Stud service???

Im interested in more cows yes. I want to run 3 girls and one boy. But want and what happens are 2 totally diffrent things.
The girl ran with 3 leased bulls in a pen of 100 cows/heifers. She dosent own the girls she leased the bull I want to buy to the cows owners.
The girl is not regestered. I dont care about the girls to be regestered I just want them for milk and making meat. The bull I could make more off if he stays regestered. Shes charging 1000 for the bull ans the new cow is 1200.
Am I being SCREWED????

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I'm so done here.

There is no way to judge without knowing more about the bull. My best bull's full brother sold for $7,000, I've never priced my best bull for sale. My favorite bull cost $500.

To be frank, I don't care for this whole deal you're describing. Too many uncertainties and questions as far as I'm concerned, but then I'm not on the scene and shouldn't be second-guessing you. In your place, I would want those papers and I would want them when any money changed hands. Nothing the owners of the bull are telling you about papers would be a part of any deal I would make; in my opinion, many of the things they are telling you are not in line with the truth as I know it.

Even if it's on the up and up, I'm concerned that you're a little inexperienced for taking on the stud service. Even a mild-mannered bull is a lot of animal to handle, and they get really, really, really, really focused on sex. A bull can NEVER, EVER be trusted. Mix in sex and a strange cow and things can go badly wrong. It is, however, a way to get lots of experience very quickly. Just be really, really careful handling him and plan well.

Maintaining a bull for three cows will get expensive. I hope you can manage enough additional breeding to make him worthwhile.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

AND BE CAREFUL!!!

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American by chance, Republican by choice, and Southern by the grace of God

I wouldnt be breeding him till i realy got to know him. Not here at least. I havent told her yet that im going to buy now. due to the major change with the cow. the whole deal may be off. im going to think long and hard before i say yes. My husband wants me to call and say well do it but I just dont know. Im dumb and could be bending over for a real stiff pole. Thats why i have all of you to help guide me.

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I'm so done here.

To be perfectly honest, I was wondering about the whole "stud service" thing. I know they do it like that with horses, but I have never, ever heard of anyone sending a cow out for breeding. AI is too easy and much cheaper. Everyone else had ideas about it so what do I know. Maybe highlands (being a specialty breed) are different?

I would not count on making the money back on him from the stud service thing. If you are only breeding 3 cows, then you need to think about that too. As far as waiting to use him...if he's bought to breed, he ought to start earning his keep the minute he hits your place.

Also, as a side note...the owners say he's proven, but I'd still insist on a semen test. He may or may not have sired those calves, also other factors can affect semen production...things could have changed. It is standard practice to have breeding bulls semen tested for the buyer. You should not have to pay for that.

Jena

Jena once again i agree with you
something sounds very fishy ,
now a 1000 is not an unfair price for a proven unregistered highland , thats what I sold my last senior bull for to a hereford crossbreeding program
He was a grand champion at teh NAILE oh ... so many years ago
I actually only paid 500 for him too ....

A BULL IN THE BOX IS CHEAPER THAN A BULL IN THE BARN !

Also health wise if you are planning on stud service ... you need to consider your insurance of both your animals as well as visiting animals
all it takes is one sick cow comeing to your fold and you could be in for a lot of expense for other folks animals ... your bull could pass some very contagious stuff ... like the various venerial diseases to say teh least

You need to have a good relationship with your vet and will want any cow comeing to visit to have a veterinary examination and health papers at cow owners expense .. and sign releases
you will need to stay on top of your bulls health as well
fertility testing at teh very least ...
a lot to think about

I believe i will pass on the bull and new cow. I think I will look into babies. I will feel more comforable with that. Besides i want to be able to haulter train the babies. These arne thaulter trained.

Any one know where I can get highland babies? lol
Im bad i know
thank you all for your help.

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I'm so done here.

Thank GOODNESS! Good idea passing on that DEAL! I dont know if its the way you describe things, or not. I just read the whole post and this is not how to enter into the cattle business. You need someone to go with you who you are NOT ever buying cattle from so you can have an honest pair of eyes and ears with you until you are more experienced. Great ambition though...I would not want to keep a bull unless I had at least a dozen cows to breed every year. That still is not the most economical, but when the bull does his job and is nice to handle, its better than trying to get all the girls bred by transporting them or AI, to me. I would stick with regestered Highland Cattle since the purebred registration will get you better money for the same feed/fencing/shelter costs. If you really like them and want to raise them for the long term. I like my polled Herefords myself! GOOD LUCK!
OF

I was really getting into this thread. I could not stop reading.

I was so relieved when you said that you would pass on this bull. I don't know much about bulls (or cattle) but I know that bulls can kill people and they do every year.

I was worried that you might not have all the experience that you might need for this particular bull. And sometimes experience can be very expensive.

Several years ago I tried to get my jersey to milk her when she was in heat in the pasture with our "gentle" bull. I got the rope on her and that was about all. Then I spent a good evening trying to get the rope OFF her. I had to get on one side of the fence and keep her on the other side of the fence with the bull. She didn't get milked that evening, but I did get to live.
Bulls are extremely focused on their job and I will never ever interfer with that again.

I wish you the very best with your budding cattle operation. It can be lots of fun.

We raise highlands and here is what I have found. We leased a bull in the early days. He came to our farm so we had to feed him. Paid $50 per cow that he serviced. We had planned to only keep him a short time but the owner was enjoying us feeding him too much and always had excuses why we could not return him when we attempted. After several months, we delivered him anyway. You should be able to get a good young bull starting at $1,000. Highlands are still a hobby farm cow so your customers are going to be looking for different things than say a $1,000 angus producer would. Don't get me wrong, I think highlands are a great beef animal but I will save my sales pitch for another time. One thing hobby farm owners are going to look for is color. They buy highlands because they look beautiful and they are gentle. Red is the most common color so they bring the lowest price (save your flame throwers, I'm just speaking from my experience). A colorful bull will sell faster and bring more, as will his colorful daughters. Seems that dun is the most desired color here right now. You can buy a bull, use him and then sell him for what you paid. All his service will cost you is the feed while you had him. Now for halter training the bull calf. I know people want their cows to be pets and yes that's great for cows but I personally do not want a bull that feels comfortable coming up to me for a treat or anything else. We bought a young spoiled bull like that and I set out to put the fear of God in him. Now he doesn't bother me and I never take my eye off him in the pasture. You don't want a wild hare but you don't need a pet bull either. He should have a good respect of you and be a little worried about coming into your space. Just my two cents mind you.