bull calf getting the snip

tedandbetty

just wondering does anybody know what is the cost of getting a vet to give a bull calf the snip?
i have a small few sucklers, but as everybody knows catching them in heat can be tricky.
i was thinking of buying a dairy bull calf and getting the vet to give him the snip.
anybody else do this and do they find it a good idea?

Pat the lad

It's the best way of getting cows in heat. You might be better getting a strong lump of a fresian bull - I find these to be the horny-est - a lad thats starting get ideas about himself and getting a eye for the ladies:D. Just becareful to leave a week or two between giving him the chop & letting him out with the cows, as he might still be able to put them in calf.

Muckit

Unless you've fierce small cows or an animal of a weanling there's no way they could physcially get them in calf

pakalasa

Have a read of this;

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055847987

reilig

Pat the lad wrote: »

It's the best way of getting cows in heat. You might be better getting a strong lump of a fresian bull - I find these to be the horny-est - a lad thats starting get ideas about himself and getting a eye for the ladies:D. Just becareful to leave a week or two between giving him the chop & letting him out with the cows, as he might still be able to put them in calf.

I know a neighbour who got a freisan bull calf off a pedigree Chaorlais cow because he let him out too soon :eek:

5live

I did it two years ago and would not be without a vasectomised bull again. He tracks cows about 2 days before heat begins and in the bad weather 2 years ago he was the only thing that showed the cows in heat, they were that poor. You wont regret it. It cost E65 if i remember right

pakalasa

I got one done last March. He worked a treat. Allow 6 wks before putting to the cows. It's not just heat detection, but the very presence of a bull will help bring them into heat quicker. I'm keeping mine for next year too. That way I will get rid of him before he's too big and might turn nasty. The weight he will put on too will pay for his keep.

Get a chin-ball marker for him too. Remember that you will have to still keep a close eye on the cows to know the exact time of standing heat. Ai then ideally 12-14 hrs after standing heat. The bull will be trying to mount, and will have marked the cows, well before standing heat, so be carfull not to AI too early. I found this the biggest problem. I had a lot of repeats because of this, I think..:rolleyes:

tedandbetty

thanks Guys, i think i will give it a go, i will not need him until next year, but i think i will call to a local dairyman and see if i can pick up a dairy bull calf at a reasonable price. one extra with my own weanlings would be little work.
i will proberly even sell him off at the end of next year.