Getting a bull

[f4leggin]

Last year I leased a bull - which has worked out fine - my cows have started calving - even though I never saw the young bull do the deed..
But, for this year, I'm wondering what to do - if should just lease another one, or buy one. Since I am keeping most of my heifer calves, it seems the bull would only be good for 2 years. The cattle are beef cattle. I would prefer to buy a bull. For those of you with small herds, that keep your heifer calves - do you also change out bulls every 2 years? Do you trade with someone else, or sell and buy a new one - or can I keep a bull around long enough to breed his daughters?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Jill

 

[CPL]

If your resources are limited, then there should eventually come a time when you cannot keep any more replacements females without selling off some of the cow herd.

I think you would be best advised to get a group of cows that you can support year after year, and send their calves to the sale barn. For this you would need a terminal sire and since you wouldn't be keeping his daughter, you could use him year after year.

No matter what you decide to do, get a good bull. Look at pictures of some on here and get a good idea of what your ideal bull should look like. No, he doesn't have to be perfect, but the better he is, the better his calf crop is and the better his calf crop is the more money they'll bring.

Good Luck!

 

[bigbull338]

since your trying to build your herd up id keep leasing a bull.that way you breed the heifers to the new bull.an none of the calves are related.but if you have the room an money you could buy your bull.then when his 1st heifers get ready to breed buy a 2nd bull.

 

[msscamp]

We've kept bulls for 6 years or longer, and never leased one. How long you keep a bull basically comes down to whether you have the facilities to sort off the related heifers and put them with another bull or possibly AI them. Whether to lease, buy, or AI is going to depend on how large your herd is, and what your capabilities/time/budget/goals allow.

 

[greenwillowhereford II]

I typically buy a bull and use him for two years. I don't think I've ever lost money on the purchase price of the bull. In fact, I've actually made money on one that I sold after one season because some folks wanted him. I usually have a verbal agreement with the buyers that so long as they own him, I can use him for breeding purposes again. I normally have the same agreement with customers of bulls I raise as well.

If you really like the type of daughters a bull throws, you have the option to go back to the same source and purchase a half brother, or a bull of very similar breeding. This has worked very well for me.

 

[angus9259]

You could AI. Whatever you decide, as already mentioned, get a good bull.

 

[f4leggin]

Thanks for all the advice - it sounds like I should lease one again this year. In fact, it sounds like I should keep leasing as long as I keep all the heifer calves (or most of them).

Jill