Oh yeah, they passed!

[TCRanch]

BSE today, which always renders me a nervous wreck. But I was able to catch the retained heifers in one side of the corral, move the bulls from their pasture across the road and into the other side, let the heifers out & move my alpha bull to that side in 20 minutes. And yes, on foot with only me and a bucket. Loaded easy, only because I've learned to just stand back by the gate to the trap/alley and let them decide when they're going in. Work smarter, not harder. Still only took maybe 10 minutes. That said, they were jerks at the vet and did NOT want to go through their curved alley into the chute. I'm assuming they sensed it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience.

Woody rocked it and has a massive 46cm scrotal circumference. He's now 5, vet put him at a solid 2100 lbs. (he's tall & rangy). Willy filled the sleeve - and then some. Also now 5 and clocking in at a (too fat in my opinion) 2300 lbs., 43.5cm. And my little Tallywacker just turned 2 but also passed with flying colors and has an impressive 43 cm for that young of bull.

But now these bulls are looking for love! Got 'em unloaded and Mr. TC was pulling out of the pasture when the bulls realized the double gates were wide open. I've never had to run from any of my bulls, but it was a full out race to see who could get to the gates first. Didn't help that Mr. TC didn't pull quite far enough onto the road and the back of the stock trailer was in my way, couldn't completely close & chain the gates. There may have been profanities. Which, in hindsight, was probably my saving grace because the bulls aren't used full-out "sailor mode" from me and stopped in their tracks, long enough to Mr. TC to pull forward so I could secure them back in prison. Cool your jets, boys! Only 5 more weeks.

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

Every time I try to move fast anymore I pull something!

 

[Dave]

I tell people I am as fast as I ever was. But only for about 30 feet which is when I run out of air.

 

[wbvs58]

I tell people I am as fast as I ever was. But only for about 30 feet which is when I run out of air.

I can relate to that.

Ken

 

[TCRanch]

Tallywacker in the chute. Love how they have the tire tread pad to eliminate the potential for them to go down when they bust out, but not a fan of the chute. Willy's so big there was no need to use the squeeze and couldn't shut the head gate. Plus, I kept banging my head on the levers.

 

[Ky hills]

@TCRanch that looks to be the brand we have and very similar to our chute. We can barely get the head gate shut with our 4 year old BWF bull and wouldn’t be much squeezing him up in it I’m sure. Those chutes are aptly named For-Most meaning maybe for most but not all. Big bulls not, and small calves for sure not.
We have a rodeo when working calves in it. I have go in behind and keep them in and wove has to stand in front and keep the real small one from coming out the front.

 

[greybeard]

Nice looking, and LONG bulls!! Did they make the 90 deg turn ok?
Curiosity has the best of me...what is that thing?

 

[bird dog]

I was also wondering about that 90 degree turn. Thats just asking for a log jam.
Those tire mats are the way to go. They are very durable. I inherited one when I bought this place and it had set out for years folded over with all kinds of critters under it. They are heavy. It took four of us to get it straightened out and put into place.

 

[TCRanch]

Those chutes are aptly named For-Most meaning maybe for most but not all.

Good analogy!!

 

[TCRanch]

Nice looking, and LONG bulls!! Did they make the 90 deg turn ok?
Curiosity has the best of me...what is that thing?

View attachment 29012

They did NOT like that corner! Which is what turned a previously easy-peasy experience into an aggravating cluster.

That's a motor to widen the alley and if you look along the bottom and up the far-left side of the pipes, you'll see the electrical cord casing. That said, I haven't seen them use it in years and not sure it still even works.

 

[W.B.]

BSE today, which always renders me a nervous wreck. But I was able to catch the retained heifers in one side of the corral, move the bulls from their pasture across the road and into the other side, let the heifers out & move my alpha bull to that side in 20 minutes. And yes, on foot with only me and a bucket. Loaded easy, only because I've learned to just stand back by the gate to the trap/alley and let them decide when they're going in. Work smarter, not harder. Still only took maybe 10 minutes. That said, they were jerks at the vet and did NOT want to go through their curved alley into the chute. I'm assuming they sensed it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience.

Woody rocked it and has a massive 46cm scrotal circumference. He's now 5, vet put him at a solid 2100 lbs. (he's tall & rangy). Willy filled the sleeve - and then some. Also now 5 and clocking in at a (too fat in my opinion) 2300 lbs., 43.5cm. And my little Tallywacker just turned 2 but also passed with flying colors and has an impressive 43 cm for that young of bull.

But now these bulls are looking for love! Got 'em unloaded and Mr. TC was pulling out of the pasture when the bulls realized the double gates were wide open. I've never had to run from any of my bulls, but it was a full out race to see who could get to the gates first. Didn't help that Mr. TC didn't pull quite far enough onto the road and the back of the stock trailer was in my way, couldn't completely close & chain the gates. There may have been profanities. Which, in hindsight, was probably my saving grace because the bulls aren't used full-out "sailor mode" from me and stopped in their tracks, long enough to Mr. TC to pull forward so I could secure them back in prison. Cool your jets, boys! Only 5 more weeks.

You do realize that five more weeks to the male species might as well be an enternity. I am not sure you understand that the male species might not be prompt about some things but when it comes to the real deal we be a bit serious.

 

[MurraysMutts]

You do realize that five more weeks to the male species might as well be an enternity. I am not sure you understand that the male species might not be prompt about some things but when it comes to the real deal we be a bit serious.

5 weeks 2 years ago!

But I certainly got a chuckle out of reading it again.
@TCRanch your original post had me cracking the he// up!

 

[farmerjan]

BSE here will be April 24th... Got 4 scheduled. ... Our local Cattleman's assoc gets it scheduled... we pay but it helps that they do it for a service to the cattleman members. Anyone is welcome if they get scheduled. Only a mile or 2 from the farm so will take 2 then bring them back and get the other 2.... They are all together in the bull lot, and will not test the ones we are not going to use this spring. And if they don't have many scheduled, might do a couple more. Our chute in the barn will not work for the size of the bigger bulls... not a squeeze chute or anything... safer to take them where they have facilities.. they do it there at The McCormick Farm where they have cattle and do alot of the different trials and such...

 

[SBMF 2015]

BSE here will be April 24th... Got 4 scheduled. ... Our local Cattleman's assoc gets it scheduled... we pay but it helps that they do it for a service to the cattleman members. Anyone is welcome if they get scheduled. Only a mile or 2 from the farm so will take 2 then bring them back and get the other 2.... They are all together in the bull lot, and will not test the ones we are not going to use this spring. And if they don't have many scheduled, might do a couple more. Our chute in the barn will not work for the size of the bigger bulls... not a squeeze chute or anything... safer to take them where they have facilities.. they do it there at The McCormick Farm where they have cattle and do alot of the different trials and such...

Sounds similar to what I’m trying to do in our neighborhood. The vet comes to us and sets up once. Had five neighbors bring bulls to test. It’s pretty handy. We all split the trip charge and the vet only has to set up once.

 

[TCRanch]

Taking them in again this week with hopefully no drama or issues. Still have Woody and Tallywacker, this will be the first time for Shaft.

This was last year when we pulled up at the vet clinic. Think maybe they knew it was about to get real?


And I always try to wear my lucky shirt when I'm working bulls. It's not a suggestion, boys!!!

 

[TCRanch]

Yowza, we have a new record! Tallywacker surpassed Woody with a whopping 49cm scrotal circumference. Well done, Tally! Woody is staying steady at 46cm and Shaft, who turned 2 in Feb, is 37.5. All passed the BSE with flying colors.

Got 'em moved to the west 80 in literally seconds because they were waiting at the gate across the road. Woody and Shaft followed me into the corral, no problem, but Tallywacker went rogue and decided to check out the pond, take the scenic route. Mr. TC had to push him with the Polaris while he followed me with a bucket of cubes. Got my steps in today! At least I still had the heifers trapped in the other side of the corral. Other than that, no issues. But I've learned my lesson, and we pull into the north gate, where I unload them, then drive to the middle gates, 'bout .25 miles away to exit.

Because ballz!


And here's Woody, executing his back-leg-out dance move just prior to collection. Dang near kicked the vet tech!

 

[branxchar&charx]

Enjoy reading your adventures! Any idea what your big boys weigh? (Unless i missed it further up)

 

[TCRanch]

Enjoy reading your adventures! Any idea what your big boys weigh? (Unless i missed it further up)

Woody and Tallywacker are around 2200 lbs, Shaft is closer to 1700. Big boys! But not fat.

 

[farmerjan]

Tested 7 bulls last week. All passed. The oldest bull has a few abnormalities, not quite as good as last year. His body condition is not great. He was getting picked on by a couple of the younger bulls and run off the hay, so we put him in a different small field and started feeding him a little extra. This will be his last time. He is approx 12-13. We bought him as a mature 1800 lb bull in 2015... they had had him several years so we are guessing. We like his calves, dispositions are good, they have nice bodies/shape... Have several of his heifers... now cows, in the herd. He is getting 5 "favorite cows" and hoping for a few more heifers of his to keep. With only 5 cows, he should do fine and gain back some weight.
2nd oldest bull is 11, he also checked out good with a few more abnormalities that they said were not any big problem... Have a bunch calving to now... He also puts nice balanced calves on the ground. We have decided this is his last year also. He will go out to a smaller place with 8 or so cows... He has been there before and does not bother the fences or cause any problem. We normally run 9-10 cows there but with the terribly dry conditions, going to stock a little light on some places.
The 3rd oldest is about 8-9 yrs old. He checked out good and holds his weight good. Got some calving to him from last year's breeding now also.

Then there are 4 that are around 4 yrs old... One is easy calving, heifers are calving to him now... NICE healthy calves around 60 lbs or so... they spit them out, calves are up and going and they grow really really nice. Got the third group on the ground now... We calve 2 groups so they have more "chances" to breed than those that calve once a year. The other easy calving bull had 15 of 16 bred this last check... and we used him as a "backup cleanup " bull on 2 different groups in the past.
The other 2 are proven bulls, not easy calving, and have given us some nice calves. One is not supposed to be easy calving, but puts small calves on the ground... but boy do they grow like gangbusters. Have several of his heifers in the breeding group now and several more in the yearling group.

Did not test the 2 bulls out with cows where we have to do all sorts of stuff to get them down to places to get them out. Those fall calving cows will be brought in to preg check in another month after every one else is out to grass for the summer and we have room at the barn to accommodate them. It will be time to preg check, wean off calves etc... They ought to be 5-6 months bred by then. have not seen any heats when feeding... always hope they are all bred from those places... But it is great winter pastures so we deal with it, and keep our fingers crossed....

 

[TCRanch]

Pretty impressive, @farmerjan. Seems most bulls start losing their game around 8 years old. I think Dick was 6 when the tails of his sperm started curling and his count was down.