Bulls: power up!
The bull team will be more important than ever this year, especially if farmers choose to shorten the AI period or use bulls instead of AI.
From hundreds of discussions that advisers had with farmers about bulls in 2008, InCalf can confidently say that not having enough bulls is still the number one issue.
It is easier than ever to make sure you have enough bulls by using InCalf's Bulls: power up!
All you have to remember is this simple rule of thumb.
Rule of thumb
|
Seasonal/split calving herds
(using AI and bulls) |
3 bulls for every 100 cows at mating start date (start of AI)
or 4 per 100 if mating synchrony is used |
|
Year-round calving herds
(no AI) |
2 bulls for every 100 milking cows |
Write down the number of bulls needed for your herd on the reminder card and pin it up in the dairy.
Not planning to use AI this year?
If you don’t plan to use AI this year and you are relying 100% on your bulls to get your cows in calf, then you will need a bull team of 6 bulls for every 100 cows, this includes spare bulls for rotation.
Tips to keep your bull team in top shape
- Have the bulls on the farm by mating start date;
- Rotate the bulls frequently – e.g. run half the bulls with the herd at any one time, spell the rest, rotate the group at least weekly;
- Avoid fighting by grouping bulls of similar size, age and temperament;
- Always run a minimum of two bulls with a small mob;
- Use bulls aged between 15 months and 4 years;
- Vaccinate, especially for Vibrio and Pestivirus (BVD);
- Get your vet to check for Pestivirus (BVD) and discuss ways to manage it.
A dairy farmer’s solution for bull fighting and lameness
A Gippsland dairy farmer milking 240 cows has reduced fighting and lameness amongst the bulls on his farm by setting up a day–night rotation system using three groups of bulls. The bull groups are left at different locations on the farm where the cows go for day and night grazing. Each group works for about 12 of 36 hours. This gives the bulls good rotations and plenty of rest, and helps minimise fighting by restricting movement around the farm.
He also makes sure that his bulls don’t come onto the milking yard. He leaves the bulls in the paddocks, allowing them a fresh pick of grass, while cows are being milked.
The farmer recommends, “Getting the bulls there early or leasing them from one source where they have already established their pecking order is ideal” and “keeping them in a stable working team is important to minimise fighting.”
InCalf’s: Bulls power up! resources
News grabs
Put a news grab in your client newsletter to help farmers get the most from their bull teams.
The main concerns farmers have about managing a bull team are bull temperament, fighting and lameness. The following news grabs deal with these issues.
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