Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Smallhold Farming and Rural Living => Livestock and Growing on a larger scale => Topic started by: Tiggs on February 16, 2011, 21:22

Title: Bull Calves
Post by: Tiggs on February 16, 2011, 21:22

To show as a young farmer, you cannot show any cattle over 18 months old or any males entire. At the moment my Belted Galloway calf is entire still, as he has not properly dropped. He is 8 months old this month. Would any one know what age males calves should have their testicles drop??

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: arugula on February 17, 2011, 09:32

According to a few minutes internet research, a young bull can be ready for work at the age of 12 months, so I would say by then.

:)

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: Tiggs on February 17, 2011, 19:02

Thanks for the help!!! :)

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: sion01 on February 20, 2011, 23:05

Sorry for being stupid but I don't quite understand if you want to keep the calf entire or not.If you want to have it castrated talk to a vet.They are much easier to do when younger(smaller).Doing them in the summer can also cause aproblem as infection/blow fly strike is much more lightly and a long course of antibiotics can follow.

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: arugula on February 21, 2011, 06:59

I understood that the question was about the window in which the calf can be shown.

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: sion01 on February 21, 2011, 20:48

sorry :wub:

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: Tiggs on February 22, 2011, 17:17

What i wanted to know was what age bull calves generally dropas the vet said give it a month and then we might have to resort an operation can cost between £500 - 4000! This way above what he is worth and therefore we have come to the decision that if he does not drop then he will have to be sold and then replaced. I just wnated to know if there was a possibility of him dropping after 9 months old.

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: arugula on February 22, 2011, 17:22

Oh well then according to what I read, you could wait until 12 months old to find out.

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: Tiggs on February 22, 2011, 17:28

But i can't wait until then, because iat 12 months old he will be taken to Kent County Show and I can't show him as bull calf, and i will need time to sell him and then halter train a replacement  ??? Thanks anyway though.

Title: Re: Bull Calves
Post by: Gandan57 on March 27, 2011, 13:12

We used to have bull calves castrated by the scalpel method when they were six weeks old so it seems like you have a problem.