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For most spring-calving suckler herds, the breeding season should be nearing an end. Cows served this weekend will calve down in the last week of May based on a 285-day gestation.
Therefore, herd owners should now be thinking about when they want cows to finish calving next spring.
Removing the stock bull this week will bring the calving season to a definite end in May next year, just before the breeding season resumes for another year.
Safety
If you choose to remove the bull, be mindful of safety. Bulls can become extremely aggressive when taken away from cows.
If you decide to rehouse the bull, bringing in a couple of cull cows, or dry cows will keep the animal settled.
An alternative is to remove the bull and graze him separately from the main herd. Again, running a couple of dry cows with the herd sire will keep the bull settled.
Scanning
If removing the bull is not practical, then leaving the animal with the main breeding herd is the best and safest option.
However, you should scan the cows at housing and use this info to decide when calving will finish next spring.
You need to be ruthless. Where the bulk of cows calve over March and April, holding a few stragglers that slip into June before they calve is not worth the hassle.
Pick a date you want calving to finish. Offload cows which will calve after this date. More often than not, it will only be a handful of cows.
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