Jersey bull question

[Donna from Mo]

Since I've always used A.I in years past when I had a herd of Jerseys, I don't know much about the bulls (except I know they're dangerous if you keep them too long). I know Jersey heifers start coming in heat as young as five months old (my Secret has already been in heat, at six months old); but at what age can a Jersey bull breed? I have an opportunity to buy a ten-day-old Jersey bull calf, but I'd like to know about what age my heifer would be when he was able to breed her.

[luvrulz]

We usually don't breed our heifers until they're 18 months at least - just our opinion here! The bulls, I think are usually able to breed at 8 months, I'm thinking.....

[Donna from Mo]

I like 18 months also. Since she is almost 7 months, and he's 10 days old, it might work out pretty well. Perhaps they'd both be ready at about the right time.

[dosthouhavemilk]

We start breeding around 14-15 months old. Our hefiers are good sized at that point.

Jersey bulls can be fertile as early as 8 months old, but 10 months is closer to the norm for Jersey bulls.
Sounds like the timing is about perfect.

Teach him to lift his head for chin scratches if you feel you need to interact with him. Be ready to have him gone by 15 months at the latest. She ought to be bred by then if she is the only animal. 18 months is about the time most dairy bulls will turn, but they can turn earlier.

[JulieLou42]

I had to "process" my 10.5 mo. old 1/2 Jersey steer cuz he then got rather mean. Always was a feisty one anyway. He was always trying to stump his mama.