Can cows bred together that.....

[arabianequine]

Are related? Like a mom and her son (sounds so wrong) or a bull and his daughter?

I ask cause if I get a heifer then I get a bull and mate them together then the bull is no good to his kids, just that one cow....so should I just rent or look into artificial insemination?

 

[elevan]

Like any animal there are good and bad traits that are gonna be potential when you breed closely related animals (cattle included).

Personally I think it would be too much hassle to keep a bull and I'd look into AI...another member just had it done for $20 (straw and procedure total).

 

[animalfarm]

Yes you can, but best to the best and eat the rest. Not worth it to keep a bull for one cow. A lot of headaches for low return.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

You could, but it's highly unrecommended especially if you don't know the genetic history of either animal. Inbreeding can bring about a lot of nasty genetic disorders that aren't usually seen when breeding an unrelated bull to an unrelated heifer or cow, resulting in higher calf losses and lower production rates in such calves born through inbreeding.

If you are just going to have one female on your farm, forget buying a bull. A lot of beginners think that cattle are monogamous breeders like humans are and that it's totally fine to have one bull with one cow when they start up. This couldn't be farther from the truth. A bull will not bond with just one cow and mate with her for life, he will have a harem of females that range from 10 to 50 females that he is able to breed in one breeding season. If you buy one bull with one heifer or cow, you will get a bull that will become highly destructive of your property and be a sink for much of the costs you need to spend to keep such a beast. Bulls will wreck fences if they get a whiff of another cow in heat that is a mile away, and get a bit aggressive towards you if you don't make sure you are assertive towards him at all times.

It is FAR less costly to get your heifer AI'd (artificially inseminated) by an AI tech. You may also want to consider purchasing a weaned beef steer or two to keep her company (since cattle are herd animals and don't like being alone), and also as a source of beef if and when you want to have some.

But please, PLEASE don't buy a bull for just one heifer or cow!!

 

[arabianequine]

Where would I even look into AI?

I am not totally new to cows. I have raised some already. I just have not bred yet.

I am wanting a meat breed. I have only raised dairy cows to this point.

I will wait till I get a herd of heifers before we get are own bull.

I also have goats and a horse for company, for now.

 

[elevan]

Your vet could possibly do AI for you or tell you who does in your area.

Also talk to the person you'll be purchases your cattle from.

 

[kstaven]

Another potentially deadly mix is does in heat, a buck, and a bull.

 

[PattySh]

Not sure where you are but I am the member who paid $20 total, $10 for the semen(calving ease Jersey bull) and $10 for the procedure. I used GENEX. Stop in to your local feed store or closest farmer and ask who they use. Best way to get the name of the closest AI guy. I noticed my Jersey/Holstein heifer in heat and the AI guy came within a couple of hours. I was so excited to get my 22 month old heifer bred, raised her from a baby and she will be our family milk cow if all goes as planned. You can also google Genex online.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Where would I even look into AI?

I am not totally new to cows. I have raised some already. I just have not bred yet.

I am wanting a meat breed. I have only raised dairy cows to this point.

I will wait till I get a herd of heifers before we get are own bull.

I also have goats and a horse for company, for now.

So you're wanting a breeding herd, or are you just wanting an animal for your freezer or a bit of both?

 

[arabianequine]

Where would I even look into AI?

I am not totally new to cows. I have raised some already. I just have not bred yet.

I am wanting a meat breed. I have only raised dairy cows to this point.

I will wait till I get a herd of heifers before we get are own bull.

I also have goats and a horse for company, for now.

So you're wanting a breeding herd, or are you just wanting an animal for your freezer or a bit of both?

Yes we will use some beef for our freezer maybe keep a bull and band it right away.....to raise for beef for us. We do want to raise and sell all the males we don't need though that our heifers have.