Post by Heidi on Jan 30, 2011 23:43:49 GMT -5
Hi,
Shortly, I will be getting a 17 mth old Dexter/Angus polled bull. I read the TOK about keeping a bull, but would still like some ideas of what others do.
I have been advised that it would be best not to run him with the cows because it makes him more territorial, that they then are his herd. Rather, run him with the steers for company, and then introduce the cow to the bull, in his yard when I need her served. I read that Tammy runs her pregnant cows with the bulls, and that could be okay. Should I even attempt to befriend this guy carefully (I know don't trust him, or treat him like a pet etc etc) or should I just stay out of his way altogether and just feed him over the fence?
When you introduce a bull (or any animal) to your property, how long do you quarantine it for? I can either leave him in the stockyards for a week, to let him settle down, drench and vaccinate him (not done at all), or put him in a separate small paddock that the sheep usually run in, after we treat him. I am certain that he is 100% healthy from more insidious diseases. The benefit of the stockyards is that he definitely can't escape (6ft high steel stock panels with crush), but the sheep paddock is five strand barb wire with sheep fencing...so which should I do? The paddock will lessen the feed I need to give him obviously.
This bull is timid with people (flight zone) and has not been handled or haltered, but he is curious and will sniff your hand then run away. Do others try and halter train bulls at this age, or bother to ring their noses, or really is that just for bulls that will be shown?
For a bull that has pasture, and in good weather, what should I feed him and how much?
Any problems with running him with sheep in the long run?
When a cow is bulling, is it more likely that the cow will come to the bull or vice versa? We are generally surrounded by cane, however, the opposite neighbour sometimes has heifers in his horse paddock opposite us. So, would it be better to separate him by a greater distance? We are on good terms with our neighbour, so he would probably let me know when he's going to move anything near our bull. Although he did mention that he'd like to use him over his first calf heifers!
Sorry for all the questions!
Shortly, I will be getting a 17 mth old Dexter/Angus polled bull. I read the TOK about keeping a bull, but would still like some ideas of what others do.
I have been advised that it would be best not to run him with the cows because it makes him more territorial, that they then are his herd. Rather, run him with the steers for company, and then introduce the cow to the bull, in his yard when I need her served. I read that Tammy runs her pregnant cows with the bulls, and that could be okay. Should I even attempt to befriend this guy carefully (I know don't trust him, or treat him like a pet etc etc) or should I just stay out of his way altogether and just feed him over the fence?
When you introduce a bull (or any animal) to your property, how long do you quarantine it for? I can either leave him in the stockyards for a week, to let him settle down, drench and vaccinate him (not done at all), or put him in a separate small paddock that the sheep usually run in, after we treat him. I am certain that he is 100% healthy from more insidious diseases. The benefit of the stockyards is that he definitely can't escape (6ft high steel stock panels with crush), but the sheep paddock is five strand barb wire with sheep fencing...so which should I do? The paddock will lessen the feed I need to give him obviously.
This bull is timid with people (flight zone) and has not been handled or haltered, but he is curious and will sniff your hand then run away. Do others try and halter train bulls at this age, or bother to ring their noses, or really is that just for bulls that will be shown?
For a bull that has pasture, and in good weather, what should I feed him and how much?
Any problems with running him with sheep in the long run?
When a cow is bulling, is it more likely that the cow will come to the bull or vice versa? We are generally surrounded by cane, however, the opposite neighbour sometimes has heifers in his horse paddock opposite us. So, would it be better to separate him by a greater distance? We are on good terms with our neighbour, so he would probably let me know when he's going to move anything near our bull. Although he did mention that he'd like to use him over his first calf heifers!
Sorry for all the questions!