Clive,
thanks for bringing this topic up, it has given loads of useful information, as I too have been considering what to do re bulls. Certainly Saltaire Buzzard, at 10 years old, is still very keen and able at his job, but I do feel that a large herd is asking a lot of him. There was one day when 3 girls came in season within a few hours of each other, and the next morning I found him laying in the barn. I thought he was dead, but he was just sleeping soundly after all the activity!
Bull Age - When does he start losing his ability?
Oh Penny that gave me a good laugh!
Years ago we kept a small Suffolk flock for rams to serve the commercial ewes.
One ram had been around for years and looked a bit ropey but produced good lambs and I persuaded my Dad to let him stay another year.
All the rams had different coloured chalks on - his was red - and pretty soon more ewes had red on than anything else as usual, we kept about 450 ewes at that time.
Anyway towards the end of tupping he dissappeared and we could,t find him anywhere, we assumed he had died and gave up looking. then we got a call froma not very close neighbour, who has a hill farm and doesn't tup until MUCH later - er usually!!!
Next spring he had 19 lambs from 10 ewes and was pleased as punch.
Stephanie
Years ago we kept a small Suffolk flock for rams to serve the commercial ewes.
One ram had been around for years and looked a bit ropey but produced good lambs and I persuaded my Dad to let him stay another year.
All the rams had different coloured chalks on - his was red - and pretty soon more ewes had red on than anything else as usual, we kept about 450 ewes at that time.
Anyway towards the end of tupping he dissappeared and we could,t find him anywhere, we assumed he had died and gave up looking. then we got a call froma not very close neighbour, who has a hill farm and doesn't tup until MUCH later - er usually!!!
Next spring he had 19 lambs from 10 ewes and was pleased as punch.
Stephanie
Stephanie Powell
Duffryn Dexters 32824
Abergavenny
https://www.facebook.com/Duffryn-Dexter ... 609196773/
Duffryn Dexters 32824
Abergavenny
https://www.facebook.com/Duffryn-Dexter ... 609196773/
Not very relevant to older bulls Penny, but at six Lexy is still going strong! We bought in a cow that had been running with a young bull (2 1/2 yo) for four months before coming to Rosewood, but she's just calved 10 months later and it's obvious who the father is & he obviously didn't waste much time! :DPenny wrote:Clive,
thanks for bringing this topic up, it has given loads of useful information, as I too have been considering what to do re bulls. Certainly Saltaire Buzzard, at 10 years old, is still very keen and able at his job, but I do feel that a large herd is asking a lot of him. There was one day when 3 girls came in season within a few hours of each other, and the next morning I found him laying in the barn. I thought he was dead, but he was just sleeping soundly after all the activity!
Clive - that's what they said, especially the yellow ones... zzzzzzzzzz
I'm with Louisa, as long as a bull knows who's boss, they can be kept in line. I'm not afraid to inforce my dominance with a stick, if our senior bull even makes grumbling noises at me. He's in his 9th year and has never given us cause for concern, safety wise. As far as doing his job goes, he does the rounds of the paddock and at time covers a fair distance up and down steep hills, but he only has 20 cows to cover.
He seldom needs more than 1 cycle for each cow to get them in-calf and doesn't waste time re-mating each cow. He might mate them 2 or 3 times in a day, then he moves on. I think that older bulls are more efficient and waste less energy than young bulls. So I would happily buy an older bull if he had the right genetics. At least you know that if he is still sound after that many years, then he's got staying power and keeping healthy is what you need for long-lived animals.
I'm one of those breeders who prefers to keep a wider genetic base in my female herd, rather than narrow it too much by in-breeding. Especially as I've got no-where near the quality of animals to even start thinking about keeping my own bull. I need a few more generations yet.
He seldom needs more than 1 cycle for each cow to get them in-calf and doesn't waste time re-mating each cow. He might mate them 2 or 3 times in a day, then he moves on. I think that older bulls are more efficient and waste less energy than young bulls. So I would happily buy an older bull if he had the right genetics. At least you know that if he is still sound after that many years, then he's got staying power and keeping healthy is what you need for long-lived animals.
I'm one of those breeders who prefers to keep a wider genetic base in my female herd, rather than narrow it too much by in-breeding. Especially as I've got no-where near the quality of animals to even start thinking about keeping my own bull. I need a few more generations yet.
Inger
NZ
NZ
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oliver1921
- Posts: 142
- Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2005 3:36 pm
Our short bull is now 14 and is serving our 30 non-short breeding herd. He is still going strong - one of our heifers did not concieve this year but i am putting this down to her not him. he is producing good stocky calves which are calving easily and his temprament is as good as ever - comes for a cuddle when you go into the field.
I probably should include that he lives out with his wives and children all year round fed on grass and silage - he gets the occasional carrot as a reward but that is it - we have stopped hiring him out this year to prevent any travel problems for him.
While he is still going strong we will continue to use him - possible put him in a field with a few of the older cows to look after but i really don't think that age matters - its the health that matters and is the cows are concieving and producing such good stock we have no complaints.
I probably should include that he lives out with his wives and children all year round fed on grass and silage - he gets the occasional carrot as a reward but that is it - we have stopped hiring him out this year to prevent any travel problems for him.
While he is still going strong we will continue to use him - possible put him in a field with a few of the older cows to look after but i really don't think that age matters - its the health that matters and is the cows are concieving and producing such good stock we have no complaints.