Bull

L1985

Hi all. Hoping for some answers here. We have a 2.5 year old CH polled bull who is fantastic. He is bringing great calves but the cows are calving them easily so we are delighted with him. The thing is for various reasons we rarely have a bull last longer then 4years
So I was as thinking 1) we breed his replacement....won't be keeping his sisters as cows I don't think so should be fine. Would it have to be off a pure bred CH cow thou? Because that would be extra expense as we don't have one.
2) storing his semen in some way for a while and AI'ing certain cows. I have no idea how this is done and if the costs involved would be worth it.....
Or am I over complicating things and just try to get another CH easy calved when he goes.....?
Any thoughts here as I don't know anything about this and dads saying is worth it.....

Lady Haywire

No problem at all keeping one of his sons. You can bull cows with anything that has a working rod! :D
Just if you're in the BDGP scheme, make sure you keep a calf from a cow with decent stars,, preferably an older one or one that's genomic tested as it's more reliable in order to meet the 4/5 star criteria.
I'd try and go for one of your better cows that has no hassle, good legs/feet, milk etc. You know yourself!

49801

Suitable for AI company then consider breeding.

Do DNA test for ratings etc

patsy_mccabe

I don't think collecting his semen is a viable option. Better off to just buy proven semen straws.

As for breeding his replacement, just be aware a bull off him from a non-polled cow will produce a bull that is only half polled. Even though this bull may not have horns, only half his offspring will be polled.
This explains it;
https://www.fedalsimmental.dk/polledness/

L1985

This is the thing-we have always had pure bred bulls but do they have to be? Dads v fussy on his bulls and will pay for them. No pure bred cows. We have a CH cow but I'm not mad on her as personality wise she's the primal Dona and don't want a calf off her to be the same. Re the BDGP scheme-long story but we aren't in it. How much does a DNA test cost?
I understand re the polled issue but that wouldn't be a huge issues. Good if they are but not the end of the world if they aren't.

Who2

There’s plenty of proven bulls out there and easy calving, your over complicating things.

L1985

Who2 wrote: »

There’s plenty of proven bulls out there and easy calving, your over complicating things.

I was wondering that tbf-but out of roughly 50 calvings we have had to use the jack once.....and they are v good calves with good growth. For our set up I need a bull like that and any new bull is a gamble so that's what I'm wondering.

TITANIUM.

L1985 wrote: »

I was wondering that tbf-but out of roughly 50 calvings we have had to use the jack once.....and they are v good calves with good growth. For our set up I need a bull like that and any new bull is a gamble so that's what I'm wondering.

Have any pics of this bull and progeny?

L1985

Here is some. Suck Calf is 1day old heifer 8 months and bullock 14 months. Heifer gets a bucket of nuts between 14 of them and bullock didn't even get that. Would be interested in ppls thoughts as first time on a ch bull. I'm hoping none of the tags are too identifiable!!! Hard to remember which pic I'm clicking!!

patsy_mccabe

That bull has horns.

L1985

Yeah....apparently some polled have small horns? I don't know-they only came in in the last 6 months or so and v few of his calves have them or if they do they are butts like his. So maybe he isn't a fully polled but close enough for my liking.

Genghis Cant

L1985 wrote: »

Yeah....apparently some polled have small horns? I don't know-they only came in in the last 6 months or so and v few of his calves have them or if they do they are butts like his. So maybe he isn't a fully polled but close enough for my liking.

Chat the breeder of the bull. He may well have the same bloodline or will have it in future.

grassroot1

They are most likely scurs not quite horns and wont develop further. A bull with scurs is always PP so all this progeny will be polled.

L1985

Genghis Cant wrote: »

Chat the breeder of the bull. He may well have the same bloodline or will have it in future.

I have thought of that-he wasn't the most organised at the time and also said something about issues with the dept....so we will see if he is still breeding when we need him. He would be my first port of call anyway. Was just thinking over options today that's all

greysides

L1985 wrote: »

.....we rarely have a bull last longer then 4years

Keep his feet trimmed and as keep the weight off him as much as possible.... maybe you'd get a couple of extra years out of him.

L1985

greysides wrote: »

Keep his feet trimmed and as keep the weight off him as much as possible.... maybe you'd get a couple of extra years out of him.

Good point. The weight I'm working on as dad used to give the bull buts I've cut that out for the moment. I'll keep an eye to his feet-we have never had a hoof parer here either so that might be part of the issue when they get older. Main prob we had is they get too heavy.

Markcheese

Would there be any point in contacting the breed association? They'd know the bloodline of your bull, may be able to advise on similar line with similar traits
.. Or are they not allowed give recommendations?

Muckit

What breed are those cows? Are they angus or black lm? Perhaps some of calves are polled from the mothers side. Anyways it's not something l would get too caught up in either.

Its hard to judge from photos, but If l was being critical about the bull, even though he has nice features, l would count him short. And you can see the same in his progeny. Nice stock but butty.

Do ye finish all yer own or sell weanlings? Those black nosed charolais dont always sell the best as weanlings but can make great cattle.