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FAQ #28787

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We have 110 cows and want to run 3 mature bulls together with the herd. These bulls have never run together before. Is the risk of them fighting too great? If they do fight, any suggestion on how to separate them?

Related resource areas: Beef Cattle

If the bulls have not been co-mingled before the breeding season, then there is a good chance that there will be some fighting. The fighting will establish a hierarchy/dominance among the three bulls. Obviously, the bulls have a significant risk of injury. If the bulls are in a pasture, then there will be the opportunity for bulls to separate themselves, which is good. Manage these bulls together and the fighting will be less. The key is how you introduce young bulls to mature bulls. Don't introduce them to one another in a tight pen because the young bulls will likely be injured. Introduce them in a pasture where the young bull can avoid a lot of contact with the older mature bulls.

Three bulls for 110 cows is pushing the upper limit for bull to cow ratio. This calculates to 36 females per bull. This may be ok if all the bull are mature bulls, have had a recent Breeding Soundness Evaluation, and the terrain of the pature is not rough.
Monitor the breeding pasture often during the breeding season to make sure bulls are covering cows in heat.

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