Half Bull

[Roscoe]

We raise and train 2 Holstein calves, 8 and 10 month old. My wife and my oldest daughter do the most handling with them. However, they told me, that the older one is lot harder to handle, pushy and started to mount the other. He is growing bulkier as well. Yesterday, I took a look underneath und guess what I saw? One ball is still there! Now I need some advice: Is it worth to have the vet for surgical castration, or are already too much hormons in his body? I’am worried about the safety of my family. Temple Grandin wrote in her book, that bottlefed (dairy)bulls are very dangerous. Should we push’em with grain for the next 2 month and throw’em on the BBQ?
Any advice or experience?

[Howie]

I would give the daughter a new one to train, and eat the bull.:mad:

[Nat(wasIxy)]

Personally, I wouldn’t take the risk. I raise dairy bulls for meat, but working closely with them is another matter. I’m not sure how late castration affects them exactly, but this is your daughter we’re talking about!

[CharlyBonifaz]

or are already too much hormons in his body?

those hormons will taper out after castration; I can’t promise his behaviour will improve though, because he has learnt he can boss around; my vote? castrate and if nothing changes, still BBQ 😉 but then with a better meat-quality

[mathuranatha]

I,ve had a few pet bulls over the years . They can be trained and yolked up same as bullocks .They were always ok with me but would fight with each other sometimes .Have been vegetarian for decades so they probably sense that I am their friend, and were brought up as pets handled a lot etc .They work then in India , I worked a bull and a bullock together sometimes.

You see kids training and showing bulls at shows — doesnt seen a problem .no doubt about it though bullocks are a lot more mellow . Bulls castrated at even 5 or 10 years old do seem to mellow out and act like bullocks after a few years .

Hope that helps — Mat—

[Roscoe]

Looks like our steaks will have a name…
Hes behavior is gettig everyday worse. He is challenging everyone and everything, he started even a fight with the waterbucket!
I grew up on a farm and we had bulls as well, so I’m used to them and their behavior, but they are for sure not pets for little kids.

[fabian]

@Roscoe 24452 wrote:

Looks like our steaks will have a name…

Our steaks ALL have names ! since 2004 when we butchered our first bull.

[Author]

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