|
|
Post by jdcarnathan on Jan 1, 2014 18:23:07 GMT -5
My wife found a 3 month old mini longhorn/dexter cross bull that's is gorgeous. We are planning on selling our bull next year after he breeds the cows back this fall. I was wondering with the age diff of 3 months to 18months if that would be a problem in the same field. For the next year
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502 
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Jan 3, 2014 21:27:45 GMT -5
Do you mean the age difference between the two bulls? But surely the dexter-Longhorn cross isn't being sold yet? He's awfully young to be weaned IMO if you want him to achieve his full growth and potential and use him for breeding.
Just calculating here . . . If you want your bull to breed your cows in the fall (September?) that is 9 months away. In 9 months the bull calf will be a year old. From what I've heard about Dexters, he will already have been capable of breeding your cows himself by then, perhaps as early as 7-9 months old. Are you planning for all the cattle to be in the same field--bull calf, bull and cows? What about young heifers, if any of your cows have heifer calves?
Or do you plan to keep the two bulls together and just put the older bull in with the cows to breed? It seems that would be the only way to guarantee which bull breeds the cows.
As far as how it would work with just the two bulls in the same field, sorry, I can't give any help there.
|
|
|
|
Post by carragheendexters on Jan 4, 2014 18:31:37 GMT -5
Hi jd,
Susan is right, 3 months is a little young to be weaned. It would be advisable to at least feed him supplementary, high protein twice a day feed to give him a good start in life. To do that you will have to separate him from the older bull twice a day to feed him. Are you able to do that? If you try and feed the 2 together, the older bull will probably chase the calf off and eat most of the feed, which he probably doesn't need.
They will be fine together, bulls get a long well as long as you don't try and introduce together 2 older mature, dominant bulls who don't know each other. They will fight.
A young calf will not even resemble a bull to your older one, he won't yet even smell like a bull, not much testosterone circulating.
The older bull is only 18months, not yet mature, so he should not be too bossy yet.
regards Louise
|
|
|
|
Post by jdcarnathan on Jan 4, 2014 19:37:06 GMT -5
hey folks, sorry for the slow response. I will post pics of the new bull calf. He is seperated and down by the barn right now, eating creep feed and calf manna really well (2x daily), with some free choice hay and water. I have him down there with a couple 7 month old dexter cross calves and he seems pretty darn happy. We have figured a way around it though, a lady that has been looking to buy a bull. We had talked about lettign her just borrow the bull and feeding him and keeping him for a month. Talked with her today, and have the agreement she will buy the bull, at a good price and go ahead and take him, but this fall I get to use him for a month to service our ladies. It all works out in the end. I will post pics of the youngin shortly. Thanks for all the ideas yall.
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Jan 4, 2014 20:25:36 GMT -5
Looking forward to seeing pictures of him!
|
|
|
|
Post by jdcarnathan on Jan 4, 2014 23:38:20 GMT -5
Pictures are up! We are thinking of the name Domino
|
|
|
|
Post by hollydzie on Jan 5, 2014 10:45:36 GMT -5
He is darling, I love his black nose.
Holly
|
|
zephyrhillsusan
member
Caught Dexteritis in Dec. 2009. Member of this forum since Oct. 2013.
Posts: 1,502
|
Post by zephyrhillsusan on Jan 5, 2014 12:14:15 GMT -5
Got it--photos in photo section. Duh!
|
|
