Quality bulls demand year-round attention
Quality bulls demand year-round attention
Paying high prices for top quality recorded bulls could net
an extra £31/calf, according to the MLC. But maximising
return on investment means taking good care of them.
Marianne Curtis visited a unit in Lincs to find out how
ITS a hard life being a bull. Stuck in solitary confinement for most of the year, followed by a few months of excitement before going back inside. But bulls at the 1200ha (2965 acre) Park House Estate, South Elkington, receive careful treatment and most give six or seven years reliable service.
Charles Dobson has strict, but simple criteria when purchasing bulls. "I buy from Carlisle bull sales because you have nothing to compare bulls with on individual farms."
Of the 60 or so bulls at the sale, Mr Dobson immediately discounts half because they have no EBV. "I check EBVs of the remainder, work out the average and only buy those with average scores or higher."
At the last sale Mr Dobson attended, 15 bulls met his criteria on EBVs. "Of these, three didnt come to the sale and four were too young at less than two years old. This left eight to choose from and I needed three. At this stage I consider looks and calving ease. As usually happens, I ended up with one bargain, one at about the right price and paid over the odds for another. The maximum Ive paid for a bull is £4000. Few at Carlisle fetch more."
Unrecorded, average quality sires have been making £3200 this spring, says MLC beef scientist Duncan Pullar. "Top 1% Beef Vale sires have averaged £4500/head – a purchase premium of £1300/head."
However, this premium is almost repaid within a year through faster growing progeny with superior conformation, he says. "Progeny from top 1% bulls produce 75% U grade carcasses, compared with 25% from average quality sires and they finish 28 days earlier."
With this in mind, bull genetics are Mr Dobsons priority. "Many suckler producers have become hung up over the Holstein influence, but I am more focused on bull genetics and Im not too worried about cows genetic make up."
Most cows on the farm are Holstein Friesians crossed with a beef breed. "We use some second crosses, but I try to keep cows at least one-quarter Holstein Friesian so they milk well."
The herd calves from late February to May. It is being reduced from 450 cows to about 200 by October to meet Country-side Stewardship requirements – including no fertiliser applications to grassland. "We are not yet sure how many cows grassland will support without fertiliser, but we aim to continue with as many as possible," says Mr Dobson.
Traditionally, bulls have run with cows for 11 weeks to ensure a tight calving pattern, but Mr Dobson has extended this period by two weeks to improve conception rates.
"The 11-week period was based on MLC advice, which I now disagree with. On the 11-week bulling period, 18% of cows were not in calf. I investigated possible reasons for this, such as infection, nutrition and condition score, but failed to come up with a satisfactory solution. But since weve extended the bulling period the barren rate has fallen to 7%."
Although they are not introduced to cows until late May, bulls are turned out in February. "Bulls go out as soon as conditions allow. They benefit from having hard ground to walk on which is impossible to achieve in straw bedded pens."
Having bulls out before the service period also gives them time to adapt, rather than suddenly being turned out and expected to perform, adds Mr Pullar.
There are several paddocks on the farm for bulls, says Mr Dobson. "These are alongside woodland or on in arable field corners which are difficult to cultivate or dont grow much. Young bulls are penned together, but older ones must be kept separate because they become cantankerous."
Before turnout, the vet trims bulls feet where necessary. At turnout they receive 4kg of sugar beet pulp, extra minerals and haylage. As grass grows, supplementary feeding is reduced.
Diet over winter is based on cow rations and aims to achieve and maintain a condition score of 3-3.5, adjusted to meet individual bull requirements.
It is important to keep them in good condition, but not overfat pre-service, says Mr Pullar. "They are expected to do 13 weeks of hard work during the service period and will lose condition during the early part. However, dont allow them to become too fat because this increases pressure on their legs."
Mr Dobson operates on a ratio of 40 cows/bull and likes to have at least one spare bull. "There is nothing worse than having a bull go lame and nothing to replace him with."
He uses Belgian Blue bulls on cows and the lighter Limousin breed on heifers. "Calves are sold privately as stores. Bulls are sold at 325kg at the end of October to a finisher in the south-east and last year averaged 115p/kg. Heifers went in March at 330-360kg fetching 90-95p/kg."
With bulls on the farm giving 6-7 years work, Mr Dobson is well above the national average, says Mr Pullar.
"Nationally, bulls only average four years work. Lack of out-of-season care is the main problem." *
Turning bulls out as early as possible is best for their health, according to Charles Dobson (left) and Duncan Pullar.
Selecting bulls with high Beef Values makes cow genetics less of a priority at Park House Estate.
BULLCARE
• Turn out early.
• Trim feet.
• Feed carefully.