbor to continue to be used as a breeding bull. We got other Hereford bulls, but never got another one that was that young.

I would be hesitant to put a new, young bull out in a herd where there was an older and larger bull already there. They younger bull would probably come out second best in their contest which would almost certainly happen.

It also might depend on the breed. My experience with the young Hereford might be different than it would have been with another bull.

Could a young bull be injured by trying to breed when he was too young and small? I was concerned that my Hereford might injure himself when he fell off the Holstein, especially if he had made full contact, and fell sideways. But it obviously did not happen. He was fine, just a little frustrated!

I think if I had a young bull and also had cows that needed to be bred, I would go ahead and let him take a stab at it, so to speak. Good luck!

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