I'm buying a bull - New Photos Pg 4!
Aug 7, 2016 20:15:24 GMT -5
jerseyrose, elnini, and 6 more like this
Post by Tamara on Aug 7, 2016 20:15:24 GMT -5
I swore I'd never do it... but here's 'Frederick'
It's not 'official' yet as in he's not paid for or on the property; we are taking a couple of weeks to fix up the fences. But the deal has been shaken on.
Fred is a white galloway, 6-7 years old, and lives 10 minutes down the road at 'Ottaba Llamas' farm, a tourist attraction. He's selling for $800 (non negotiable). They've had him since he was young and he breeds their small herd of galloway and dexter cows. The drought and some recent issues with council permit fees means they have to destock so they are selling the cattle. I happened across the ad on a local buy and sell FB group... and yes, my attention was piqued! He's not a perfect bull - he's on the older side, and not in the greatest condition right now (he hasn't been given much feed, and had to compete with a camel!) - but he seems to be fine for my purposes. His owners "aren't cattle people" (in their own words), he's never had to be kept in a hot wire, he's easy to move around, is comfortable when separated from his herd, etc etc. He's friendly enough to pat, give a bit of a brush or treat with pour-on etc while eating but not overly curious or cuddly.
I particularly like the fact that he's only ever had 2-3 girlfriends but hasn't felt the need to go wandering, and that he doesn't need to be kept in electric fencing. He is mature but produced two calves last year; after that they separated him while they decided whether to breed again or not and he just hung out with their donkeys and llamas. Just recently he was put back with their galloway cow for one last calf.
It is not the best time of year to be adding another animal to the property, let alone a bull, but this opportunity seems too good to miss. I've gone over the details again and again, weighing up the pros and cons... in the end it will probably be more expensive to keep a bull year round than to lease one, but then again I can only find dexters for lease. Galloway calves are much more exotic and will attract a higher price in the end. They are also naturally polled.
Galloways are usually expensive, easily 1k+ and way more than that for a proven bull so he is reasonably priced. The owner even admitted his market value is higher but he's too good to beef. But if it comes to it, I could get my money back if it doesn't work out for whatever reason.
I already have a potential person lined up to lease him in a few months time so he doesn't even have to be kept year round. If I time it right I should be able to get Tallulah and Arwen bred, then lease him out, then bring him back next year in time to breed Nimue.
We are taking a couple of weeks to fortify the fences, to be on the safe side. He should be here in time for my birthday on the 25th
Go ahead, tell me I'm crazy for getting a bull! If he does anything wrong I will send him straight to the next auction, but fingers crossed he does his job and gives me some beautiful little galloway calves. Here's some of his progeny:
It's not 'official' yet as in he's not paid for or on the property; we are taking a couple of weeks to fix up the fences. But the deal has been shaken on.
Fred is a white galloway, 6-7 years old, and lives 10 minutes down the road at 'Ottaba Llamas' farm, a tourist attraction. He's selling for $800 (non negotiable). They've had him since he was young and he breeds their small herd of galloway and dexter cows. The drought and some recent issues with council permit fees means they have to destock so they are selling the cattle. I happened across the ad on a local buy and sell FB group... and yes, my attention was piqued! He's not a perfect bull - he's on the older side, and not in the greatest condition right now (he hasn't been given much feed, and had to compete with a camel!) - but he seems to be fine for my purposes. His owners "aren't cattle people" (in their own words), he's never had to be kept in a hot wire, he's easy to move around, is comfortable when separated from his herd, etc etc. He's friendly enough to pat, give a bit of a brush or treat with pour-on etc while eating but not overly curious or cuddly.
I particularly like the fact that he's only ever had 2-3 girlfriends but hasn't felt the need to go wandering, and that he doesn't need to be kept in electric fencing. He is mature but produced two calves last year; after that they separated him while they decided whether to breed again or not and he just hung out with their donkeys and llamas. Just recently he was put back with their galloway cow for one last calf.
It is not the best time of year to be adding another animal to the property, let alone a bull, but this opportunity seems too good to miss. I've gone over the details again and again, weighing up the pros and cons... in the end it will probably be more expensive to keep a bull year round than to lease one, but then again I can only find dexters for lease. Galloway calves are much more exotic and will attract a higher price in the end. They are also naturally polled.
Galloways are usually expensive, easily 1k+ and way more than that for a proven bull so he is reasonably priced. The owner even admitted his market value is higher but he's too good to beef. But if it comes to it, I could get my money back if it doesn't work out for whatever reason.
I already have a potential person lined up to lease him in a few months time so he doesn't even have to be kept year round. If I time it right I should be able to get Tallulah and Arwen bred, then lease him out, then bring him back next year in time to breed Nimue.
We are taking a couple of weeks to fortify the fences, to be on the safe side. He should be here in time for my birthday on the 25th
Go ahead, tell me I'm crazy for getting a bull! If he does anything wrong I will send him straight to the next auction, but fingers crossed he does his job and gives me some beautiful little galloway calves. Here's some of his progeny: