Breeding Advice

[ShotgunFreddy]

We have a pure Charolais heifer, about 15 months old, who got in heat for the first time yesterday. Our friends have told us to look for a small bull to throw on her so she won't have problems giving birth. What do y'all think we should do? I wanted to find Charolais bull for her but now it doesn't seem like the best idea in the world. She was about 80lbs when she was born.

 

[Son of Butch]

In heat Sunday July 1st her next heat should be on Sunday July 22nd.
Any chance you could get an A.I. technician to breed her then?

 

[MtnCows93]

unless that heifer is unusually small any bull you choose should be fine

 

[5S Cattle]

Chars usually cycle that late? I have 5 month old braford heifers bulling on each other right now

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Can you post a picture? Do you know how much she weighs?
She is quite older for having her first heat. Generally heats are based on weight. She may be small for her age/breed.
I have Simmental, which is generally earlier maturing than Charolais, but they are also Continentals. Probably 95% of my heifers have a 17 to 19 day cycle (usually 18 days on the nose).
AI would be a good choice for you, if you are able to observe her. You can paint her tail head (paint or crayon) or use stick on heat detectors to help you. But, if that will be your choice, you need to line up someone to breed her & find out what they have available to use to breed to her.

 

[True Grit Farms]

unless that heifer is unusually small any bull you choose should be fine

Wrong answer, that's why there's EPD's in each breed.

 

[Son of Butch]

Chars usually cycle that late?

NO, and there is a big difference between 1st heat and 1st Observed heat.
Just because a person is not paying attention or is unskilled in detecting heat does not mean she would not already be
3 months pg if she had been penned with a bull.

 

[MtnCows93]

unless that heifer is unusually small any bull you choose should be fine

Wrong answer, that's why there's EPD's in each breed.

your right i should have said any breed of GOOD bull, i know theres plenty of big headed high birthweight cow killers out there

 

[Silver]

unless that heifer is unusually small any bull you choose should be fine

Wrong answer, that's why there's EPD's in each breed.

I've never even looked at an EPD :dunce:

 

[True Grit Farms]

unless that heifer is unusually small any bull you choose should be fine

Wrong answer, that's why there's EPD's in each breed.

I've never even looked at an EPD :dunce:

You guy's definitely do it different than us in the south. I was gone for 5 days a few weeks ago and found 2 dead calves when i got home. I just got home yesterday and found 3 new borns. I need bulls with good calving EPD's.
I just put the EPD calving thing out there because there's folks that read things and think it's gospel.

 

[Silver]

Wrong answer, that's why there's EPD's in each breed.

I've never even looked at an EPD :dunce:

You guy's definitely do it different than us in the south. I was gone for 5 days a few weeks ago and found 2 dead calves when i got home. I just got home yesterday and found 3 new borns. I need bulls with good calving EPD's.
I just put the EPD calving thing out there because there's folks that read things and think it's gospel.

Oh there's lots of folks up here that live and die by the EPD, lots of folks AI so it becomes rather necessary in that case I think. It's a fine tool I'm sure, if it works for folks to use it then how could it be wrong?

 

[True Grit Farms]

I've never even looked at an EPD :dunce:

You guy's definitely do it different than us in the south. I was gone for 5 days a few weeks ago and found 2 dead calves when i got home. I just got home yesterday and found 3 new borns. I need bulls with good calving EPD's.
I just put the EPD calving thing out there because there's folks that read things and think it's gospel.

Oh there's lots of folks up here that live and die by the EPD, lots of folks AI so it becomes rather necessary in that case I think. It's a fine tool I'm sure, if it works for folks to use it then how could it be wrong?

When you add people and money, you add problems.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Too many people rely too heavily on EPD's. They forget - they are a TOOL - not gospel.

 

[TCRanch]

My heifers are pelvic measured and bred to a low birthweight calving ease bull. But that's no guarantee! Also depends on their nutrition, lineage, age, weight, time of year, whether it's a bull calf, etc. And there's always one that throws a whopper; some of 'em just grow big calves. That said, the majority of my heifers calve just fine and why would I risk such an investment without thoroughly researching the bull?

To the OP: a small bull doesn't mean calving ease. And while I've never AI'd, if you only have the one heifer I agree that would most likely be your best option.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

We are talking to ourselves. OP has not come back - or has not responded.

 

[True Grit Farms]

We are talking to ourselves. OP has not come back - or has not responded.

Been doing that for years.

 

[elkwc]

unless that heifer is unusually small any bull you choose should be fine

Wrong answer, that's why there's EPD's in each breed.

I've never even looked at an EPD :dunce:

Same here. I use actuals and only keep the papers with the inflated numbers if I feel mother nature might call and I'll need to stop by the road on the way home.

 

[elkwc]

Wrong answer, that's why there's EPD's in each breed.

I've never even looked at an EPD :dunce:

You guy's definitely do it different than us in the south. I was gone for 5 days a few weeks ago and found 2 dead calves when i got home. I just got home yesterday and found 3 new borns. I need bulls with good calving EPD's.
I just put the EPD calving thing out there because there's folks that read things and think it's gospel.

TG I agree that the BW and CE of a potential sire needs to be considered. I have seen a few wrecks when following the numbers. I have had less when using actual BW and the way a bull is built and how his calves are built when born. We used a bull that even the breeder said wasn't a heifer bull for 4 years and never pulled a calf sired by him. I still feel if a person has the experience the using actual weights along with visual of the bull and considering the type of calves his sire sires works well. For those with less experience then numbers are better than using nothing.