Post by finallyfarming on Nov 25, 2014 11:26:25 GMT -5
We did this after having 3 failed AI attempts. We bought a Highland bull in August and I think he nailed one cow coming out of the trailer. The other was bred 3 weeks later. That was August and we still have him. Waited a month, determined the cows were not coming back into heat and called the butcher who gave us a date of DECEMBER 8!!!!!!! If I had thought much about it I would have called someone else to do the deed or sell him, cause that sucker eats! He isn't aggresive although he will give you the stink eye and move a horn at you. So many a bale of hay has gone onto the ground instead of the feeder. He has taken out some electric fence that was protecting some pasture but that wasn't a major problem. All that being said, I wish he was gone. The cows can't come into the barn cause those horns just don't fit. You have to be on high alert at all times when outside, and the hay stack is soooooo small and it isn't even december. Only the boss cow will eat at a feeder with him and she is careful. And Bull is one of the good ones. I guess what I am saying is the plan to butcher a bull as soon as he has bred your cows might be delayed if you are not doing it yourself. That needs to be considered if getting one. It wouldn't be a disaster if we had to shot him ourselves, but we are not equipped for that at all and have no way to hang that much meat. Hmmmmm, I guess I am saying that if someone does this, the planning needs to be done in advance, appointments made, hay stocked up. I really wish I had just sold him in September!