pure bred belgian blue

The Belgium Blue Cattle Society, I suppose could be a starting point?

I like the sales pitch

Had a notion of buying a BB bull last year. Use a lot of BB AI. Buy found the price to be very prohibitive. I do realise that you need to be getting prices in the region of 4k to 6k EUR for a bull that you suffer the below hardships with, but I could not justify buying one for the 20 cows that I use BB on - buying a bull is entering the unknown on ease of calving and EUR 4k to 6k was too much to spend on a bull that I was unsure that my cows would be able to calve. So sticking to AI and bought a chaorlais for the other cows.

Best of uck with it. Biggest problem that I find with sections is getting the cow back in calf. Thankfully I have had none in recent years.

Juniorhurler wrote: »

I bought one with the idea of breeding bulls for my own commercial herd into the future. Not as straightforward as I thought.
1. They are prone to every skin disease going from ringworm to maggots and even the mange. My first calf got covered in ringworm and a mates bull got maggots last October, not even in warm weather.
2. They will never calve on their own. They will need a section every calf if you go that road, so they have a short life span (3 calves).
3. The other option is to flush the heifer and go embryo transfer. I tried this once. Spent almost €1000 (not counting the recipient heifers I bought) and got no eggs. never again.
4. The BB society fees are extortionate. I have a couple of pedigree limousin cows and the fees from the blues are about double.

Now that I have warned you of all the pitfalls I have come across, I have a 6 month old heifer for sale. If you are interested you can send me a private message.:D

Juniorhurler wrote: »

Thanks reilig. I am the most honest salesman in the country I'd say. At 4-6k they may be slightly overpriced I'd say. If I could average 3-4k per bull I'd be more than happy.

I imagine that you would need to be getting that price for to have anything out of it.

caseman wrote: »

thank junior although still intrested do they need to be straw bedded or can they work an slats is it costly to buy embroys

By the time you buy the embryo, the recipient heifer, put the recipient on a programme and get the embryo put in you need to allow about €1200-€1300. Also allow for the price of a caesarian as you will not calve these naturally. If you want the world of info go to the premier BB show and sale in Roscrea mart on the 5th of March. I tend to pick up great nuggets of info there off breeders who are in the main helpful, have cornered an odd judge and you will also see all the bloodlines on the catalogue.

If you want good embryos ring David Pearson in Ballacolla Co. Laois. He is selling them for 2-300 not put in. About €50-80 puts them in and you can expect a 60-70% pregnancy rate at 42-45 days. It is a costly business.

I don't know everything about it but have had limited experience of embryo work and went away from it but changed my mind over the last 2 days and have a heifer on a programme again to flush her. Fingers crossed for eggs this time.