Re: Bull to Cow ratio???
[re: roujesky]
12/06/07 07:50 PM
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Not to sound smart, but if you want production then one cow is enough to justify a bull. I have one bull on about 45 Mama cows and we have close to 100% calf crop every year in our little cow/calf operation. We could probably justify another bull but I don't have the pastures partitioned off like I would want for that situation. We sell mostly on the killer market. The ratio depends on lots of stuff. What are trying to accomplish? Pure bred market, cow/calf operation? Milk production? What breed? How many acres do you have? No one ratio really covers it all. About the bull roaming, we shut our up every year for a few months so we will have a "calving season" and not have calves dropping at odd times during the year. If the bull has enough to eat and good fences he usually won't roam unless taunted by another bull. But remember they have a mind of their own and will pretty much do what they want and they have the mass to make it happen. We have had bulls that roam no matter what, but having enough to eat and a good five wire barbed deterrent helps. Also, depending on what you want to do, you might look into artificial insemination. There are pluses to not having a bull on the place. Your mileage may vary
Re: Bull to Cow ratio???
[re: hudr]
12/07/07 10:07 AM
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I just have 4 black Brangus cows right now. I am going to get more cows early spring. Probably 6 - 8 more. Plus a few feeder calves. I have 23 acres. I want to become a small cow/calf operation. The fence is very good 5 wire. It just seems difficult to rent a bull....
BTW: I am hoping to get 8 more acres. The land is river bottom in the gulf coast Texas area. Very fertile. Can probably support 1 unit per 2 acres, if managed correctly.
Re: Bull to Cow ratio???
[re: roujesky]
12/07/07 06:33 PM
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I have been involved in renting/leasing bulls before and it is kind of a hassle. You might want to look seroiusly at A.I. breeding. I know of some guys around here who will sell semen from their bulls. And these are not always pure bred breeders. I don't know what cost per straw would be but you might find a neighbor w/ a bull you want to use and negotiate a price. Then just get a local vet to "milk" the bull. Last time I loaned out a bull he wound up w/ a broken jaw at my neighbor's place. A real waste of a good papered Angus. Like I stated before, there are definitely advantages to NOT having a bull on the place. The cost of A.I. may seem high, but you don't have to feed the bull or fix/replace what he tears up.
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