Dexter Breeders: Bull with cows?

[MisFitFarm]

Do you keep your bull in with your cows all the time? We don't have ours yet, but when we do, it will be easier if they can be together all the time. But, how would you know when your cows were due?

[genebo]

The natural order of things is for the bull to have a herd of several cows and their calves. That's how I keep them here and it works very well. The bull manages his herd.

If you're good and keep good records, you'll know when your cow is due to come in heat. The first time she doesn't come into heat, you'll know she settled the last time she was in heat. If you're good.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[Timberline]

I'd like to run my bull with the cows year round, but can't. Due to the climate (long, cold winters lasting well into April) where I live, I have to have control over when the calves are born. Also, I would worry incessantly about my heifers being bred too young.

If you work away from home a lot, it could be hard to be hard to know when the cows will be due, as you may not see when they are in heat and being bred.

[copperhead46]

I keep my bull with the cows, but, one reason I'm able is that we don't have the long,long winters so I really don't care when my cows calve. I usually have my last ones in December, and the next batch starts in late March. I do pull young heifers away to another pasture, so that I don't get them bred too young, but I put them back with the herd at a year old.
I just keep an eye on them and when I see the bull staying real close, I mark my calender and have a good idea when to expect a calf, I also can keep track of the number of heats she goes through before settling.
P.J.

[winton]

Aren't there health risks if the bull re-breeds the cow too soon after she calves?

[genebo]

If the cow is not in the best of health and condition it could be harmful. Being pregnant and nursing are both a drain on the cow. If she's not thrifty and tends to lose condition in either circumstance, I'd delay rebreeding her.

In a family herd situation, the bull and cows behave differently than they would in a mixed herd or as strangers being introduced to each other. A bull will breed any strange cow that's in heat, at any time. When he's in a stable family herd, with only one bull, he manages his cows. Rebreeding comes at the most natural time.

In my family herd, I've had an extraordinary cow calve just 9 months after her previous calf. She never looked the least bit put out by it. The longest she ever took between calves was 12 months. They came at 10, 9, 10, 12 and 11 months. The guy that has her now breeds her every 15 months, since he's milking her. She's fat as a butterball now.

Dexters seem to be pretty sturdy about keeping their condition up. I just had my bull tested for feed efficiency and he scored very high. Of course, all you had to do was look at my barren pastures and his fat butt to know that, anyway.

Genebo
Paradise Farm