Re: strategy for bulls

[Guest guest]

Rose Marie: I kept a bull for 4 years, but you HAVE to have the proper fencing and containment facilities. Sammy the Bull was with his girls 24/7 and he just loved them and their calves. He was great with them. However, I did have a Highland that would break down the hot wire with her horns and so Sammy kept getting out and onto the road out here that is 50 MPH. So, I had to sell him. Had I not had the Highland and those horns and a bit more land, I would have kept the bull.

I find it much easier now to just do the A.I. thing. If and when I do get a bigger place with proper confindment facilities, I would absolutely keep another bull.

BUT, and this is a big but, I would ABSOLUTELY NOT keep a standard size Jersey bull, only a Mini Jersey bull. Standard size Jersey bulls have killed more people then any other breed of bull.

K.C.

strategy for bulls

I would like to hear what all you cattle keepers are doing with bulls!!!

I am trying to formulate a herd plan regarding the keeping or the not keeping of bulls!

Do you all keep a herd bull? Do you castrate all your bulls? Do you keep some bulls? If so, how do you keep them separated at mating time?

I've got to formulate a plan for my herd regarding bulls and not sure what to do? I would appreciate your ideas on this. I only have a small herd (under 10) and will always want to only keep about 8 girls.

Thanks for help!!!

Rose Marie

PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

I've got several bulls. We keep a couple each year from cows that do

the best on our farm. Then we end up with a few extra every year, but

more is not better. You want a ring in his nose to have some control

over them. Absolutely never take a bull for granted. They can move

faster than you could ever dream of and are extremely dangerous.

I still feel bulls are better than A.I. because you can select for

profitability where A.I. is anything but, with the few farms that

supply the firms with bulls from their cows that never see the light

of day and are nothing but garbage disposers. The best option with

A.I. is to use New Zealand genetics as they have selected for

durability and profitability. They have bred for components, cell

count, low input performance, etc. That is exactly the opposite of

what American firms have done.

If you keep him staked out it definately helps. We keep the bull

with the cows from July on but take him out in winter so we have no

calves before April. We also put them in with bred heifers and dry

cows in the off season if we don't want to stake them out. It depends

on the bull when they get mean. Usually by 2+ years old they can turn

at any time, but we just butchered one at about 18 months who turned

suddenly. Dairy breeds are worse than beef breeds.

Bulls love to rub and paw. Anything that can move such as water

tanks, mineral feeders, bale feeders, etc. is target. We,ve had them

paw holes several feet wide and 2 - 3 feet deep.

Cheyenne

[Guest guest]

Cheyenne,

I am assuming these are dairy breed bulls you are describing. At what

age do they start getting testy and hormonal? If our cow has a bull we

have a farmer who is interested in using him with his heifers next

year. I have heard that they are fine up to about a year, and

downright nasty by 15 months.

Weldon

A Bit of Earth Farm

Litchfield, Ohio

[Guest guest]

Hi Rose Marie,

We have a small herd as well and we raise one bull every 2 years and then change with a friend.

This year we strayed and bought ourselves a 1.100 lb boy who is very sweet and we hope is going to be able to do his job and in the fall he will be butchered no matter what he produces. Once they get to that size we no longer keep them as we have children around here all the time. Even though they cows are in the back pasture they have access to the path to the barn always. In the extreme heat like today they come up and the kids are curious.

I am presently raising a Jersey bull for myself and we will use him on my one Jersey and not the beef girls. Have you considered renting a bull? Many folks do this for the summer and it is very economical.

Regards, Bev Miskin Meadows Farm http://www.hawk.igs.net/~emerald/Farm/farmindex.html Owner VankleekHill_Freecycle http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VankleekHill_Freecycle

[Guest guest]

Thanks all for the bull advice!

Now, please let me know what your strategies have been for selling these bulls? How many different types of ads do you use, and what other method could I use for getting the word out that I have a bull for sale?

Thanks!!

Rose Marie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/10/2005 7:53:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, RawDairy writes:

Also it is really bad to make a pet out of a bull. I've read weshould never be really friendly to a bull. I have a hard time withthat one because I like super friendly animals. I try to avoid givingthe bulls attention when out scratching the heifers. I've had a youngfriendly bull get too aggressive rubbing on me and it's too hard toscare him off when he thinks you're playing with him.

We NEVER touch a bull's head EVER, no matter how small and cute he is at birth!

We have Jerseys and Holsteins and occasionally keep a Jersey herd sire around.

It's really not in your best interest to keep a bull around if you have no experience handling them. It isn't that expensive to have a cow bred A.I. All bulls can be dangerous. They will eventually get mean.

If you're interested in raising a bull for meat, have him castrated. No worries then!

LeahMarried to a dairy farmerMama to 2 precious boys so far! Psalm 127Ter-view FarmLisle, NY

[Guest guest]

I don't agree with all of this, but what a person can do is keep a bull long enough to have him collected, if he's nice enough to do that.

I will agree that they dig. Sammy used to get squirted with the hose all the time for digging. I'm still filling in one of the holes he dug because every time it rains, it settles down and I have to fill it again. Must have been 2-3 ft. deep. When he would stand by the fence and smell some cow a mile away in heat, he would start to bellow and dig.....IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I'll never forget one night at about 3 A.M., I went out with a stainless steel pot and threw it at his head and yelled SHUT THE F UP, YOU STUPID BULL. He looked at me like I was the one that was out of line. He used to get the goofiest looks on his face.

I used to take veggies out there and put them in a wheel barrow and all of them would come and eat out of it. Well, that ended when Sammy decided it was a toy and just totally wrecked it. He also ate the bark off all the apple trees and they only produced one more year and have now been cut down because he killed all of them.

So, it's something you really want to think about.

K.C.

Re: strategy for bulls

I've got several bulls. We keep a couple each year from cows that dothe best on our farm. Then we end up with a few extra every year, butmore is not better. You want a ring in his nose to have some controlover them. Absolutely never take a bull for granted. They can movefaster than you could ever dream of and are extremely dangerous.I still feel bulls are better than A.I. because you can select forprofitability where A.I. is anything but, with the few farms thatsupply the firms with bulls from their cows that never see the lightof day and are nothing but garbage disposers. The best option withA.I. is to use New Zealand genetics as they have selected fordurability and profitability. They have bred for components, cellcount, low input performance, etc. That is exactly the opposite ofwhat American firms have done. If you keep him staked out it definately helps. We keep the bullwith the cows from July on but take him out in winter so we have nocalves before April. We also put them in with bred heifers and drycows in the off season if we don't want to stake them out. It dependson the bull when they get mean. Usually by 2+ years old they can turnat any time, but we just butchered one at about 18 months who turnedsuddenly. Dairy breeds are worse than beef breeds. Bulls love to rub and paw. Anything that can move such as watertanks, mineral feeders, bale feeders, etc. is target. We,ve had thempaw holes several feet wide and 2 - 3 feet deep. CheyennePLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

You have to hit the market just right. There are so many bulls available, most of the time they end up either going to the butcher for your freezer or to the sale to get what you can out of them.

I advertise locally in the bigger newspapers and then at www.Cattle-Today.com because it's free and can run for a few months. I also post on all the groups I'm a member of.

But again, if you don't have something special, you normally end up at auction.

K.C.

Re: strategy for bulls

Thanks all for the bull advice!

Now, please let me know what your strategies have been for selling these bulls? How many different types of ads do you use, and what other method could I use for getting the word out that I have a bull for sale?

Thanks!!

Rose Marie

PLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

It depends on the bull. The breed is an important factor. Some Jerseys can be sweet as pie till 2 years old. Some Holsteins can tromp you into the ground at 12 months. I don't know much about Guernseys, so maybe they aren't as bad.

And, when it comes to a mean bull, nose ring or not, they are mean and will kill you as soon as look at you.

Then, you have Shorthorn bulls that are like Ferdinand and are just mellow and sweet all their lives.

Naturally, these are generalities and there are the exceptions to the rule.

Again, the minis have a totally different attidude. They have maintained a fear of man which makes them much easier to work with. Jersey bulls have no fear and its the same as some of the Holsteins. When you are dealing with 1500-2000 lbs. of mean bull, your best best is to just stay out of their way.

I've even known of Jersey bulls being mean to their cows. Usually they aren't, but one was so mean, he head butted a cow so hard she was dead before she hit the ground. He was in the freezer by the end of the week.

K.C.

Re: strategy for bulls

Cheyenne,I am assuming these are dairy breed bulls you are describing. At what age do they start getting testy and hormonal? If our cow has a bull we have a farmer who is interested in using him with his heifers next year. I have heard that they are fine up to about a year, and downright nasty by 15 months. WeldonA Bit of Earth FarmLitchfield, OhioPLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

,

We have holsteins. Generally we havn't had a problem until about 2

1/2 years old. We have a 3 year old right now that is going to market

as I don't trust him any more. He was fine up to a couple months back

and now he gets really loud and follows us around when we get near. We

have a JD gator so check dry cows with it. I like to have a pipe or

something as he keeps his distance then, but he's past the point of no

return on my farm.

We have 2 2 year olds that have been really nice in the heifer

pasture. Brought one up the other day to start breeding and he's

really getting noisy but still scared to death of me. By fall they

will probably be gone. I've always heard it's the quiet ones you need

to watch for because you don't hear them come up behind you. When

they're pawing and growling you don't let your guard down, but when

calm and quiet it is easy to assume they're fine. We've got several

yearlings and all but one are quiet yet, but one makes more noise than

the big bull so he may go soon too.

When I was 18 dad had a Brown Swiss about 4 years old. He had never

shown even the slightest sign of aggression and I had no fear of him.

He flipped me in the air and smeared me across the ground about 30

feet. By the grace of God I'm here today because of a mineral feeder

that he stopped at. I was able to roll under the fence.

Just watch as he grows. The worst is when they turn broadside, lower

there head, and snort and growl. At that point they know who's boss

and it aint me. That's what the 18 month old did this past winter. He

tastes pretty good! We had the butcher come shoot him as I didn't

want to try loading him in a trailer.

A good dog has saved many farmers from a bull. I've also heard that

loud noise or talking to break their concentration can help.

Also it is really bad to make a pet out of a bull. I've read we

should never be really friendly to a bull. I have a hard time with

that one because I like super friendly animals. I try to avoid giving

the bulls attention when out scratching the heifers. I've had a young

friendly bull get too aggressive rubbing on me and it's too hard to

scare him off when he thinks you're playing with him.

Cheyenne

[Guest guest]

Hi Bev, thanks!!

When you say rent a bull, do you mean ship him out to another farm???

I did board cows for a while and bred them with my bulls but that turned into a no win situation.

Rose Marie

[Guest guest]

Is there a philosophy out there that A.I.ing your animals is not the best way to go??

I always thought it was the best because you can pic and choose??

What do you think?

Rose Marie

[Guest guest]

My Dexter bulls are not mean at all. I have a 4 year old that is like a pussy cat. Just don't want to get in his way when someone is in heat! But that is understandable. He is just trying to get to her, and if in the way, well, that would be pretty foolish!

I have another young bull with him, a 15 month old, and he is the one that has to go.

K.C., thanks for the weblink!

Rose Marie

[Guest guest]

OK so when and if, but mostly when I have to have a bull butchered, what is the best way to go about that. Do you all shoot them, or call the cattle hauler to come and take them away? What is a general fee from farm to freezer bag??

Thanks, Rose Marie

[Guest guest]

Hi Rose Marie,

We have Jerseys and do use a good bull for breeding rather than AI. We

generally raise one a bottle every other year and trade out as the one

from last year gets ornery and the one from this year gets to be

breeding size. We butcher the bulls when we are done with them and the

meat is great. We have never had a hand-raised bull get real ornery

before 15 months old, then we make sure he gets all the cows bred for

that year and in the freezer he goes. We have only had two Jersey

bulls that did not get really ornery by two years old. They were both

wonderful guys who were so sweet. But even so you NEVER trust a bull!

They are running on hormones and are not to be trusted, EVER. We got

behind on raising good bull calves this year because we moved. So we

found ourselves buying a breeding age bull last month. We are dealing

with him now and he has turned into a big problem. He was running with

our cows until a couple weeks ago and was fine with this, getting his

job done proper. But he took after my older sister one night and the

only thing that stopped him was a gate, and a T-Post wacked right

across his nose several times. So he is now in our round pen where he

will stay until all our cows are bred then he will be hamburger!! He

is our first ever, really MEAN bull. All the others have just been

ornery, but none of them have ever taken out after us. Bulls are never

something to take lightly, but with care can be handled safely. I

never turn my back on a bull after weaning age. They can cause two

much damage without even trying. Most of the time when they cause a

problem, their just wanting to play, but it ain't fun for us! So

anyway, with care, a bull can be raised and used for a year or so, and

some beyond that. But please take care.=) This is my experience with

Jersey bulls.

Dixon

Ozark Jewels

Boers, Nubians, Lamanchas and Alpines

> I would like to hear what all you cattle keepers are doing with

bulls!!!

> I am trying to formulate a herd plan regarding the keeping or the not

keeping of bulls!

> Do you all keep a herd bull? Do you castrate all your bulls? Do you

keep some bulls? If so, how do you keep them separated at mating time?

> I've got to formulate a plan for my herd regarding bulls and not sure

what to do? I would appreciate your ideas on this. I only have a small

herd (under 10) and will always want to only keep about 8 girls.

> Thanks for help!!!

> Rose Marie

[Guest guest]

Absolutely, I agree. NEVER let a bull play with you when they are young. You have to tell them right away that's not to be done. I did that with Sammy and then went calmly up to him and he was mellow. You have to have discipline along with being friendly with a bull calf.

K.C.

Re: strategy for bulls

, We have holsteins. Generally we havn't had a problem until about 21/2 years old. We have a 3 year old right now that is going to marketas I don't trust him any more. He was fine up to a couple months backand now he gets really loud and follows us around when we get near. Wehave a JD gator so check dry cows with it. I like to have a pipe orsomething as he keeps his distance then, but he's past the point of noreturn on my farm. We have 2 2 year olds that have been really nice in the heiferpasture. Brought one up the other day to start breeding and he'sreally getting noisy but still scared to death of me. By fall theywill probably be gone. I've always heard it's the quiet ones you needto watch for because you don't hear them come up behind you. Whenthey're pawing and growling you don't let your guard down, but whencalm and quiet it is easy to assume they're fine. We've got severalyearlings and all but one are quiet yet, but one makes more noise thanthe big bull so he may go soon too. When I was 18 dad had a Brown Swiss about 4 years old. He had nevershown even the slightest sign of aggression and I had no fear of him.He flipped me in the air and smeared me across the ground about 30feet. By the grace of God I'm here today because of a mineral feederthat he stopped at. I was able to roll under the fence. Just watch as he grows. The worst is when they turn broadside, lowerthere head, and snort and growl. At that point they know who's bossand it aint me. That's what the 18 month old did this past winter. Hetastes pretty good! We had the butcher come shoot him as I didn'twant to try loading him in a trailer.A good dog has saved many farmers from a bull. I've also heard thatloud noise or talking to break their concentration can help.Also it is really bad to make a pet out of a bull. I've read weshould never be really friendly to a bull. I have a hard time withthat one because I like super friendly animals. I try to avoid givingthe bulls attention when out scratching the heifers. I've had a youngfriendly bull get too aggressive rubbing on me and it's too hard toscare him off when he thinks you're playing with him. CheyennePLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

Hi again Rose Marie,

Unless you have something really special, you would probably be

better off steering your home-grown bull calves. There is not a good

market around here for dairy bulls(even out of good cows, there are

just too many around). But we have had good success selling our

Jersey steers off the farm at weaning age to individuals for

butchering. Most of our customers want the pure Jersey for the

flavour. And of course, we always put one or two in our freezer.=)

Dixon

Ozark Jewels

Boers, Nubians, Lamanchas and Alpines

> Thanks all for the bull advice!

> Now, please let me know what your strategies have been for selling

these bulls? How many different types of ads do you use, and what

other method could I use for getting the word out that I have a bull

for sale?

> Thanks!!

> Rose Marie

[Guest guest]

Amen to this!! IT is sooo hard not to scratch that cute little head

when they are tiny and on the bottle, but it is NOT a good idea! And

its hard too because as a general rule the male animals are

friendlier. But it is a big mistake. Him rubbing his head and

leaning into you when he is about 100 lbs is cute, try him doing the

same things at 1200-1600 lbs!! Not a pretty picture at all......

Dixon

Ozark Jewels

Boers, Nubians, Lamanchas and Alpines

-- In RawDairy , " isaiah7_25 " <ckfarm@t...> wrote:

> Also it is really bad to make a pet out of a bull. I've read we

> should never be really friendly to a bull. I have a hard time with

> that one because I like super friendly animals. I try to avoid

giving

> the bulls attention when out scratching the heifers. I've had a

young

> friendly bull get too aggressive rubbing on me and it's too hard to

> scare him off when he thinks you're playing with him.

>

> Cheyenne

[Guest guest]

If it wasn't the best way to go, thousands of top breeders all over the world wouldn't do it. Large herds are given hormones so all the heifers/cows come into heat at one time so they can all be A.I.ed and calving season is done with some organization. Small breeders like myself use A.I. all the time because we can't keep bulls and if you have a reliable A.I. tech who knows what he/she is doing, your girls will always settle.

It's quick, easy and you are right, you can pick the bull of your choice. The idea that only bunk bulls get sold to the companies for collection just isn't true. In every breed there are grand champions and top show bulls that are collected and available every single day of the week. That's why they have web sites now so you can go in and see the bull you want semen from. The companies, large and small don't want bunk bulls to collect because they will be stuck with thousands of straws of semen because no one will want to buy it. There are probably millions of straws of semen used every year just in this country alone.

With miniature cattle breeders, they only collect from their best bulls and you have oodles of breeds to chose from and regardless of the breed, you are bound to get some really nice animals out there.

K.C.

Re: strategy for bulls

Is there a philosophy out there that A.I.ing your animals is not the best way to go??

I always thought it was the best because you can pic and choose??

What do you think?

Rose MariePLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

I was told years ago to never have them shot on the property because they have to gut them right away and the others can smell the blood and if you have pet type cattle, it will definitely adversely affect them. Plus, if there are predators around, they will come to the smell of the blood.

I wouldn't be able to see that anyway. Most people around here call the mobile butcher and have them hauled or take them to the butcher or Amour Meat Company.

K.C.

Re: Re: strategy for bulls

OK so when and if, but mostly when I have to have a bull butchered, what is the best way to go about that. Do you all shoot them, or call the cattle hauler to come and take them away? What is a general fee from farm to freezer bag??

Thanks, Rose MariePLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

rose marie belforti wrote:

> Is there a philosophy out there that A.I.ing your animals is not the

> best way to go??

> I always thought it was the best because you can pic and choose??

> What do you think?

> Rose Marie

>

>

The combination of AI plus DHIA, plus two breed associations, plus land

grant colleges is what brought us to this point. Prior to all that

there was a great deal more variety in cow breeds.

AI basically counts what can be counted readily. An offspring might

have a great record but, what about lifetime productivity - not

counted. We are now in the U.S. where there is a serious inbreeding

problem. Two generation of Jerseys and you are looking at four bulls.

Records necessary for AI are not obtained on pasture. Therefore,

grazing has practically been bred out of B/W. Top Holsteins cannot even

walk very far.

Old farmers always talked about " cow families " meaning the dams side.

That is where you will find all the important aspects for dairying.

Longevity, disposition, calving, grazing, breeding back etc. - all that

and more come from the dam side. Look at any AI sire and you will find

information almost entirely from the sire's side. Lots of good things

have gotten lost.

Just my opinion. AI has a place but, there are very serious limitations.

Bunting

[Guest guest]

Ok, now that I

> have rambled on and probably grossed a lot of you out, I will shut

> up.=)

>

> ,

those of us would-be farmer lurkers (lurking on the farming posts we

know nothing about even if we comment on other posts), and i doubt i

speak only for myself, want to know what it's REALLY like...

thanks.

laura

[Guest guest]

I've heard about the not touching the head thing and that's the only place Sammy liked to be scratched. He would come over and just stand with his head bent down a little for me to scratch between his ears and on his forehead. He would just about fall over because he would become so relaxed. Sometimes he would turn his head from side to side, slowly, so I could get the side of his face towards his neck, but really loved it on his head.

Go figure.

K.C.

Re: strategy for bulls

In a message dated 7/10/2005 7:53:18 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, RawDairy writes:

Also it is really bad to make a pet out of a bull. I've read weshould never be really friendly to a bull. I have a hard time withthat one because I like super friendly animals. I try to avoid givingthe bulls attention when out scratching the heifers. I've had a youngfriendly bull get too aggressive rubbing on me and it's too hard toscare him off when he thinks you're playing with him.

We NEVER touch a bull's head EVER, no matter how small and cute he is at birth!

We have Jerseys and Holsteins and occasionally keep a Jersey herd sire around.

It's really not in your best interest to keep a bull around if you have no experience handling them. It isn't that expensive to have a cow bred A.I. All bulls can be dangerous. They will eventually get mean.

If you're interested in raising a bull for meat, have him castrated. No worries then!

LeahMarried to a dairy farmerMama to 2 precious boys so far! Psalm 127Ter-view FarmLisle, NYPLEASE BE KIND AND TRIM YOUR POSTS WHEN REPLYING!Visit our Raw Dairy Files for a wealth of information!http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RawDairy/files/Archive search: http://onibasu.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Rose Marie,

Nope I meant that we rented a proven bull for a summer. My neighbor had a few bulls and we didn't so we worked out a price and plan for the summer. We paid $100.00 for the bull for the summer ( many pay around here $500.00) but we didn't have to truck we just opened a gate and in walked the bull<LOL> we fed and cared for him and he gave us 9 babies which means he covered all cows at the time. We opened the gate again in October and he walked home.

We never keep bulls here in the winter. they all go to market. We know a few of the truckers from work ( sales barn) who deal in just bulls so if we sell instead of butchering we sell to them. We let them know what we have available and he will find us a buyer, or he will buy them himself and find someone at a later time.

This year our bull "Wholly" will go to slaughter as we have folks interested in him for meat. He is young and only 1.100 lbs so will make great meat<LOL>

Ads in papers for meat for sale is great too. If we want only part of the bull we offer the meat in 1/4 carcasses and have no problem selling them that way.

We do not sell our babies young , we grow them in order to supplement our income. Bull calves at the sales are better priced than heifers though and can bring in a good price if you catch the right night. I haven't ever caught a good enough night for my liking so we haven't shipped any in years.

When we have a dairy bull calf we will offer them for sale around and someone with kids usually will take them for 100.00 dollars at a week old.. but we only have one of two of those each year. they just don't grow fast enough for us to keep them and make money. Dairy cattle around here are not worth much. we bought a purebred Jersey 3 year old for 200.00 in calf 8 months. She has been our source of cheese making milk and drinking for some time now.She gave me a bull calf this year and we have kept him until this fall and we will butcher him as well.

hope that info helps some

Regards, Bev Miskin Meadows Farm http://www.hawk.igs.net/~emerald/Farm/farmindex.html Owner VankleekHill_Freecycle http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VankleekHill_Freecycle

[Guest guest]

Hi Rose Marie,

We have a drover come in and deliver our bulls to the butcher as we don't have a trailer. We pay 35 cents a lb for butchering and that's with cutting and wrapping. I pay 20 dollars on top of that for the killing and then whatever the drover costs are. Mine charges $20.00 at the moment.

Regards, Bev Miskin Meadows Farm http://www.hawk.igs.net/~emerald/Farm/farmindex.html Owner VankleekHill_Freecycle http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VankleekHill_Freecycle