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Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 12:51 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
If a testicle has been left above the ring, it will produce absolutely the normal hormone levels for a bull. So behaviour wise he will behave like a bull which could cause you a lot of problems if he is running with cows or heifers.
Because the testicle has no scrotum to relax in, it will be warmer than a normal one, so may not be fertlile or may be reduced fertility, but you might be surprised and have a crop of calves off him.
I would suggest keeping him only with other steers in meantime, and unless you can cope with an extra bull till he is ready to kill ask your vet to castrate him next time you are having a vet on the premises.
Duncan
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 2:07 pm
by Saffy
Hopefully - he may just miss his Mum.
Our oldest steer will call to his Mum whenever he can see her from his field and I am confident he has been done properly because at just over 2 and almost ready for the freezer he still shows no bull like features and also the vet did him for us.
His Mum isn't very vocal, is now on her 2nd calf - since him and was VERY pleased to see the back of him when he was weaned - possibly as he was very clingy.
I hope yours turns out to be OK when the vet examines him.
Stephanie
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 5:26 pm
by Saffy
I was using my bull on a cow or so at a year old but he certainly thought himself quite capable a couple of months earlier!
Stephanie
Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 7:15 pm
by Broomcroft
We've just had the same Di, and we took the rig out and then got the vet to PD anything that might be in calf, but not till six weeks (I think) after firstly removing the rig. The rig hadn't impregnated anything as it happens and he was with a lot of hiefers for a long time. I'm not totally certain he is a rig, he just behalves like a bull and I have seen him "at it" as well.
Edited By Broomcroft on 1274292977
Posted: Mon May 24, 2010 11:32 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
Normal timing of service should aim at 365day calving interval - so normally served at56 to 90 days or so. At this stage a calf will normally be suckling, so that in itself is not a barrier to conception. There is however a decreasing conception rate after a while, which maybe is the trap your repeating cow has fallen into. If the calves are 9 months it seems odd she has only been served a couple of times, or have I read that wrong?
Duncan
Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 1:28 pm
by Duncan MacIntyre
If you are uncertain, as long as the steer is well, keep him away from the females and have your vet check when out next, or get another dexter breeder or farmer to have a look at it. The prostate is entirely internal, as are various other accessory genital glands in bulls, so you should not feel anything there except testicles, abscesses, lumps on end of cord due to post castration infection, possibly inguinal hernias, it might even just be a big pad of fat if he is in really good order. Don't worry to much if he is ok in himself.
Duncan