Bull

L1985

Hey guys. I think I know what the response is going to be to this but anyway. We have a 4star bull whose throwing great calves and we are looking at goin into the suckler scheme. He is a class bull in terms of performance fertility etc. Have around 20suckler cows.the bulls just gone three and we have had him18months. Problem is his temperament. He's never done anything but he is pawin the ground and shaking the head and it's at the point now when we are all a bit frightened of him.part of the problem is that the last couple of bulls we have had were really quiet. We had to bring the herd he was with into the yard today and it was a bit dangerous trying toget the animal we wanted out of the group as he was not happy!so we want to ideally keep him another year. But I was reading the thread about the bull with laminitis and I just don't think we could treat our bull if he was sick or anything-we wouldn't even have the handling facilities.dad agrees with me he's cross and to be wary but he wants to keep him.given the fact he hasn't actually done anything wrong am I being too nervous wanting to sell him?

orm0nd

factory asap

Grueller

L1985 wrote: »

Hey guys. I think I know what the response is going to be to this but anyway. We have a 4star bull whose throwing great calves and we are looking at goin into the suckler scheme. He is a class bull in terms of performance fertility etc. Have around 20suckler cows.the bulls just gone three and we have had him18months. Problem is his temperament. He's never done anything but he is pawin the ground and shaking the head and it's at the point now when we are all a bit frightened of him.part of the problem is that the last couple of bulls we have had were really quiet. We had to bring the herd he was with into the yard today and it was a bit dangerous trying toget the animal we wanted out of the group as he was not happy!so we want to ideally keep him another year. But I was reading the thread about the bull with laminitis and I just don't think we could treat our bull if he was sick or anything-we wouldn't even have the handling facilities.dad agrees with me he's cross and to be wary but he wants to keep him.given the fact he hasn't actually done anything wrong am I being too nervous wanting to sell him?

Do not sell him. Your conscience would need to be made from steel to take it if he harmed the next owner. Factory him as soon as possible. There are thousands of great bulls with a good temperament, buy one of those.

L1985

True about selling him-I wouldn't pass on the problem If we did we would let them know.prob be better money in the factory anyway as he's some size.see I'd be worried that I'm being a bit harsh.hes never made a run or anything he just paws the ground and shakes the head.and we have been out wintering the group he's with so that hasn't helped calm him down id say. He hasn't been around ppl enough and the herd he's with are v quiet. It's just our handling facilities (which I'm planning on fixing this year!!) are crap and I'd worry if he did turn we would have a problem containing him....and of course the other issue is persuading my father....

Count Mondego

L1985 wrote: »

I'd be worried that I'm being a bit harsh.....

You're dead right. Wait until he kills the auld lad some day, then that would justify sending him to the factory. Wouldn't be fair on him otherwise.

L1985

Count Mondego wrote: »

You're dead right. Wait until he kills the auld lad some day, then that would justify sending him to the factory. Wouldn't be fair on him otherwise.

Thanks for that lovely comment!!
I am concerned about his behaviour otherwise I wouldn't be talking about getting rid of him! I know that the behaviour I'm describing is typical for a lot of bulls an I am finding it difficult to know where the line should be drawn as the last few bulls we have had have been v quiet!there are thousands of quiet bulls out there but at the same time for this suckler scheme the four star rating is something we do need so it was something I was trying to keep in mind.but not at anyone's expense.my dad whose farmed for 60 years said he should be fine just don't get too close for him-again advice usually followed with most bulls.i disagree with dad and in thinking he needs to go but wanted others opinions!im only back on the farm a year after being away.

bogman_bass

Some people have been a bit blunt with their responses but the general advice is sound. Why wait until after he goes for you? It may be too late at that stage.....

tanko

Would you consider getting rid of the bull and using Ai?

Limestone Cowboy

L1985 wrote: »

Thanks for that lovely comment!!
I am concerned about his behaviour otherwise I wouldn't be talking about getting rid of him! I know that the behaviour I'm describing is typical for a lot of bulls an I am finding it difficult to know where the line should be drawn as the last few bulls we have had have been v quiet!there are thousands of quiet bulls out there but at the same time for this suckler scheme the four star rating is something we do need so it was something I was trying to keep in mind.but not at anyone's expense.my dad whose farmed for 60 years said he should be fine just don't get too close for him-again advice usually followed with most bulls.i disagree with dad and in thinking he needs to go but wanted others opinions!im only back on the farm a year after being away.

Plenty of bulls with stars out there so I wouldn't be using that as an excuse to keep him. I wouldn't keep him anyway.

Miname

IVe a bull that's doing a bit of pawing and growling here at the moment too. I don't trust him or any bull to be honest but it's the bold season for Bulls, August September always raises the temperature a bit in them. I'm not saying to keep him but I know I won't hang mine up yet. It's easy to just say hang him up if you here him growling but in fairness most Bulls at some point and time will raise the hair on the back of your neck.

L1985

Thanks for the comments that were constructive guys.as I said in my first post I'd a feeling that was going to be the consensus! I didn't realise how scared I was of him until today and then I got thinking that we really can't handle him. ill talk to dad and try persuade him.hopefully this lot is done and he can just go now. Re AI we have never done it and dad's against it(uphill battle with him a lot of the time) I need to look into it to see if we could do it as I'd prefer to but I work full time and I don't know if dad would be as vigilant as I'd like him to be.id be worried we would miss heats as the calving intervals v spread out.

Mad4simmental

Miname wrote: »

most Bulls at some point and time will raise the hair on the back of your neck.

+1, our lad will growl nearly every day when I go out to him for a minute or two almost to say hello or I'm here. But I know this and it's grand. But I'd trust no bull, it's almost good he dose this. Notting worse than getting to comfortable around a bull.

dohc turbo2

I'd be similar to u , have 24 suckers and a lm bull , no bother with him but wouldn't trust him , 2 heifers left to bull and his gone . Going to give a.i a go next year . Take no chance. The fact ur asking the question is enough to say ur worried

jimini0

Factory straight away. I had a run in today with neighbours bull. I was walking down a field to check a few cows. There is a fenced river separating us and neighbour. I knew their bull was in their land cos they have to bring the cows to him cos he is too wild to move. Anyways I seen him in the lying in their field I though. I walked past a couple of our cows and his head rose. I thought I was save cos he was across the river. So I walked a bit further that's when I realised he was in our field. The bastard started to run towards me. I had about 300 metres to safety with him 100 back. Its a good job I'm reasonable fit. I was only 10 or 15 metres ahead before I got over the wall.
Another neighbour seen me running and was shouting trying to distract the bull. The bull is now dead. They had to shoot it cos there was no way of getting him loaded safely into a trailer.
So please get your bull to the factory nobody needs to go trough what happened me or it could end up worse.

High bike

You got lots of good advise there if I were you I'd take it and factory him,plenty more Bulls out there

Future Farmer

A bull can be replaced, you and your father can't.

I do not think that bulls when sold should ever be advertised a quiet.

blue5000

jimini0 wrote: »

Factory straight away. I had a run in today with neighbours bull. I was walking down a field to check a few cows. There is a fenced river separating us and neighbour. I knew their bull was in their land cos they have to bring the cows to him cos he is too wild to move. Anyways I seen him in the lying in their field I though. I walked past a couple of our cows and his head rose. I thought I was save cos he was across the river. So I walked a bit further that's when I realised he was in our field. The bastard started to run towards me. I had about 300 metres to safety with him 100 back. Its a good job I'm reasonable fit. I was only 10 or 15 metres ahead before I got over the wall.
Another neighbour seen me running and was shouting trying to distract the bull. The bull is now dead. They had to shoot it cos there was no way of getting him loaded safely into a trailer.
So please get your bull to the factory nobody needs to go trough what happened me or it could end up worse.

I'd say you did the first 100m fairly fast?

patsy_mccabe

jimini0 wrote: »

.... They had to shoot it cos there was no way of getting him loaded safely into a trailer.
So please get your bull to the factory nobody needs to go trough what happened me or it could end up worse.

Did you have to shoot it? Could you not get him in with a bunch of cows and load him in a secure yard.
What did you they do with him when they shot him, call the knackers yard. Waste of good meat.:cool:

jimini0

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Did you have to shoot it? Could you not get him in with a bunch of cows and load him in a secure yard.
What did you they do with him when they shot him, call the knackers yard. Waste of good meat.:cool:

He was an old bull. He was too crazy. This fella could not be controlled the owner gave him one last chance and his luck ran out on Saturday. He used to hurt the calves in the field when the cows were in with him for service.

jimini0

blue5000 wrote: »

I'd say you did the first 100m fairly fast?

He had 2 drains to cross So that gave me an advantage. A bull running full pelt is actually a joy to watch. I now see the attraction of goin to Spain for their bull runs

L1985

Just to give an update: sat dad down and got him to see reason. Bluntly put it that we have no way of holding the bull and he could probably batter down the gate in our main yard as well! He's making us all too nervous.i havnt bought up about AI yet but we are getting all the cows scanned this week so I'll ask the AI guy then. God help us loading him though our regular guy is deff out!!!bucket of nuts will be used anyway!!

jimini0

L1985 wrote: »

Just to give an update: sat dad down and got him to see reason. Bluntly put it that we have no way of holding the bull and he could probably batter down the gate in our main yard as well! He's making us all too nervous.i havnt bought up about AI yet but we are getting all the cows scanned this week so I'll ask the AI guy then. God help us loading him though our regular guy is deff out!!!bucket of nuts will be used anyway!!

Good woman its the safest in the long run. Better be safe than sorry. I prefer Ai but it took some convincing to get the old man to agree. He always prefered the bull.

L1985

jimini0 wrote: »

Good man its the safest in the long run. Better be safe than sorry. I prefer Ai but it took some convincing to get the old man to agree. He always prefered the bull.

Lol I'm a woman but thanks anyway.yeah AI would seem to make more sense il see how we go with it!!thanks for all the helpful comments

jimini0

L1985 wrote: »

Lol I'm a woman but thanks anyway.yeah AI would seem to make more sense il see how we go with it!!thanks for all the helpful comments

Oops my bad. I think user names should come in pink or blue to stop confusion.

KatyMac

Glad you're getting rid. It's no way - to be afraid to walk in a field.

L1985

Yeah that's exactly it and he's with all the young calves so we aren't checking them as well as we should be.he was blood tested yesterday anyway so his papers are on the way!! Hardest thing was getting dad to see reason(he's a harder head then the bull)
And don't worry about the guy thing:) there does Seem to be a fair few girls lurking around the farming forum thou it's great!

Sami23

Lads I know this question was probably asked before but how many Suckler Cows do ye think you would need to have to justify having a stock bull.
The reason I ask is that I struggle every year to catch them bulling for AI as I work full time. Now a neighbour does give a look at them in the mornings alright when he's passing by and I check every evening.

Also, never had a bull so wondering do most people out-winter them or have them on the slats with the cows for the winter.

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.

blue5000

If you are working off farm I reckon if you had 15 cows it would be worth it. Lads using all ai don't put any value on their time watching cows.

IH784man

Well I hope you've made the right decision,

A 60 year old man in Donegal was killed today by a bull at 2:30 and another man injured.

Rip

L1985

Jesus the poor man and the poor family.makes you think-wasn't us thank god. Our bulls going next sat. Things like this make you re-evaluate even if he wasn't already set to go!

patsy_mccabe

I wonder with that bull today, was he showing signs of aggression before this.
RIP to the poor man. Could happen to anyone.

Panch18

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

I wonder with that bull today, was he showing signs of aggression before this.
RIP to the poor man. Could happen to anyone.

A neighbour of mine was attached 2 weeks ago completely out of the blue, no signs of anything beforehand. Managed to scramble underneath an electric fence with the help of the dog. Plenty of bones broken though

RIP to this poor man and hope his brother has a speedy recovery