HDRider
Well-known member
Is it common practice to commingle multiple bulls at the same time in a herd?
Or is that asking for trouble?
Or is that asking for trouble?
HDRider":35uf0tif said:Is it common practice to commingle multiple bulls at the same time in a herd?
Or is that asking for trouble?
HDRider":u03665t0 said:Is it common practice to commingle multiple bulls at the same time in a herd?
Or is that asking for trouble?
skeeter swatter":1uqnnmck said:HDRider":1uqnnmck said:Is it common practice to commingle multiple bulls at the same time in a herd?
Or is that asking for trouble?
Depends on cow numbers, bull age, and how big/rough your pastures are.
Bulls are like teenagers and horses, decrease behavior problems by increasing the workload (within reason).
Jeanne - Simme Valley":320zv62d said:In a perfect world, you should have 1 bull with smaller groups. Pros: bulls aren't battling over a cow which can create many injuries, some times permanent. And, you know who sired each calf, so you know which bulls are doing your best job. Cons: Management of pastures. If 1 bulls turns out to be a "dud", you might not know quick enough.
1 bull can handle quite a few cows, but you can increase 1 bulls ability by AI breeding for 1 cycle, then turn him out.
HDRider":2xbbfo6u said:Is it common practice to commingle multiple bulls at the same time in a herd?
Or is that asking for trouble?
Nesikep":28i4za22 said:I don't buy into a smaller bull being "backup" for a bigger bull.. if the bigger bull is shooting duds and keeps the smaller bull away, you're no better off than if he wasn't there at all.
yes, the bigger the herd, the more likely it is to work.. I just find all the cows in heat congregate together and it's just one big confused orgy going on.Supa Dexta":15fmxwp8 said:Nesikep":15fmxwp8 said:I don't buy into a smaller bull being "backup" for a bigger bull.. if the bigger bull is shooting duds and keeps the smaller bull away, you're no better off than if he wasn't there at all.
Usually once the bigger bull has determined he's serviced her proper he moves on, and the young bull will get his turn. They don't have time to trail just one cow from start to finish when there's a bunch of other's to keep tabs on. Got a lot better chance of the young bull cleaning stuff up when the big guy cant be every where at once.