Daftest question.

[Carrog]

This may well be the daftest question many of you will have heard for a while.... but can a short legged bull usually cover non-short cows? Grateful for any answers!

[Saffy]

Unless you have the tallest long leg cows ever and the shortest short legged bull - you have absolutely NO worries!

An 18 month old, small type long leg I bred...sorry to be confusing...but not much bigger than a shortie...and only 18 months old is with a herd of Welsh Blacks at the moment having serviced his Dexter girlies. And he WILL manage JUST fine, I saw a small...or was it short ; ) video of him when he was turned in...boy did he look pleased!!!

[SteveM]

We have a short legged 5 year old bull, hasn't had any problems with our cattle, and been out on hire to a couple of small herds without any trouble

[Rob R]

Our short legged bull's first calf was to a Jersey - and it's a cracking (non-so) little calf.

[monica a waltho]

Our first bull was short and he served simmental cross holstein suckler cow no probs biggest problems with dexter bulls is stopping them this bull you knew cow was coming bulling 2/3 days before he served her as he would follow her round .Just watch him with heifer calves as dexter come into season young.

[Carrog]

Thanks very much! That's set my mind at rest - he's still a bit young really but despite being keen we hadn't seen any activity that looked likely to have been successful. I guess as he gets a bit older and more experienced that should improve?Thanks again!

[Rob R]

It's certainly harder work for a smaller bull and larger cows but it's certainly possible and likely that he'll get them in calf providing you're not expecting him to serve a lot of cows in a short space of time. I think any problems with libido are a completely separate issue to size, though, and would apply in a long legged bull the same.

[Carrog]

He is about 20 months and only has 8 cows to serve. I'm quite happy not to have too tight a calving window as it will be our first time too! Having been to a few sales now I would say only one of the eight is a particularly tall long legged dexter - so from the replies and advice here it sounds like everything could work out fine! I guess to people who've been doing it a while it's hard to imagine just what sort of daft things begginners don't know!

[Louisa Gidney]

The first short legged bull I used was less than a year old and successfully covered a big long leg female.

[monica a waltho]

At 20mths he should be keen and certainly capable

[monica a waltho]

some dont like to be watched

[davidw]

Things can go wrong though. One of my bulls got a little over enthusiastic with a lady 3 times his size and strained himself. He did recover despite the vet not holding out much hope for him. He didn't lose his enthusiasm either.

[car]

A short leg bull should be more than able to serve a none short cow. But with any animal, it is conformation that is the key. A bull with its hind legs too far underneath its body, is going to be prone to slipping while trying to serve. This can cause what is called broken penis it doesn't actually break the penis but causes a lot of pain. A bull with hind legs that are too straight, is predisposed to stifle and hock problems. Both of these conditions mean that the bull is reluctant to follow and serve his cows. Hope all goes well for you.

[Carrog]

Thank you all for your time in clearing this up for me!