The Barn
Freesteading group focused on the discussion of livestock.
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What would you do?
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What would you do?
I purchased these heifers from an organic dairy as bottle babies when they were a few days old. They are 3 months old now, growing good and doing very well. I plan to move them to the new property in a few months (or whenever the place is ready for them). My problem is that I can’t decide if I should look for a bull calf. I definitely don’t want to keep a dairy bull and I don’t know if a dexter bull would be able to cover a holstein heifer? I know there are other breeds as well as other options but the future looks so uncertain. I could really use some help to make a decision here.
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9 Replies
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When the time comes you can cover them with a beef breed bull.
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So when the time comes, you think I should make arrangements with a farmer that keeps a meat breed bull? I have been thinking of this option.
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Yes, here in Florida it is a common practice.
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Hum, the power of community. I like it 👌
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First off, your heifers need to finish growing up. We never bred our beef heifers until the summer they were 2 years old.. I don’t know what dairy farmers do, but that extra time gave our first calf heifers the best chance of producing a live calf, with minimal delivery challenges.
As for finding a bull, this gives you time to get to know other farmers, see what their breed/ livestock are like. Attend county fairs & livestock events like Cattlemen’s Associations, County Extension Agricultural tours & seminars.
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Wait for now, no sense in feeding a bull at this point.
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I definitely agree with you about that. Feed has gone through the roof.
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Most dairy farmers breed their heifers to freshen/calve at 2 years old. With a 9 month gestation, that means you breed them when they are 15 months old.
In our area, you can rent a beef bull to use when your heifers are old enough. IMO, beef bulls crossed with dairy heifers give you the best of both worlds. Their heifer offspring produce lots of milk and raise good calves. Their bull offspring have enough of the beef in them to grow well for meat.
Many beef breeds cross well with Holsteins. Hereford or Black Angus are both usually readily available and are both very good choices.
Have fun with your heifers. You will have lots of milk when they have their calves.
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👍 thank you.
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