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will maxwell
EX95
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Registered: 06-2003
Location: Markethill, Larne, Armagh?!
Posts: 614
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 Bull Calves
We seem to be having a problem this year with our natural service sire, a Lee son, he seems to be a mans man! NO he's not gay, he's producing too many sons. We only milk a small commercial herd of around 40 - 50 cows, and natural service suits our system well. This year though the 'new boy' (his first year in action) has given us 5 heifer calves so far! So even if the remaining 6 dry cows all have heifers (which I doubt) we still won't be anywhere near 50/50.
Has anyone else ever experienced this? Is there a reason for it? Will he do the opposite next year and produce a shed load of daughters?
We're contemplating selling him, but Murphy's law dictates he would go on to produce 90% daughters in some other blokes herd!
Is it possible to have a bull tested for his ability to produce daughters? I'm against using sexed semen, but this is going too far!! :uo
---
Stuck in an office. 'I'm a dairy farmer, get me outta here!!'
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28/4/2004, 9:51
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FiringOnAllFour
Ex97
Cyborg
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Registered: 01-2004
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1835
Karma: 41 (+41/-0)
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Re: Bull Calves
I wish I had a good answer that you would find helpful. Someone else might.
All I can suggest is that the size of your herd will have an impact on the distribution of males and females. Lets say, in a five thousand cow herd, you will theoretically get close to fifty fifty. But it is possible that in that herd you could get a near straight run of e.g. 500 bull calves. Your run of bulls is not unusual, and it may or may not happen next year. Therefore, as with bull proofs, numbers of progeny are important.
Other than that, I have heard it suggested that the uterine environment of the cow may have a bearing on which sperm are favoured.
Oh, the joys of predestined randomness.
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28/4/2004, 14:12
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cook
GP82
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Registered: 02-2004
Posts: 23
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Re: Bull Calves
I don't know whether this will be any help.
But the fact is that ,Male semen runs alot quicker to the female egg ,whilst the female semen is slower and seems to survive alot longer. This is how they are able to drain off the male semen with sexed.
So maybe a thought might be to put the bull in with the cow or heifer earlier in heat ,so the male semen might of died and female semen will chugg up and hit the egg at the right time.
I'm no scientist, and i haven't a clue whether it will work . But it could be worth ago.
The first point is true .
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30/4/2004, 14:57
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FiringOnAllFour
Ex97
Cyborg
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Registered: 01-2004
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 1835
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Re: Bull Calves
Good point Cook. We have been AIing fairly promptly for that purpose for years now, but I hadn't thought of applying it to this bull scenario.
Our stock bull of last year was mad keen to serve. He has thrown us three heifers out of 15 calves so far.
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30/4/2004, 18:25
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Big Bird
Cowtalk Staff
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Registered: 06-2003
Posts: 3062
Karma: 33 (+33/-0)
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Re: Bull Calves
Don't think I would risk giving him the option again next year if you rely as heavily as that on one bull.
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30/4/2004, 20:18
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