Amo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 30, 2010
- Messages
- 485
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- 13
I tested my herd bulls today. For as cold as it has been in North Central Nebraska it was plenty early, but if I need a bull I want to know soon enough Im not picking through everyones left overs.
Out of 6 head, 1 flunked and 2 are marginal. The flunk is done, his pecker is banana shaped towards the back legs. Bull #2, is a 7 year old. He gave a good sample, but it just went straight down....like a 90 degree angle from his belly. Granted the silver bullet test isn't like a real cow. I have one bull whos a breeder but never has extended with a BSE, but has bred everything while running by itself. Vet "passed" this bull even though it went straight down. This kinda concerns me. Vets comment was "oh it'll probably straighten out with a cow." The other questionable bull has coiled, not bent tails. He's a 2 year old. Usually Ill retest a new purchase. I didn't do that last year. I asked the vet if this is weather/feed related or genetic. He said he wasn't sure about that. Just said that they won't swim as well. This bull ran by himself last year and had a higher than normal open rate, but not alarming. We had drought, and this was a freshly rented pasture that had been used hard in the past. I thought cow BCS wasn't horrible, but grass was short. This bull was also late born. So he could have been bigger in frame size. Bought it as a calf on a disbursal sale. Breeder grew him over the winter, but he was still rather small in frame. Thought Id run him on open heifers/smaller cows and let him grow. I think he just didn't have enough groceries to breed and develop. Even though he was with 22 cows and only 160 acres. He has nice numbers and phenotype proportionately. Just small frame. Calves look nice so far that he has sired. I have purchased a new bull this year already. Id prefer to not have to buy another bull this year. I could probably squeak by with 4, but 5 would be better. I really don't need 6. Last years purchase was more or less a speculating investment. If I have to buy, I can. Just drought last year, and still dang dry....expenses are adding up.
So now my questions. Bull number 2 that has a vertical erection. Whats the scoop on that? He passed 80% and slow swirl. The other one has coiled tails and proximal droplets. 70% and slow swirl. His erection is normal. So if he's tall enough to hit the hole, his problem is they don't swim real well. The other one is tall enough, just not sure if he'll get a forward facing erection. If it gets in the hole, other than his age....he's by far the better of the 2. So I guess im asking for a better explanation of coiled tails and whats everyones past experiences with vertical erections?
Out of 6 head, 1 flunked and 2 are marginal. The flunk is done, his pecker is banana shaped towards the back legs. Bull #2, is a 7 year old. He gave a good sample, but it just went straight down....like a 90 degree angle from his belly. Granted the silver bullet test isn't like a real cow. I have one bull whos a breeder but never has extended with a BSE, but has bred everything while running by itself. Vet "passed" this bull even though it went straight down. This kinda concerns me. Vets comment was "oh it'll probably straighten out with a cow." The other questionable bull has coiled, not bent tails. He's a 2 year old. Usually Ill retest a new purchase. I didn't do that last year. I asked the vet if this is weather/feed related or genetic. He said he wasn't sure about that. Just said that they won't swim as well. This bull ran by himself last year and had a higher than normal open rate, but not alarming. We had drought, and this was a freshly rented pasture that had been used hard in the past. I thought cow BCS wasn't horrible, but grass was short. This bull was also late born. So he could have been bigger in frame size. Bought it as a calf on a disbursal sale. Breeder grew him over the winter, but he was still rather small in frame. Thought Id run him on open heifers/smaller cows and let him grow. I think he just didn't have enough groceries to breed and develop. Even though he was with 22 cows and only 160 acres. He has nice numbers and phenotype proportionately. Just small frame. Calves look nice so far that he has sired. I have purchased a new bull this year already. Id prefer to not have to buy another bull this year. I could probably squeak by with 4, but 5 would be better. I really don't need 6. Last years purchase was more or less a speculating investment. If I have to buy, I can. Just drought last year, and still dang dry....expenses are adding up.
So now my questions. Bull number 2 that has a vertical erection. Whats the scoop on that? He passed 80% and slow swirl. The other one has coiled tails and proximal droplets. 70% and slow swirl. His erection is normal. So if he's tall enough to hit the hole, his problem is they don't swim real well. The other one is tall enough, just not sure if he'll get a forward facing erection. If it gets in the hole, other than his age....he's by far the better of the 2. So I guess im asking for a better explanation of coiled tails and whats everyones past experiences with vertical erections?
carrots , pumpkin 
squash? 
