Steer in with heifers during breeding

[Oakhill20]

Hi! I'm completely new to this cattle world so this is probably a really dumb question, but will a steer distract the heifers from the bull during breeding? Reason I ask is that I have 4 heifers, 2 in heat right now. I saw the bull cover one this morning, but now the steer will not leave those 2 alone and they are all 3 glued to each other. I haven't seen the bull around the other one that is in heat. I plan to remove the steer at feeding time soon, but thought I'd check my theory. I haven't been able to find anything through googling on how to manage herds (heifers vs steers)

 

[MurraysMutts]

If hes a manly man sized bull, he will just shove junior outta the way and show him what's up.

 

[wbvs58]

I think I would remove the distraction. The mature bulls tend to know what they are doing and turn up at the right time however I use young bulls to clean up after AI and I have had situations when all the young calves are chasing after the one in season jumping her at every opportunity and I find the cow get a bit peed off with that and sometimes won't let the bull do his job. Heifers especially. It sounds like the 3 have formed a little clique group, may not want to deal with an outsider.

Ken

 

[TCRanch]

The heifer may not yet be in standing heat and the bull knows that. My bulls are pretty much one 'n done; they do their job and move on while the party continues with steers and other cows.

 

[greggy]

With sheep you can send in the non working males to get the females ready, but then you remove them and replace with working rams.

I would look at it same way and especially so if the steer is dominant, but why have him around interfering either way ? And more so with those not so experienced.

They will prob sort it out anyway, but move steer away if you can imo.