regenwether
Well-known member
What do you think is a good bull to cow ratio?
What percent of your herd should be calved 30 days out, 60 days, 90 days??
What percent of your herd should be calved 30 days out, 60 days, 90 days??
bull to cow ratio/ % calved
- Thread starter regenwether
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Backbone Ranch
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It depends on the bull. Historically, we have had a 1:25 ratio, but some bulls can handle quite a bit more. Our 5 year old herd bull bred 15 of our cows in a time frame of 35 days. All but 3 cows that he bred calved in the first 21 days.
randiliana
Well-known member
Depends on the age of the bull. Yearlings we run with about 20 head. Anything older gets 25-40 head depending on the pasture size. Bulls are out with the cows for about 45-50 days. And we usually have 75-80% in the first 21 days.
I agree with the others. It depends on age and the bull himself. I had a 6 year old bull on 40 cows last year and 30 calved in 28 days. All 40 in 45 days.
Two years ago I turned a 13 month old Angus bull out on 30cows a month before the Mature Char bulls were to be turned out. The 13 month old sired 26 calves on that group in 30 days.
The reason I turned him out early was to gain experience because I usually experience the opposite where when they are young virgins it takes them 2-3 weeks to figure out what they are doing.
This year I actually had 95% in 60 days and we wound up with 100% in 90 days on a 1-30 ratio with bulls being 6yo, 2.5yo, 18months, and 16months. But the 6yo bull is with out a doubt the most prolific breeder I have ever seen. I would have no problem turning him out on 75 head and expecting them to be bred in 90days. Unfortunately he is not mine.
Two years ago I turned a 13 month old Angus bull out on 30cows a month before the Mature Char bulls were to be turned out. The 13 month old sired 26 calves on that group in 30 days.
The reason I turned him out early was to gain experience because I usually experience the opposite where when they are young virgins it takes them 2-3 weeks to figure out what they are doing.
This year I actually had 95% in 60 days and we wound up with 100% in 90 days on a 1-30 ratio with bulls being 6yo, 2.5yo, 18months, and 16months. But the 6yo bull is with out a doubt the most prolific breeder I have ever seen. I would have no problem turning him out on 75 head and expecting them to be bred in 90days. Unfortunately he is not mine.
regenwether
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Isomade just curious, you bulls purebred or crossbred??
Angus Cowman
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I ran 1/25 to 1/30 or actually 2/50-60 and ran them for 60 day ran a 98% breeding and usually calve about 90%+ of those in the first 40 days
was looking at some old calving books a few days ago
first calf born August 13th last calf born Oct 7th out of 154 calves all but 7 were born between Aug 13 and Sept 24th
3 were born on Oct.1st 1 on the 3rd 2 on the 5th and the last one on the 7th
these were 3 to 7 yr old cows
was looking at some old calving books a few days ago
first calf born August 13th last calf born Oct 7th out of 154 calves all but 7 were born between Aug 13 and Sept 24th
3 were born on Oct.1st 1 on the 3rd 2 on the 5th and the last one on the 7th
these were 3 to 7 yr old cows
Angus Cowman
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my bulls ranged from 18 months to 3 1/2 yr olds in age
I also calved 36 hfrs that yr and ran 2 bulls with them they all calved in 31 days
I also calved 36 hfrs that yr and ran 2 bulls with them they all calved in 31 days
