You can tell because this time of the month, she gets a bit squirmy.
The rumbling bellows are constant.
The gazing look in her beautiful eyes more intense.
The washing of her udder done with more care, as her back left foot tend to meet with my knee cap more often.
It's the time of the month when we venture into the pasture together and make sure the children are behind the fence. It's the time of the month when this ‘ol girl has got one thing, and one thing alone, on her mind.
A man.
A real man.
And by ‘real man', I mean ‘bull capable of satisfying a female bovine's needs'. Obviously.
Three weeks ago, as it always happens, I noticed the eager woman coming out in her once again. Finally, I decided it was time to figure out what was to be done about her insatiable appetite for the male of her species. By the grace of God, in small passing, I'd heard mentioned of a bull at our local beekeepers meeting. Now, if you remember the saga of Kula drama that we muddled through last year, you may realize what a gigantic relief it was for me to learn that there was a bull in our general vicinity and that we wouldn't have to mess with hormones, shipped semen, and vet bills once again.
While I love the orchards and fruit trees that paint our valley's landscape, I (for one) really wish there was more bovine creatures to be found roaming it's sparse hills.
That being said, I tucked this little nugget of chitter-chatter at the beekeeper's meeting away in my brain and revived it from the memory bank for this very occasion. My Sally girl, after all, was counting on me. Her eternal happiness rode on my shoulders. Or so it felt. I know the look of a desperate woman – and Sally Belle was certainly a desperate woman.
I'd remained in close contact with this particular bull owner over the winter, as we chatted about bee orders and various hiving setups. So when I sent him a well laid out but quite desperate email regarding the ‘lease' of his bull, I was sure it would fall on understanding ears. And (thank you Jesus!) it did.
No, he'd never loaned his bull out before.
And yes, he does live 50 miles away.
But these are small mountains to overcome, considering that our last dairy cow ended up in the freezer. A small contract and a bit of distance seemed relatively easy to conquer.
Because we're aiming for a Spring calf to be born on Beatha Fonn next year (and a cow's gestation period is nine months), Sal is free to be bred at any time. Based on the “service” dates already on the schedule for this bull in his home-herd, it was agreed that “Hero” would come and stay with us on the homestead for about 45-60 days (or enough to hit two or three ovulation cycles), should it take that many.
Naturally Breed The Family Cow
A cow usually comes into heat every 21 days. Of that 21 days, she's got a 24 hour window of opportunity to be successfully bred – after her egg has dropped. Because a bull's sperm, much like a human's, can live for days inside the cow it's impossible to perfectly time breeding. This will take some good ‘ol fashion romp watchin' to discern.
(Tip: Here's a fantastic resource we've found for preparing to naturally breed the family cow.)
Sal will stand for him and allow him to mount when she's ready. By her willingness to stand, it's pretty conclusive that she's ovulating. So if 21 days after their first romp she stands for him, it can be assumed the first breeding did not take. And so it goes until she refuses to let the ‘ol mister do his business.
Bred cows don't want much to do with an active bull.
Ovulating cows, on the other hand, want to be all up in that bull's business in a very desperate way. A cow in heat is nothing to take lightly – they're giant animals and must be treated with much respect during this time. Sal sort of acts like a love sick teenager that's had far too much caffeine. It's really no fun for any of us.
We'll continue to milk Sal while Hero is here and that's thrown us for a loop – managing to halter and lead Sal out of the corral where they will be kept together, twice per day for milking, is going to be tricky. Perhaps I'm alone in this but frankly, my pregnant self doesn't love the idea of jumping into a corral with an unknown bull, opening the gate, and waiting for hell to break loose. No thanks! It's going to take some team effort for Stuart and I – mostly, I'm going to make him do everything for me. For the “baby's sake” of course.
Hero is a Dexter bull, however, which I am very thankful for. Dexter bulls are a much smaller breeder and tend to be pretty docile. There's also benefit in breeding Sal (a Jersey) to a Dexter bull in that if she has a bull calf, he'll be a great one to raise for meat as Dexters are a dual-purpose breed (used for both meat and milk). And if she has a heifer calf, it will be a great milking heifer to raise up alongside Sally. According to his owner, who's opinion I've come to value, Hero is a very well behaved bull. The nose ring, I'm sure, helps. He's used to being handled and used to being around people – that's a plus! The minus is that…well… he's still a bull. And bulls have… man parts intact. And any male animal with his man parts still intact will act just like a male animal with his man parts still intact.
You follow me?
Oh, homesteading. How you never cease to keep me on my toes, push me past my point of comfort, and keep me awake at night in fear for my life.
The corral has been reinforced with new rails – it's pretty ugly in spots, but it's solid. The gate now has a chain and padlock (we learned our lesson about trusting latches real quick the last time we had a bull visit Beatha Fonn and almost ended up squished human carcasses in the nearby orchard). We are ready, I believe. Ready as any one homesteader could be to naturally breed our family cow and bring a giant and driven animal onto the farm, anyway.
If all goes according to plan, Sal will be bred within the next 90 days and will have a wonderful calf next Spring. Hero will have done his male duty and spend the remainder of the year eating – until his ten seconds of manhood are needed again next year.
If all doesn't go according plan (which seems to be the pattern of things), well… let's just cross that bridge when we get there – shall we?
Ashley
Oh bulls….even castrated ones are a force. I hope it works (I’m sure it will) and I hope, I hope you stay safe! A long 45-60 days. Keep those babies safe! We just had a heifer calf born and I’m so thankful as she comes from a long line of good producing, high butterfat cows and bulls.
the bull's owner...
FWIW, the bull is “Hiro” – named for the character Hiro Protagonist from Neal Stephenson’s cyberpunk novel _Snowcrash_. And should Hiro be to your liking (or those of your readers), we have two of his sweet heifer calves up for sale – registered dexters.
Shaye Elliott
I KNEW I spelt that wrong! Glad someone here knows what they’re talking about ๐ Welcome to the blog, Steve!
Jessica
Not all bulls are bad. I remember a time as a kid on our farm our bull was so gentle that my dad could pick us up and sit us on his back.. and he was a huge Charolais bull. Actually in the 31 years I have been around cows I have never had a bull that I was afraid to be in with and my Angus bull right now I can feed out of my hand. So, hopefully your visitor is a friendly guy.
Melissa
Our very first dairy cow will be arriving on our farm at the end of the month. I sometimes break out in a cold sweat thinking about keeping her alive and healthy. Good luck with the bull/calf making business!
Christina
We have Dexters and a Jersey. Dexters are very gentle and provide the best tasting beef. Be careful, you might get addicted. ๐
erika
One good thing you have going for you is that you are pregnant. I heard that bulls also know when we are ovulating and will get more interested in you.
We are also trying to get our girl bred. We have had her artificially inseminated twice and one visit with a bull for three weeks. Praying and hoping God will open that door. I’ll take any prayers. ๐
Shaye Elliott
Oh Erika, I totally know that feeling! One takes for granted a pregnant cow until it’s time to actually GET THE COW pregnant. It’s tough stuff, sometimes!
Kate
I am so thankful we have a good vet who keeps various sperm on hand to breed cows and it only costs us $125 to get the cow bred!
Johnny Stansell
Why would it cost so much? You can get the semen for $20 and most inseminators don’t charge that much, maybe $10-20??? If I lived near you I would be glad to do it for free, if you supplied the semen. Ask a dairyman.
Shaye Elliott
No dairies close by, no inseminators close by, and no semen close by. Cattle are not a big thing here.
Tara
Thank you so much, once again, for documenting your journey. I’m still making grand plans for bovine on our homestead (that is in WY and I’m still in CA), and natural breeding is the way I hope to go. It’s good to know that it still exists, lol. ๐
Susie
We had our 1/2 Jersey-1/2 Holstien bred last November with a friends Jersey bull. She’s getting so wide now that she is just barely fitting in the milking shoot! But this morning the neighbors black Angus bull came visiting and she’s now acting like she’s in heat again!! He’s been in our pasture several times and has bred the other cows-but never paid her any mind! Now I’m wondering if she needs a trip to the vet to be checked to see if she actually is bred-and we were looking for that calf in September! Any advise out there???
Shaye Elliott
Preg check!
Erin @ Blue Yurt Farms
Awesome post as always, definitely watching with super focused attention since I’ll be dealing with this dilemma myself soon. PS. Love that “bull’s owner” commented. ๐
The Couch Potato
Good luck! I hope Hiro is nice.
Ashley B
Oh, how I long for a homestead! Is it weird that I’m jealous that you’re breading your milk cow?? ; )
Shaye Elliott
I’m hoping it goes better than last time!
Candi
We have tried a-I 5 times. Leasing a bull will be our next step.
I didn’t want to have a bull on our farm, but it may be our best chances to get faith bred.