What's the most one could justifiably pay for a herd bull if its sole use was servicing 40-50 cows a year in a commercial operation? I think I'm getting a little carried away w/ what I'm looking at.
Thanks
Thanks
I paid $3000 for one 5 years ago for a similar situation and have never regretted it. Still using him. I think average bull prices are less now than 5 years ago and you can probably get an exceptionable bull for less than 3k now.MF135":2526ljsx said:What's the most one could justifiably pay for a herd bull if its sole use was servicing 40-50 cows a year in a commercial operation? I think I'm getting a little carried away w/ what I'm looking at.
Thanks
novaman":1k17y9nf said:I think it would depend on your cow herd and your goals. If you have some pretty good cows with decent genetics and your goals don't involve pushing the genetics higher, you could get by for under $2500. If you want to advance genetics in the herd quicker, you are might have to pay a bit more. I guess the other dependent is how long the bull would stick around. Many times they have to grow wheels after just a couple years because his daughters are entering the herd. Personally I wouldn't spend over $3000 on a natural service bull.
Last one first, yes there. It allows a more deversived bull selection to balance whatyou're looking for.MF135":u43kazpb said:novaman":u43kazpb said:I think it would depend on your cow herd and your goals. If you have some pretty good cows with decent genetics and your goals don't involve pushing the genetics higher, you could get by for under $2500. If you want to advance genetics in the herd quicker, you are might have to pay a bit more. I guess the other dependent is how long the bull would stick around. Many times they have to grow wheels after just a couple years because his daughters are entering the herd. Personally I wouldn't spend over $3000 on a natural service bull.
The $3k limit is about what I thought too. I'm looking for a terminal sire as I already have a good base of young cows and I'm close to full capacity. Even If I decided to keep a few heifers, I;ve never had any problems breeding a bull back to his daughters. Are calving ease, BW, and WW the only EPD numbers you would consider when purchasing a terminal bull?
I have relatively zero experience in AI. Is there any benefit AI'ing in a commercial operation? Appreciate all your help!
If you think you are going to breed 40 to 50 cows with one bull you better strongly consider AI. At least if you do that you can keep replacements out of the AI sires. Plus if you AI then even with a 50% success rate on the AI the bull will still only have to breed 20 to 25 cowsMF135":jwc2d51k said:novaman":jwc2d51k said:I think it would depend on your cow herd and your goals. If you have some pretty good cows with decent genetics and your goals don't involve pushing the genetics higher, you could get by for under $2500. If you want to advance genetics in the herd quicker, you are might have to pay a bit more. I guess the other dependent is how long the bull would stick around. Many times they have to grow wheels after just a couple years because his daughters are entering the herd. Personally I wouldn't spend over $3000 on a natural service bull.
The $3k limit is about what I thought too. I'm looking for a terminal sire as I already have a good base of young cows and I'm close to full capacity. Even If I decided to keep a few heifers, I;ve never had any problems breeding a bull back to his daughters.
In one sentence you say you are looking for a TERMINAL sire. Then in the next sentence you say that not only would you keep replacemants from the TERMINAL sire but that you would breed them back to their own father. Doesn't sound like the best plan to me!!!!!!! Are calving ease, BW, and WW the only EPD numbers you would consider when purchasing a terminal bull? There's so many variables involved with an snswer to that question how can anyone know where to start.
The short answer is no they would not necessarily be the only variables.
I have relatively zero experience in AI. Is there any benefit AI'ing in a commercial operation? Appreciate all your help!
3waycross":bex84gmo said:In one sentence you say you are looking for a TERMINAL sire. Then in the next sentence you say that not only would you keep replacemants from the TERMINAL sire but that you would breed them back to their own father. Doesn't sound like the best plan to me!!!!!!!
If you think you are going to breed 40 to 50 cows with one bull you better strongly consider AI. At least if you do that you can keep replacements out of the AI sires. Plus if you AI then even with a 50% success rate on the AI the bull will still only have to breed 20 to 25 cows
MF135":2me2xl35 said:I just used the term 'terminal' to either mean a continental breed or a bull w/ high growth epds.(as opposed to maternal quality EPDs) Quality heifers could come from either. I had always heard breeding heifers backed to their sire increased the heterosis; one of the main reasons for line breeding/inbreeding. No? One mature bull should have no problem servicing 40 cows. My cows start calvin early feb and the last one drops mid april. I only have 200acres so I guess 'gettin to em' has never been an issue.
The standard term is that terminal means all calves go to the feedlot with none kept for breeding purposes.regolith":1m6bnk2t said:I thought the word 'terminal' had a standard meaning. As in: not going to breed from the progeny.
MF135":lw2pgjtu said:3waycross":lw2pgjtu said:In one sentence you say you are looking for a TERMINAL sire. Then in the next sentence you say that not only would you keep replacemants from the TERMINAL sire but that you would breed them back to their own father. Doesn't sound like the best plan to me!!!!!!!
If you think you are going to breed 40 to 50 cows with one bull you better strongly consider AI. At least if you do that you can keep replacements out of the AI sires. Plus if you AI then even with a 50% success rate on the AI the bull will still only have to breed 20 to 25 cows
I had always heard breeding heifers backed to their sire increased the heterosis; one of the main reasons for line breeding/inbreeding. No?
MF135":itk1fswi said:I had always heard breeding heifers backed to their sire increased the heterosis; one of the main reasons for line breeding/inbreeding. No?
chippie":114v0719 said:Also, using Wikipedia as a reference is not always a valid source. The reason is that anybody can revise or add to the subject. It isn't a trusted source. Our daughter's high school teachers will not allow the students to use Wikipedia as a reference for research papers.
Terminal is the end no offpsring will be used to reproduce. We've used a couple of anus bulls as terminal and some continental bulls as maternal (to produce replacements).MF135":18u8gnjj said:So in your opinion, the term "a terminal bull" is subjective to the operation he services? I thought the word was more specific to the bull itself w/ regards to his offspring's characteristics.