Bull testing

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Were your neighbours just using the one bull TC? I guess people get complacent but even if you didn't test in situations like that it is not that hard to write down cow numbers and dates of when the bull is wining and dining a lady and then check again in 3 weeks to make sure there is no more romance.

Ken
Yes. They have a pretty small herd. He breeds the cows so they'll start calving in January, then moves his bull to the heifers.

I check at least once a day after I turn out the bulls and note which cows they're either breeding or glued to their side (not in standing heat yet). Dates and which bull bred which cow is entered in my spreadsheet and, using the gestation calculator, potential due date. The exception is when it's a 2-fer and I'm not sure which bull actually bred the cow until she calves. I can tell right away as soon as I see the calf.
 
Dick was only 5 and I loved that bull. But another reason he was the last one we purchased from that breeder.
Breeder always gets the blame. I have people come to me all the time all torqued off about a bull that doesn't work they bought from someone else. In almost all cases I've personally heard about, it's just the way it goes. Best a breeder can do is try to make it right. At 5 years old, I certainly wouldn't punish the breeder. But, I see it also says "another reason" we don't buy there anymore. I also realize there are good reasons not to buy from a breeder.
 
I don't test every year. Lack of vets in the area is one reason. I do keep very good records on what the bull is doing. Its easy to jot down in the memo section on my phone who he is sniffing around on and when. The steer calves ganging up around a cow in heat is another indicator.
 
I've got a bull who in the 4 years I've used him on nearly 100 cows I've NEVER seen him mount or even sniff around a cow.

So if I was just watching and taking notes I would have shipped him long ago. But he got a group of 25 synced cows in 1 cycle last time out. He's apparently shy and likes the cover of darkness.
 
We had a bull that I never saw him showing much interest and NEVER saw him breed a cow... but he was our go-to when we had some problem or other and he would get them bred in 1 cycle.... kept him until the arthritis in his hind leg made getting up and down nearly impossible and we knew he would not make another winter... He was 12 or 13... sweetest dispositioned bull, would load in the trailer out in the middle of the field with a bucket and saying, "come on Bubba, time to take a ride".... cried when we had to ship him.... almost put him in a hole but the lost income from cull price and the cost to dig a hole just made it not practical to bury him... He settled every cow we gave him up to the last ones 6 months before we finally shipped him.
 
I don't test every year. Lack of vets in the area is one reason. I do keep very good records on what the bull is doing. Its easy to jot down in the memo section on my phone who he is sniffing around on and when. The steer calves ganging up around a cow in heat is another indicator.
Some of these bulls we may not see until snow flies once we turn out on July 3.
 
I've got a bull who in the 4 years I've used him on nearly 100 cows I've NEVER seen him mount or even sniff around a cow.

So if I was just watching and taking notes I would have shipped him long ago. But he got a group of 25 synced cows in 1 cycle last time out. He's apparently shy and likes the cover of darkness.
You should name him Osmosis..
 
I should know this but are your cows pretty much in 1 area? Im sure its a hige area if so.
Yearlings are all in fenced pasture. First calf heifers are in a fenced range area of about 2500 acres. Another bunch of 110 to 150 depending on year are in a fenced range area of about 4000 acres. The mature cows are in an area of about 23000 acres that is wide open to the east and north but for natural boundaries. 60% of this country is forested or recent cut blocks, likely 20% of what's left is muskeg you can bog down a saddle blanket on.. All adjoining to answer your question.
 
I wasnt being nosey just wondered how you kept certain bulls with certain cows. Im guessing you want different type bulls with the heifers than those with mature cows.
Light bw bulls with some performance on heifers, a little bigger bulls on first calvers, after that, they can handle most anything.
 
I didn't mean to imply it was the breeders fault. It happens. The breeder went from selling private treaty to auction only and the only opportunity to actually walk through the bulls was just prior to the sale. One we bid on & subsequently bought seemed fine in the pens but loaded hot and never simmered down. He even tried to take out Mr TC, who narrowly escaped over the corner brace of the fence. It was a cumulation of events. We ended up switching to a local breeder until he retired, and he referred us to our current breeder, who we have used for the past 7 years. The personal connection and "good 'ol boy" ethics is priceless in my world.
 

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