I might be crazy!

I am quite likely going off my rocker LOL. Josie my Belfair(JerseyxDexter) family cow is getting up there in age and I have been thinking about raising a replacement for when she passes on for a while now. She is 15 maybe 16 still going strong but it takes 2-3 years before I can milk a replacement from her. So I bought a Dexter bull 1 1/2 years ago and she is due in July to him. I did not like Tiny the dexter bulls horns so I sold him a couple months ago. Then the people I sold him to decided to downsize their Dexter herd further and I bought "Beauty" a purebred Dexter from milk lines and sweet as pie that was dehorned. She lost her calf due to freezing in March. Friends of ours bought a yearling Dexter polled bull from them too.... figured we'd AI with Jersey and use him as back up. Well yesterday I had a lady come out to buy some chicks and she mentioned that her neighbour had a yearling Jersey bull for sale .... Guess what? Yup I foolishy bought him. Now I will have 2 chances at a heifer calf for next year. If the bull is docile enough I will keep him around but if he shows signs of Dairy bull crazy he's in the freezer. Hoping to at least use him next year too. If memory serves dairy bulls get more aggressive with age.

So am i nuts or what? Not like I dont have enough to do around the farm already.

Not crazy at all Anne, I would do the same thing if I didnt have a hubby raised on a dairy and absoultely will not allow me a bull...I have an older Jersey as well I wanted to AI or breed Jersey this year, just not working out, so will be bred to our Angus bull again. The crosses are nice but the pures are just so beautiful.
Congratts, do you have a picture of your new boy?

I was planning to pick him up tomorrow but I might not be able to get there til Tuesday.

I had a hatch of 14 Saxony today

Congrats on your new bulls and your ducks. By the way, I don't think your crazy either

Not crazy at all. I have seen a few different Jersey bulls around the age of 2 that are still halter broke and leadable with NO nose ring. Now, I havent seen any older then that. As I understand with jersey bulls is the aggression does come with age, however I have seen some that by 6 months are trying to run you down too. I have thought of getting a Jersey bull myself. For this year I am donig two to my Highland bull and one is going to be AI. I have two bulls here, but that is mostly so that my herd bull has a sparring partner.

Congrats!
That is a great hatch on the Saxony ducks...good for you!

no your not crazy we did the same thing this year with goats as we lost our buck last year and had to use amy's. Never can be too prepared

Maybe we just all are nuts

Just a question ...........why feed a bull when you could have done a artifical breeding ? I've had bulls as well as I found that as far as the cost for the vet /artifical breeding that I couldn't justify keeping a bull around all year ? Just a thought ??

The decision to keep a bull is one purely of conveniece However, with keeping a bull we'd have guaranteed coveraged of the cows and no need to watch daily for signs of estrus. As a family we are constantly on the go so watching would be difficult and pretty sure we would miss it the cycle. I believe there is a relatively small window for AIing to be successful. At least that is what a local dairy farmer told me. Feed costs are not an issue due to plentiful pasture and hay. One last reason for the bull, a couple of friends also have milk cows in need of servicing so he would be covering 6 cows this year.