Muscle to grown bull?

[jdcopkid]

So I've seen bulls that are very muscular and others that are not within the same breeds. Obviously genetics plays a large part. But I'm curious what I can do to add muscle to a bull? For instance a 4 year old highland. This is more of a mental exercise than me having a "reason" to add muscle to him. Just curious. I'm big on exercise and fitness so I know how it works with people… should I get him a gym membership?

 

[GoWyo]

So I've seen bulls that are very muscular and others that are not within the same breeds. Obviously genetics plays a large part. But I'm curious what I can do to add muscle to a bull? For instance a 4 year old highland. This is more of a mental exercise than me having a "reason" to add muscle to him. Just curious. I'm big on exercise and fitness so I know how it works with people… should I get him a gym membership?

He pretty much is what he is.

 

[kenny thomas]

Swap him out for a Limousin.

 

[coachg]

How would you see it under all that hair ?

 

[Travlr]

So I've seen bulls that are very muscular and others that are not within the same breeds. Obviously genetics plays a large part. But I'm curious what I can do to add muscle to a bull? For instance a 4 year old highland. This is more of a mental exercise than me having a "reason" to add muscle to him. Just curious. I'm big on exercise and fitness so I know how it works with people… should I get him a gym membership?

There have been studies done at Ag Schools where they put animals in a ring with horse walkers and a cattle panel hanging down, and they walked them for a couple of hours a day. The results did not support the efforts or expense.

 

[jdcopkid]

Swap him out for a Limousin.

Booooo

 

[jdcopkid]

How would you see it under all that hair ?

Texas summer helps a lot

 

[jdcopkid]

There have been studies done at Ag Schools where they put animals in a ring with horse walkers and a cattle panel hanging down, and they walked them for a couple of hours a day. The results did not support the efforts or expense.

Haha yea I figured it a nonsense question

 

[Twisted]

Have you tried feeding him Popeye spinach?

 

[jdcopkid]

Have you tried feeding him Popeye spinach?

Adding it to his ration tomorrow!

 

[gcreekrch]

Swap him out for a Limousin.

Swap him out for almost anything else.

 

[SBMF 2015]

While I agree with everyone else, your bull was bred for a specific region in the world to fit a specific purpose. Everywhere else in the beef industry he is considered a novelty.
But to answer your question; genetics is the basis and nutrition is building blocks to reach genetic potential.
A bull who is genetically selected to be a carcass bull will have more muscle than a bull who selected to create daughters.
At four years old a bull should have reached his genetic potential. Feeding young bulls correctly from weaning to two years old is how you add muscle and make them the best they can be.

 

[Ebenezer]

While I agree with everyone else, your bull was bred for a specific region in the world to fit a specific purpose. Everywhere else in the beef industry he is considered a novelty.
But to answer your question; genetics is the basis and nutrition is building blocks to reach genetic potential.
A bull who is genetically selected to be a carcass bull will have more muscle than a bull who selected to create daughters.
At four years old a bull should have reached his genetic potential. Feeding young bulls correctly from weaning to two years old is how you add muscle and make them the best they can be.

Feeding from weaning to two YO is a double edged sword. If you want longevity in a bull (known genetics, preferred dam, retained for own use or for repeat customers who understand) the slower development even on forages alone will develop that type of bull. I know that many want to roll bulls in and out in a short period of years and test station mentality is the industry standard. But I just see what I see.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Feeding from weaning to two YO is a double edged sword. If you want longevity in a bull (known genetics, preferred dam, retained for own use or for repeat customers who understand) the slower development even on forages alone will develop that type of bull. I know that many want to roll bulls in and out in a short period of years and test station mentality is the industry standard. But I just see what I see.

I never said push them
Are bulls are grown up on a roughage based diet. Corn silage, and ground alfalfa hay is the base.
The fastest way I know to ruin a young bull is to put him on a self feeder. They'll be butterball fat on sale day and literally fall apart when you turn them out with cows. Not to mention it's a pretty good way to screw up their feet.

 

[jdcopkid]

Swap him out for almost anything else.

Someone doesn't like highlands! Haha but people pay some stupid money for them, especially when they are small. They are also awesome to look at IMO. I like to have a little fun rather on the side too

 

[jdcopkid]

While I agree with everyone else, your bull was bred for a specific region in the world to fit a specific purpose. Everywhere else in the beef industry he is considered a novelty.
But to answer your question; genetics is the basis and nutrition is building blocks to reach genetic potential.
A bull who is genetically selected to be a carcass bull will have more muscle than a bull who selected to create daughters.
At four years old a bull should have reached his genetic potential. Feeding young bulls correctly from weaning to two years old is how you add muscle and make them the best they can be.

This makes sense. Yea definitely didn't but him for his beef making potential. Just to have some fun and have a cool looking guy hang around. Going to probably get some cows to cross him with. People pay silly money for highlands and highland crosses. I just enjoy it. I enjoy having the flexibility since I don't rely on this for a source of income.

 

[Butterbean_Farms]

My recommendation would be to get him in the gym lifting weights 3x per week.

 

[Travlr]

At four years old a bull should have reached his genetic potential. Feeding young bulls correctly from weaning to two years old is how you add muscle and make them the best they can be.

Not to disagree... but only to point out that not feeding them special diets lets us weed out the best from the rest. A bull that becomes worth keeping, raised on grass, is going to out compete any bull with better numbers that is fed supplements.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Not to disagree... but only to point out that not feeding them special diets lets us weed out the best from the rest. A bull that becomes worth keeping, raised on grass, is going to out compete any bull with better numbers that is fed supplements.

With out a doubt. You have to feed for the environment they are going to work in.
I don't know any cow calf guys around here that don't feed hay. A lot of our bull customers see the value in chopping corn silage.
Had one customer finally decided it was time to get new bulls last year. The ones he cashed in he had bought from us ten years ago.
Personal I would never keep one that long. But it's nice to know that we raise bulls that can last.

 

[farmerjan]

We routinely keep bulls for 6-10 years... have several smaller pastures we summer cattle at so need several bulls. If the bull passes his BSE and has put decent calves on the ground before, he gets to stay.... We have enough different places to pretty much not use a bull on any daughters. If his attitude gets bad, he goes... If his attitude is good, they will often still be here at 10-12 years old... Then it is a matter of if he covers the cows, and his feet/legs are good.

Bought a mature bull in 2015, farm dispersal, don't know his actual age... keeps weight on pretty easily.... Passed BSE this spring and we really like his calves... he will stay until we have a reason to ship him. He never challenges fences, does not fight with others in the bull lot, comes right to you when you call and will load in the trailer out in the pasture...

We don't chase the newest and latest/greatest.... we want them to sire decent calves, 70-90 lbs mostly, quiet and easy to work with, gets them bred on time, decent confirmation and average and better calves. If it is an older bull, so be it...
When we buy a bull it is for him to be around for 5-10 years... Just sold an easy calving bull that was bought in 2012, and another that was bought in 2013...same breeder; small 60 lb calves, quiet, not rough with the heifers and never hurt any breeding... Weighed in the 18- 2000 lb range when sold...They did exactly what we wanted and I hate that one got feet problems and the other got hurt. But they were "old" .... and at that age they were entitled to show some problems.
Longevity is VERY important to me.... and good type, good legs and feet is part of what gives them longevity.