Price to hire a bull

natmadaboutdexters · Post by **natmadaboutdexters** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:25 pm

I have been approached by a lady who would like to use our Dexter bull on her Dexter cows. Has anyone a rough price guide for this sort of thing? The bull is 11 years old and has produced some nice calves for us, but he is not of show standard. He does however have quite a good pedigree. Any ideas?

Natasha Lewis

Broomcroft · Post by **Broomcroft** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 8:09 pm

We used to charge £25 a cow (cows brought to us) a few years ago but don't do it any more.

Colin · Post by **Colin** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:42 pm

I hired in a bull 12 months ago at £25 per cow for 2 months. I also transported the bull at my cost.

Colin

Martin · Post by **Martin** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 9:15 am

I hired Moomin Apollo last year and the cost was £25 per cow, he run with my herd for three months.

Martin. Medway Valley Dexters.

natmadaboutdexters · Post by **natmadaboutdexters** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:04 pm

Thank you for replying, at least I have a good idea of what to quote now.

Natasha

redhill · Post by **redhill** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:26 pm

Dont forget about the fee for pre movement TB testing, Sue

helen salmon · Post by **helen salmon** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:23 pm

I am really go to show my ignorance here. Does there need to be a tb testing before all cows are moved?

AlisonKirk · Post by **AlisonKirk** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:45 pm

Helen

Pre-movement TB test for all cattle if you're in a one or two year testing interval. Cattle under this category can only be moved within 60 days of the test.

If you're classed as a hirer of bulls, they will need testing every 12 months. We hire out bulls very occasionally and only locally, but we came under this category. This came about when we had hired a bull to someone three miles over the border into Oxfordshire in 2005. The bull was present on that holding when a TB test was carried out....everything okay, however, Oxfordshire Animal Health notified our Animal Health Office we were hiring bulls, following which we were classed as bull hirers & put on 12 monthly testing for all breeding bulls.

Our charge was £25 per cow, plus cost pre-movement TB test.

Hope this helps.

Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters

helen salmon · Post by **helen salmon** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 7:52 pm

Thanks Alison. We are in a 4 year testing area. Would there be any problems with moving our two girls to visit the bull?

natmadaboutdexters · Post by **natmadaboutdexters** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:13 pm

We are in a four year testing area and the bull is only moving about 3 miles down the road within the same county. We didn't have to test him when he went off last year, so I assume the same applies this time. He was last tested in 2006/07 I think.
Natasha

AlisonKirk · Post by **AlisonKirk** » Thu Mar 20, 2008 5:24 pm

Helen / Natasha

Four yearly test interval - no problems. Check to see what testing intervals your animals are going into. If they're entering a four year testing interval...ok.

If entering a one or two year testing period, make sure the owners of cattle where they're going are not closed down, and bear in mind your cattle will have to be tested prior to moving back home. Remember that TB tests have to be at least 60 days apart.

Don't forget Blue Tongue zones.

Alison Kirk
Boram Dexters