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crossbred bull question
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<blockquote data-quote="simme" data-source="post: 1724888" data-attributes="member: 40418"><p>Having a bull year round for 5 cows is expensive on a per cow basis. And bulls tend to cause trouble if not busy breeding cows. Other options to owning a bull year round:</p><p></p><p>AI as was suggested. Heat detection is key. Even with timed AI, you will get only about 50-60% max most likely and still need to heat detect to get the rest. Heat detection gets harder with a smaller number of cows. More cows in heat means more riding and easier to detect. One cow in heat out of five may not get much riding long enough to be noticed.</p><p></p><p>Rent or buy a bull each year. Have a controlled calving season as best fits your area. Then a 60 day breeding season regardless of AI or natural breeding. Sell or return the bull after breeding to cut costs of year round upkeep of the bull and the things he tears up. Look for purchasing and selling options to minimize cost of bull ownership. If you buy and resale a salebarn bull each year, cost should be minimized, but there are some health and fertility risks. Might be able to find a bull that is being sold because the owner already has daughters and needs a new bull. Try to buy for a little over beef price and sell after one breeding season.</p><p></p><p>Buy part ownership in a bull with a neighbor who has a bigger herd. Requires a different breeding season for each herd. Work a deal that you only keep him for 60 days.</p><p></p><p>If those don't work for you, then a purchased year round bull may be your choice. Choice of a bull breed depends on your plans. If you will sell all the progeny (not keep any replacements), then select for the use. Carcass, marbling and growth for beef you will eat or sale. Pounds if they go to the sale barn. Charolais would be a good choice for pounds with some heterosis. Red Angus or black should be good for carcass traits and growth for freezer beef. Simmental would be a choice if you are doing both freezer and sale barn and would give some heterosis.</p><p></p><p>I don't know much about Highlands. I would think about the horns, especially if you keep replacements. Also, that hair might not be the best for summer in your area. Don't think I have ever seen a Char-highlands cross and not thinking too favorable for that.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="simme, post: 1724888, member: 40418"] Having a bull year round for 5 cows is expensive on a per cow basis. And bulls tend to cause trouble if not busy breeding cows. Other options to owning a bull year round: AI as was suggested. Heat detection is key. Even with timed AI, you will get only about 50-60% max most likely and still need to heat detect to get the rest. Heat detection gets harder with a smaller number of cows. More cows in heat means more riding and easier to detect. One cow in heat out of five may not get much riding long enough to be noticed. Rent or buy a bull each year. Have a controlled calving season as best fits your area. Then a 60 day breeding season regardless of AI or natural breeding. Sell or return the bull after breeding to cut costs of year round upkeep of the bull and the things he tears up. Look for purchasing and selling options to minimize cost of bull ownership. If you buy and resale a salebarn bull each year, cost should be minimized, but there are some health and fertility risks. Might be able to find a bull that is being sold because the owner already has daughters and needs a new bull. Try to buy for a little over beef price and sell after one breeding season. Buy part ownership in a bull with a neighbor who has a bigger herd. Requires a different breeding season for each herd. Work a deal that you only keep him for 60 days. If those don't work for you, then a purchased year round bull may be your choice. Choice of a bull breed depends on your plans. If you will sell all the progeny (not keep any replacements), then select for the use. Carcass, marbling and growth for beef you will eat or sale. Pounds if they go to the sale barn. Charolais would be a good choice for pounds with some heterosis. Red Angus or black should be good for carcass traits and growth for freezer beef. Simmental would be a choice if you are doing both freezer and sale barn and would give some heterosis. I don't know much about Highlands. I would think about the horns, especially if you keep replacements. Also, that hair might not be the best for summer in your area. Don't think I have ever seen a Char-highlands cross and not thinking too favorable for that. [/QUOTE]
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