Need fresh bull...

[Tailgate]

I need to replace my herd bull, age and size problems, but have a couple of questions. I only run about 15 cows, and would prefer seasonal calving. Keeping a bull seperate for months out of the year is not feasable, so I was wondering about leasing a bull.

What are the usual conditions of a lease, such as price, legnth of stay, care and feeding. Is it a common thing to do, or just a speciality for show or breeding stock? Thanks...tailgate

 

[redcowsrule33]

You can find plenty of people/cattle jockeys that will lease a bull, but the question is would you want to? I realize that you can bring something in with any bull, but unless that bull is BVD/Johnes/BLV/Brucellosis/TB/Trich tested and you have an awesome vacc program, I would be leery of it. I would personally partner with someone on a bull you know and trust, which can work out if you have different breeding seasons, or in today's market buy a bull, use him, then sell him. I am way too much of a germophobe to use a bull that's "slept around" with god knows who and can bring a miserable train wreck into your herd. :help: JMHO.

 

[angus9259]

My vet would lease me one for $300 for a "season" . . . basically as long as I wanted it or till she needed it. But, as stated, she knew my herd and I knew hers. I won't lease bulls at all for the previously mentioned reasons and, for purposes of remaining a closed herd, I suspect not many show or seedstock folks will either.

 

[hopalong]

Consider A.I. ?
Could sync them and have em all close together.

 

[cow pollinater]

I'm more than just a little biased here since I A.I. for a living, but keeping a bull for fifteen cows is nuts. His beef price will buy alot of frozen semen. His vacancy will let you run an extra pair. The genetics gained from using proven bulls will pay for the odd cull cow that doesn't stick after second service. There is the potential to have most of your calves born on the first day of calving season-as in on the ground and growing rather than spread out over twenty one days... I can go on if you want to hear it. :mrgreen:

 

[TexasBred]

I'm more than just a little biased here since I A.I. for a living, but keeping a bull for fifteen cows is nuts. His beef price will buy alot of frozen semen. His vacancy will let you run an extra pair. The genetics gained from using proven bulls will pay for the odd cull cow that doesn't stick after second service. There is the potential to have most of your calves born on the first day of calving season-as in on the ground and growing rather than spread out over twenty one days... I can go on if you want to hear it. :mrgreen:

Key words....."Most" and "potential".

 

[cow pollinater]

Key words....."Most" and "potential".

:mrgreen: It does take some good management to make it pay off. But that is management that should happen whether you A.I. or run a bull. If your cows aren't ready to go no breeder can help you and neither can any bull but at least the bull has fun trying...