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Autumn 2011 calves - Castrate or not?

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  • 10-01-2012 6:26pm
    #1
    PatQfarmer
    Registered Users Posts: 597 ✭✭✭


    I have AA calves born from August to October 2011. All weaned.
    Am wondering whether it is best to castrate the bulls before letting them out this Spring?
    I intend selling the males at 10-12 months.
    What do ye think?
    Will there be more demand for them as bulls or as bullocks?
    Tagged:


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    #2
    epfff
    Registered Users Posts: 1,393 ✭✭✭epfff


    PatQfarmer wrote: »
    I have AA calves born from August to October 2011. All weaned.
    Am wondering whether it is best to castrate the bulls before letting them out this Spring?
    I intend selling the males at 10-12 months.
    What do ye think?
    Will there be more demand for them as bulls or as bullocks?
    Are you mad
    Much better thrive as bulls
    They need a good summer of grass and a little touch of cheep ration.
    Then they are perfect for into shed forthe big feed for spring kill
    If you are anywhere round I will deal with u in august/september


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    #3
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,633 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    Let the lads that buy them castrate them if they want to. As bulls there will be approx 10% more lwg.

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



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    #4
    bogman_bass
    Registered Users Posts: 5,057 ✭✭✭bogman_bass


    have you the facilities to deal with bulls? are you young enough and mobile enough to deal with them? have you heifers round the place? are your border fences up to scratch. Yes bulls thrive great but there are plenty of little things that the figures dont take account of


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    #5
    49801
    Registered Users Posts: 1,844 ✭✭✭49801


    bogman_bass wrote: »
    have you the facilities to deal with bulls? are you young enough and mobile enough to deal with them? have you heifers round the place? are your border fences up to scratch. Yes bulls thrive great but there are plenty of little things that the figures dont take account of

    true
    but personally i would do what is nessicary to accomodate them.
    autumn born bulls will do great at grass and will be cheep.
    • always with good grass
    • good fencing
    • remote to bulling females
    • small groups, 20ish or less is ideal. (30+ is too many IMO but doable, 40+ disaster)

    finishing them is another mater and should be left to the specalists imo. you'd want good access to cash for the feeding. they take an ocean of rations and not a great idea to have them on plain slats.


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    #6
    alderdeer
    Registered Users Posts: 109 ✭✭alderdeer


    PatQfarmer wrote: »
    I have AA calves born from August to October 2011. All weaned.
    Am wondering whether it is best to castrate the bulls before letting them out this Spring?
    I intend selling the males at 10-12 months.
    What do ye think?
    Will there be more demand for them as bulls or as bullocks?

    do ya mind me asking ya pat why you have them weaned already could they not have been left for another while, i have a few like ya myself this year and didnt think id wean them till may or so


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    #7
    JohnBoy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,343 ✭✭✭JohnBoy


    do the more traditional breeds respond as well to being left entire as the continentals?


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    #8
    PatQfarmer
    Registered Users Posts: 597 ✭✭✭PatQfarmer


    epfff wrote: »
    PatQfarmer wrote: »
    I have AA calves born from August to October 2011. All weaned.
    Am wondering whether it is best to castrate the bulls before letting them out this Spring?
    I intend selling the males at 10-12 months.
    What do ye think?
    Will there be more demand for them as bulls or as bullocks?
    Are you mad
    Much better thrive as bulls
    They need a good summer of grass and a little touch of cheep ration.
    Then they are perfect for into shed forthe big feed for spring kill
    If you are anywhere round I will deal with u in august/september

    Thanks! Near Clonmel, so you never know. Have hfrs also, but can run separately anyway.
    Will leave entire, as you are right that they will be ideal time-wise for finishing.


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    #9
    PatQfarmer
    Registered Users Posts: 597 ✭✭✭PatQfarmer


    bogman_bass wrote: »
    have you the facilities to deal with bulls? are you young enough and mobile enough to deal with them? have you heifers round the place? are your border fences up to scratch. Yes bulls thrive great but there are plenty of little things that the figures dont take account of

    I have heifers, but fencing is good...and I am mobile enough to deal with them:). Bulls it is so, thanks.


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    #10
    PatQfarmer
    Registered Users Posts: 597 ✭✭✭PatQfarmer


    alderdeer wrote: »
    do ya mind me asking ya pat why you have them weaned already could they not have been left for another while, i have a few like ya myself this year and didnt think id wean them till may or so

    Mine are bucket-reared, so weaned at 6-8 weeks depending on size and health etc. Best to be on meal and off milk-replacer as soon as they can, imo.
    If under a cow, they would still be sucking for all they were worth.:)


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