Wintering two breeding bulls

farawaygrass

It's the first year here we have two bulls, probably the only year if no calving problems next year with new bull. Anyhow, one bull gas been taking away a while and is in a small field with cow and calf. Going to pull the other lad from the cows any day and wondering can they be put together? If so, any tips on how to introduce them to each other? They never mixed or seen each other yet

Kovu

I guess it depends on their tempers farawaygrass. The only bulls we overwinter are pb lims and they'd always be together in the field growing up.
Could you try them with a mains fence between them or two fields next to each other so they can see each other and work out who's boss between them?

Failing that, stand in the field waving a tablecloth- They won't be too bothered by the other fella then

whelan2

Kovu wrote: »

I guess it depends on their tempers farawaygrass. The only bulls we overwinter are pb lims and they'd always be together in the field growing up.
Could you try them with a mains fence between them or two fields next to each other so they can see each other and work out who's boss between them?

Failing that, stand in the field waving a tablecloth- They won't be too bothered by the other fella then

just depends on the luck of the draw, sometimes they are grand and other times they kill each other. We sent 2 aa bulls to Tully years ago, they where together from birth and in Tully , about a week before the test finished they fell out with each other big time. They had to be seperated. We tied one at the front of the trailer bringing them home and one at the back. One of them broke his halter and bet the crap out of the other lad in the trailer. We were stuck in traffic on the Naas road:rolleyes:. Trailer was being lifted off the ground with the fighting. When jeep was moving it was fine. Was very glad to get home.

Farrell

Have seen them put in the slatted shed, good heavy gates between & see how they get on

Miname

A neighbour sticks a horse in with his and she keeps them quiet. If they are put in without the horse they kill each other. I tried a donkey with mine but I had to separate them with a loader.

patsy_mccabe

:rolleyes:

White Clover

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

:rolleyes:

Never heard of that one before. Ye Clare boys have all the tricks !

Base price

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

:rolleyes:

+1
We also use vinegar or Jeyes Fluid if we have to mix a batch of feeding bulls. Used to use Vicks (smeared on the muzzlel) when travelling a stallion to a show or on the lorry with mares.
I would be very cautious about mixing working bulls together. Lost a very expensive PBR bull years ago when a older mature bull broke into the field. Younger bull was diagnosed with meningitis the following morning and had to be euthanised.

raypallas

Our two limo's are together at the moment after being taken away from the cows. They hardly looked at each other when they were mixed but they are quiet

Limestone Cowboy

raypallas wrote: »

Our two limo's are together at the moment after being taken away from the cows. They hardly looked at each other when they were mixed but they are quiet

I regularly pass a field in winter with 5 or 6 mature continental breeding Bulls being fed together aswell. Often wondered how they introduced them without a fight breaking out.

IH784man

With a few breeding Rams about getting them sorted before tipping we put them in a tight pen for an hour or two till they calm down,it usually works

howdee

Introduce them to each other with the cows for a few days and pull them after that.

caseman

howdee wrote: »

Introduce them to each other with the cows for a few days and pull them after that.

+1 to this let them run together with the cows for a few days then pull them out

Miname

caseman wrote: »

+1 to this let them run together with the cows for a few days then pull them out

I tried that too and needed the loader again. I'd say it's a case of what might suit one case mightn't suit another. I might try the vinegar one of the days.

farawaygrass

What's the story with the vinegar? On their nose is it? Thanks for all suggestions, afraid to chance some of them though. I'm sure they good go through the electric fence like it wasn't there if they wanted to get at the other had. If I put the two with cues first would it not make them competitive to be the dominant one?
The young bull is quiet but tge older one can seem a bit cross at times.

farawaygrass

Kovu wrote: »

I guess it depends on their tempers farawaygrass. The only bulls we overwinter are pb lims and they'd always be together in the field growing up.
Could you try them with a mains fence between them or two fields next to each other so they can see each other and work out who's boss between them?

Failing that, stand in the field waving a tablecloth- They won't be too bothered by the other fella then

I'll leave that to the pros!

Deepsouthwest

farawaygrass wrote: »

What's the story with the vinegar? On their nose is it? Thanks for all suggestions, afraid to chance some of them though. I'm sure they good go through the electric fence like it wasn't there if they wanted to get at the other had. If I put the two with cues first would it not make them competitive to be the dominant one?
The young bull is quiet but tge older one can seem a bit cross at times.

Young bull + old bull = no problems. It's when the two Bulls are the same age/size that u it gets trickier.

Milked out

Remember years ago we had two simmental bulls, one new 2 yr old the other there for 3 years. We were told if putting them together to put them into the smallest pen we had so that if they did go fighting they would have less room to hurt each other. Did that they belted each other for a bit but seemed to calm for a bit. Came out next morning and older lad was in pen next door all gates upright and intact, must have been lifted clean out of it. Put two young freisians in with an older one last year and was grand as the young fellas backed down straight away, by the time they were similar size they were well used to each other