In the table below, the bull-to-cow ratio with the best economic return is one bull to 25 cows (Table 1).
How many bulls are needed?
General recommendations for bull:cow ratios: The textbook recommendation for bull:cow ratio is typically 1 bull:20-30 females, with mature bulls closer to the 1:30 ratio and yearling bulls at 1 bull:20 cows.
How many bulls can you have in a herd?
Depending on where you live, historic bull-stocking rates can run from one bull to 10 cows up to one bull to 30 or more cows. It depends on the country, the age and ability of the bulls, but not necessarily logic.
How many times will a bull breed a cow?
Two Breeding Seasons per Year:
This puts additional management onto these producers to ensure that bulls will be prepared to serve cows at each breeding season. With two breeding seasons per year, bulls have a shorter time to replenish their weight loss before the next breeding season.
How long does a bull need to be with cows?
To achieve the ideal calving distribution, the guidelines for the length of mating are: maximum 60 days for bulls run with cows. minimum 45 days for bulls run with cows (if bulls are not run with the cows for long enough, the calving percentage is decreased).
How many acres do bulls need?
On average, you can have around 0.4 to 0.8 head of cattle per acre if you want to ensure the grazing at the proper rate. Keep in mind that one head of cattle (or one Animal Unit) often refers to the cow and calf pair.
How many years should you keep a bull?
A generally accepted guideline is to purchase/use only yearling bulls that have a minimum 32-cm scrotal circumference. Bulls can remain in service until they are 10 or 12 years of age. However, this is not the norm and usually remain in the herd for 4 to 5 years.
How much should I pay for a bull?
One is that a bull should be worth two-and-a-half times a finished steer. At today’s market, the steer is worth almost $2,000, so a bull would be worth $5,000. Another thumb rule says a bull is worth five times the price of a steer calf. Do that math, and you arrive at about the same number for the bull: $5,000.
Are bulls worth more than cows?
If we use these bulls on an average of 40 cows over 4 years and wean 95% of the calves, we will expect Bull A to wean 3040 more pounds of calf. At $2.25 per pound, that is $6840 more value over the life of the bull.
Getting More Pounds.
| Bull A | Bull B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4000 | $2000 |
Can multiple bulls be kept together?
If a producer has multiple bulls, they should be kept in compatible groups. This usually means keeping the young bulls separate from the older bulls, not just for feeding purposes, but to prevent fighting and injuries.
Can you breed a bull back to his daughter?
You can have father-daughter matings in beef cattle, but it is not recommended. This type of breeding practice is called inbreeding or close breeding. Again, this breeding practice is rarely practiced today, although it was common in the foundation animals of most breeds.
Can a bull live with cows year round?
The good news is: It is possible to leave bulls with the cows year-round and still maintain a calving season of three months or less.
Can you breed a bull back to his mother?
What are the do’s and don’ts of breeding a bull to his daughter, mother, granddaughter, or sister? Mating any of the above would result in a high level of inbreeding. Generally speaking, inbreeding of this nature should be avoided.
What is the best age to butcher a bull?
Prime. Slaughter steers and heifers 30 to 42 months of age possessing the minimum qualifications for Prime have a fat covering over the crops, back, ribs, loin, and rump that tends to be thick. The brisket, flanks, and cod or udder appear full and distended and the muscling is very firm.
What month should you breed cows?
The breeding season I use for my cows is February through April. The cow’s gestation period is about 9.5 months, so my calving season will be from November-January. By using a controlled breeding season and knowing when the calving season will be each year, ranchers can optimize herd management.
How often should you change bulls?
First, you can replace your bull every third year (use him for only two consecutive breeding seasons). This is usually not a very popular choice, but it is a necessary one if you plan to keep replacement heifers from within your herd.
How many cows can 20 acres support?
The general rule of thumb is 1:1. That means one cow per one acre of pasture.
How much does it cost to maintain a bull for a year?
So there’s $1100 of value plus expenses to figure in. It costs about $2 a day to maintain a breeding animal. This includes the land, feed, mineral, vet, and so on. That adds up to $730 a year.
How many cows can a bull service in a month?
One rule of thumb is that a bull can service about as many cows as his age in months. Therefore, a 15-month-old bull should be able to service approximately 15 cows in a typical 60-day breeding season.
What is a bull’s favorite food?
They include things such as silage, grass, and hay. Although not particularly nutritious, roughages will give the bull enough fibers so that it has good digestion. As such, they will keep the animal’s tissue healthy. Therefore, these substances should represent the majority of the bull’s diet.
Can a 7 month old bull breed a cow?
Overall, bulls reach puberty between the ages of 9 and 10 months. About three weeks before reaching puberty, male calves begin showing interest in the opposite sex. However, just because the bull is capable of breeding before reaching his first birthday doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.