Burnside Herd Virtual Visit

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:20 pm

Yet another attempt at loading pics. All non chondro cows and calves. Calves all born April to May. Heights and weghts taken on Saturday 3rd October 2009 All calves by Shilton Pontius.

First cow is Saltaire Drill, polled, height 41.75inches weight 280kg Born 1999

Drill's 2009 bull calf Burnside Igel born 01.05.09 (polled)

Next is Burnside Candytuft, height 40.5 inches wt 250kg Born 2003

Candytuft's 2009 heifer calf Burnside Iris, born 21.04.09

This is Burnside Dill, a daughter of Saltaire Drill, polled. Height 39.5 inches, weight 250kg Born 2004

Dill's 2009 heifer calf Burnside Ivy born 10.05.09

Burnside Delphinium is a granddaughter of Saltaire Drill, height 39 inches, weight 240kg born 2004

Delphinium's 2009 bull calf born 28.05.09

Burnside Erica is a daughter of Candytuft by Burnside Challenger. She is 40.25 inches and 270kg. Born 2005
The white mark on the head is the healing scar from an argument with the bull in July.

Erica's bull calf is the heaviest of the crop at 140kg on 4th October.

I will be truly amazed if all this goes on ok.

Duncan

Minnie · Post by **Minnie** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:36 am

Hi Duncan,

Thank you for the tour of your stud... boy oh boy that last boy has a real bull head. :;): Stocky fellow that's for sure.
:D
Vicki

Saffy · Post by **Saffy** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 4:52 pm

Thank you Duncan, that was very enjoyable.

I would be interested to know when you advise to castrate for beef, or at least what you have found to be the best time. I notice that you have little prongs on the two bull calves still. We take the easy way out and call the vet in at around 5 or 6 weeks and get them de horned and castrated at the same time but I do wonder if it isn't better to leave them a bit older to castrate. So when I see your pics I wondered if you do both jobs together but maybe when they are older? OK don't castrate at all if they are to be kept as a bull - I do realise that and yours do look rather good, especially the one!!! I am talking for beef! :D

Stephanie

Duncan MacIntyre · Post by **Duncan MacIntyre** » Wed Oct 07, 2009 6:24 pm

Thanks Vicki and Stephanie for the comments.

My calves are born in spring and we usually have significant fly risk before they can be disbudded, so I usually leave them till some time during their first winter, or early next spring. I dehorn with a saw and plenty of local anaesthetic.

I castrate most at the end of the summer, but sometimes leave them much later if I think they may be wanted as bulls, but not afraid to cut them at or even over a year old if they do not make the grade.

This years bulls I don't want for breeding I castrated on Saturday, including the last one. But Burnside Igel, who is polled, is wanted by someone else as a bull and is still entire. Erica's calf would definitely have been my choice if I were keeping one of this year's crop myself, but I have both Pontius and Owram Electric Eric as mature bulls at the moment, and can't really cope with any more. Erica's calf from last year is Burnside Harbinger, and is still entire though he will have a close encounter of the sharp kind any day now. He has served two heifers this summer, but will go in the freezer next year. I still have my bulls and yearling heifers to show you, but don't have good up to date pictures to post. Maybe I will get some next week as I am supposed to be on holiday but may not be too far away. I will be at the AGM this weekend so will not get any then. I look forward to seeing some of you there, if I should recognise you and don't, kick me in the shin, and if we haven't met but exchange views here please make yourself known.

Duncan