Hello. It's me again, with the soon-to-be-acquired buelingo cows. I have another question. The seller says that the cow and both heifers have been in heat this month. He has a rented bull in with them. Would it be wise for us to get a bull to put with the cows for a month or so after we get them home? It is getting late in the season, and I'm afraid that if I trust that they are all pregnant, we may end up 'calfless' this spring. We'll be picking up our little herd tomorrow. Any suggestions? Thanks

-- Kim (barkinbarnyard@rrv.net), July 26, 2000

Answers

Can you arrange for them to stay for another couple of weeks just to make sure they are bred? According to the gestation table for cows, one bred today would calve on May 4th. That's later than I like my calving season to start (March 15th in my area). Renting a bull and the in and out process isn't cheap. May be better just to pay a bit extra for them to try to insure they are bred. It is extremely difficult to try to back up a breeding season once established.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), July 26, 2000.

Does the owner know when they were last in heat ? If it was more than 25 days and thet did not come back in they are probally bred .I go with Ken , can you leave them there a little longer ?

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), July 26, 2000.

Hello again. Kim here. Thanks for the input. We can't leave the cows any longer as the farmer is leaving to go on vacation. (We're getting the last of his herd). One of the heifers was in heat only 2 days ago. We are thinking of going to the local auction this Saturday, buying a young bull to use as a back-up, feeding him well for his services, and selling him back in a couple of months. Is this a good idea?

-- Kim (barkinbarnyard@rrv.net), July 26, 2000.

I wouldn't spend the money on a young bull as he will be unproven and that might be a costly mistake. Right now cattle are expensive, but that might not be the case in a couple of months when you want to sell. I agree with one of the other posters that it is getting late in the season to be breeding. It will take at least 2-3 years to get your calving backed up to spring.

We turned our bull out early this year to be sure that we got everyone bred for early spring/late winter. We will start calving in Feb as that worked well for us this year. It avoided the mud of late Mar/April. We leave the bull in until calving starts and then will turn him out again in April.

-- beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), July 26, 2000.

It depends on your herd breeding philosophy. I am a commercial cow/calf operator. I insist in a tight calving season. March 15 to May 15 - although up to June 15th is acceptable. Later than that the cow goes (at least when she doesn't climb over a 6' high chainlike fence). March 15th is pretty well when spring pastures start to green up here and that's when I want my calves to be born. If you want to breed year-around - as does my neighbor, then that is your choice.

On your question on just using a young bull for a couple of months and then taking him back, my answer is yes. You should basically break even and it will be cheaper than AI.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), July 26, 2000.

I pretty much agree with Ken but AI might be worth checking out. Also do you know anyone that can preg check your cows? Would be one way to find out if you do have a problem. Have you checked on the amount it would cost to move the rentabull to your place for another month? gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), July 28, 2000.

Wait three weeks from her last heat , if she's quiet she's probally bred .If she's mooing like crazy go find a bull !

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), July 28, 2000.

Patty:

I've really only had one heifer like that. Brahman-cross. Kept her away from the bull until she was two. When she would come into heat the people across the ridge could hear her. Sounded like a fog horn. She was in heat when I turned her out with the herd and I think the bull got date raped.

If you are running a bull with a herd there is a device which straps on under the neck and marks the cows rear end with dye or something. Lets you know they are being mounted.

-- Ken S. (scharabo@aol.com), August 01, 2000.

With my bull everyone in heat or not would be marked ! You can say he's a little over active and not real pickey. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

-- Patty Gamble (fodfarms@slic.com), August 01, 2000.