I have to agree with Walnut Crest, on the bull issue. If the main bull(s) aren't getting the job done, on time, then I sure wouldn't be keeping them, or replacement heifers out of them. Sure, there are exceptions like an injury, but our bulls had better be getting 90% plus, bred in the 60-90 day time frame they are with the cows. We shoot for 60 days but some places we can't get the cattle up easily to get the bulls out so they stay in longer. If there are very many cows that come up preg to a shorter time than they should, say 10 out of 30 that are only 2 months when everyone else is 4-5 months; then we look at weather conditions that may have hit and take a LONG look at the bull too.
We don't have a "cleanup" bull to take up the slack. If the bull doesn't get it done, he gets a BSE and if all is well we look at the cows for reasons.
The only "cleanup" the bulls are doing is for the ones I breed AI. I will know in a couple of weeks as we get these last few groups in to preg check. I bred 10 AI and then put them out after 30 days just in case. It has been a hard fall to get some things caught up and we are running behind. But we have had very good preg checks on the ones we have done so far.
Cull cow prices are giveaway right now, so don't know what we are going to do if there are very many open cows. I'm not expecting many/any to come up open except maybe a couple of old cows.
If the bull doesn't do the job, he is gone. My AI was running 60-70% first services a couple of years ago, and I don't breed alot AI like I used to, so I was pretty satisfied with that. This year only had 2 repeat out of the 10, and after the 2nd service they went with the bull. Let's face it, he is way better equipped to get the job done.
