Should we castrate our 4.5 month old calf?

[rootsong]

You all have been so helpful to us super newbies. I thank you! And now I have another question:

A week ago we purchased a Jersey milk cow that had a "about 4 months old" calf on her. The calf isn't hers, it's a Hereford/Holstien cross. The previous owners had planned to breed him back to the Jersey next year so didn't have him banded. We would rather put him in the freezer.

So, at "around 4 months old", should we castrate him? Will keeping him around for the 16 or so months until we have him butchered be too difficult for a couple of super newbies with zero cattle experience? Should we just eat him sooner before he starts to get "bullish" (when is that anyway?) ?

What would you do?

Thank you thank you!


http://thisblessedlife-aubrey.blogspot.com/

[springvalley]

YES, cut him as soon as it gets cold out that there are no flies. > Thanks Marc

[brentcu]

They kept a Hereford/Holstein cross calf to raise for a while to later breed to a Jersey cow? Seems a little random to use a crossbred bull, but I don't know their situation.

I'm with Marc - castrate the calf. Turn this one into beef.

[Ronney]

Yes, agree with others. Castrate him as soon as possible. In another few months he will be starting to feel his oats and by the time he's a year old you could find your little Jersey is in calf to him.

I don't know if you've made any arrangements to get your cow back in calf but try and find a nice Angus bull for her - the Jersey/Angus make a good cross if your looking at keeping her calves for the freezer.

Cheers,
Ronnie

[BlackWillowFarm]

Yes, get it taken care of soon. They can be pushy little buggars even after they've been steered. Don't be afraid to enforce your personal space with him either. My steers have to stay away from me unless I invite them in. Otherwise, you never know when you'll get a bump from behind or a side swipe kick as they pass by.

Are you using the Jersey milk for the house? If you are and you want to keep it going I would breed her to another Jersey in hopes of getting a replacement heifer calf but even if you get a bull calf, Jersey meat is delicious.

[rootsong]

Awesome, thanks.

Can we still use the rubber banding method if he's around 6 mos old? We do have a ton of flies right now, waiting until it gets cold sounds very smart.

We're told she's already been bred back to an "A1 Jersey" & is due in April. We are using her milk to drink. Yum.

Thanks for the steer advice as well. I have so much to learn about bulls & steers. He's a really docile little calf right now. I'm extremely pregnant (due in 17 days!) so I've been extra careful around him, and the Jersey for that matter. But they're both really sweet.

[G. Seddon]

Suggestion: Give him a tetanus shot now, then in 3-4 weeks a tetanus booster at the same time you band him.

[Oxankle]

Yes, You can band him, but get the shots like Seddon says. When you band him, get the band up high and make sure you have both testicles well below the band.