Shorthorn/Red Angus cross bull calf
- Thread starter M.Sarria
- Start date
We cut them within a week after they're born. They were raised to go to the sale. If we were going to try to raise a bull we would not cut or band them until 8 to 12 months. Then we would probably leave more than one intact so as to have more than one to choose from. Hope that helps.
DOC HARRIS
Well-known member
M.Sarria - The determining factor(s) in making the decision to "steer or not steer" are more than just "at what age?" The decision should have already been made as to whether the Phenotype and Genetic traits are what you need to keep an individual for a herd bull, or sell him as a bull. In the case of the white bull in this picture, one should know what his Sire and Dam are - and what his EPD's are. Knowing his EPD's will allow you to know how he may improve the calves you are getting from the bull you have been using, or whether he is a good enough bull for anyone else to want him for a bull.M.Sarria":3s7kfvzx said:To steer or not to steer????? at what age do you no if you should steer or not????[/img]
Now, having said that, and looking at him strictly phenotypically, I would say that he probably should have already been castrated. How old is he? What kind of a dam is his dam? What kind of a bull is his sire? If you would want your future cow herd to be better than this calf - steer him now and either feed him out, or sell him. The same goes for the little red bull calf, but he probably is not old enough to make that determination yet. But if you know his sire and dam - that is a start.
If your question is concerning the age of the calf when castration should occur - and you have decided that you definitely are going to cut him - either do it at birth or soon after, or at two months or so, leaving enough time for him to still nurse for a period of time to help him recover from the shock of the castration before weaning.
DOC HARRIS
KMacGinley
Well-known member
I would cut him if he was mine. No matter what his epds were, but I doubt that you have any idea what they are. You are probably thinking you can save a few bucks by keeping a bull from your own herd. Think again. 
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Steer them all. Steer them soon after birth if you don't want to wrestle with big animals.
We use the rubber band system as it is BLOODLESS, fast and easy.
We put them on the boy calves within 24 hours after they are born.
Less injury to the calf and less chance of an injury to YOU. We mostly have March & April calves when its still bugless and cool.
It sure is easier to CATCH calves at that young age and to physically RESTRAIN them at that age to band or castrate them.
We use 2 bands as a safety--incase one breaks.
Steer them all. Steer them soon after birth if you don't want to wrestle with big animals.
We use the rubber band system as it is BLOODLESS, fast and easy.
We put them on the boy calves within 24 hours after they are born.
Less injury to the calf and less chance of an injury to YOU. We mostly have March & April calves when its still bugless and cool.
It sure is easier to CATCH calves at that young age and to physically RESTRAIN them at that age to band or castrate them.
We use 2 bands as a safety--incase one breaks.
The one on the right is a steer we did him at birth, the shorthorn/red Angus cross on the lift is the one I was hoping to keep a bull, but not to save a buck for this is a hobby for me 8) . He was born 9/25/07.KMacGinley":dsko9waf said:I would cut him if he was mine. No matter what his epds were, but I doubt that you have any idea what they are. You are probably thinking you can save a few bucks by keeping a bull from your own herd. Think again.
