Selling our bull...so hard to let go

[microbovine]

We have a wonderful bull. He is easy to work with, gentle, eats treats from your hand and just very calm. His calves inherit his disposition, which makes them very easy to halter break and train. In preparation to move closer to town, we decided he needs to be sold. It’s just not worth it to have to worry about a bull when you’re near neighborhoods. People are knuckleheads about animals. His buyer has a bigger herd and he will be quite happy to meet them, I’m sure.

But it’s hard. We sell straws from him all over the country (even had inquiries outside the US). We have plenty left over for our cows, if we want more of his genetics, but it’s not the same as having a bull in the herd. He doesn’t need to be separated from the herd (we remove his daughters at weaning) like many bulls. He stays with the cows as they calve and greets the new babies. He wrestles gently with the bull calves and steers. He even shares his feed with the older calves. He’s a family bull.

We’ll miss him.

Has anyone had a very hard time letting go of a bull/stud/dog etc… even though you knew it was the right thing to do?

[Cat_Tap]

I never owned cows though my neighbor’s cows were in my pasture. I made the mistake of giving the calves names and was sad to see them go.

I can understand how you feel especially since the bull has a nice personality. Try to console yourself that he will probably be happy in his new home.

I always find it difficult to see any animal move on. I even feel bad when my boarders move their horses.

[Epona142]

It’s always hard to send on a fine stud animal. I get very attached to our bucks (male goats) here, they are always very friendly gentle boys. They do reek to high heaven in the rut, but still love 'em.

But sometimes the breeding program simply has no more room for them. I feel better about it knowing they’re going to continue to produce more fine babies for someone else to enjoy and appreciate.

[microbovine]

I knew I would find empathy here. Thanks, guys.

[Foxtrot_s]

Like Epona said - think of his widening gene pool and your ever increasing improvement of the breed.

[mvp]

It’s really hard with a nice bull or stallion since you know how special their gentleness is. I miss him already and I don’t even know your bull.

[microbovine]

Thanks, guys. He really an awesome temperament and great conformation, too. I can’t wait to see how his calves do in the future. There will be more of them with this sale.

[PhoenixFarm]

My first homebred buck (goat) went to his new home two weeks ago, and I sniffles all day. He was the first boy I produced myself worthy of keeping his 'nads, and he was sweet and easy to handle, but he produced a son even better than himself and a daughter I wanted to keep and my herd is too small to justify keeping them both.

It helped in my case because he was actually purchased by the person who I bought his mother from 8 years ago (and who was thrilled to have his genetics back in the herd), so he was going “home” in a way. But watching him drive away was tough.

Gentle hugs. It’s hard to see them go.

[microbovine]

He gets his health certificate done today. :sadsmile:

[Wayside]

Awww, I can sympathize.

My ram Lando is a pretty special guy, too. Extremely polite, friendly without being rude, and even minds his manners during breeding season. I’m keeping a bunch of his daughters and possibly one of his sons, so I don’t have a whole lot of use for him at this point. But he’s so nice that it’s not a hardship to have him around, so I won’t be at all disappointed if he doesn’t sell.

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Hugs to you as you do what best for him. That in itself is the selfless love that every animal should have. Please if possible, post a picture of him, I’m sure I’m not the only one who would love to see him.

[glitterless]

Yes, my parents had a couple of bulls over the years that they were very fond of. Cows, too. I would never be a good producer because I get attached too easily. Hugs to you, but know that you’ve done well for him

[goldenrow]

I can sympathize with other species, but never allow myself to become too attached to a bull. It makes me nervous when out in someone’s pasture looking at cows and calves, and they say their bull is “tame.”

When a “tame” bull comes running at you in the pasture, you never know if he’s coming for scratches and snacks or to kill you - I’ve encountered both!

Granted, that could be any livestock, but bulls can be more unpredictable - and faster - than most livestock.

[microbovine]

Oh yes, bulls are the most dangerous farm animal. Our bull was trained from very young that he cannot come too close to us. He always stops a respectful distance away to give us personal space. We can go to him, but he is not allowed to approach us. A small, thick stick is always a good idea when you go into the pasture, even if you never use it. The last time he was got too close, I forgot about the stick and smacked his nose with my hand and scolded him. He backed up immediately. It must have looked quite funny. Dropping their head near you should also never be tolerated. That is a challenge. Even if a young steer does it, he gets a smack.

I’ll get a picture up later.

[roseymare]

I always hated the day that we switched out bulls too So attached to the old ones. Always have had Black Angus and one or two Herefords.

[Foxglove]

Leon. He was a Limousine bull that was under my care in the early '80s. I looked after a herd of 80 cows who were calving, and Leon. My job was to ride out into a 1000 acre pasture and count the cows each day, make sure everyone was healthy. For me it was an excuse to ride my horse. I put one child in front of my saddle, and the other behind me. Old Jake always knew where to find the herd. There was a narrow ford, so Jake would push the herd toward it and I’d count them as they went through. I always looked for Leon because he was magnificent. Always so regal looking --but we kept our distance --he was the size of a pick up truck. One day I went out and Leon wasn’t right. I called the owner who came out and told me Leon had broken his leg (maybe one of the smaller cows collapsed under him --he was huge). They took a trailer out to where he waited, still standing. I watched them load him into the trailer --at the top of the ramp he stopped and looked back --he was so regal. He looked like a king surveying his subjects. A few days later the owner brought Leon II out --he was Leon’s son. But he wasn’t as big or as majestic.

Leon was special.

Foxglove

[Rusha2005]

Yep, and I still think of him daily, mine was a Highland bull, he was so quiet and very gentle with the cows, he was a real gentleman.

[microbovine]

Here’s our l:

[IMG]http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b184/lonesomepinefarm/Armstrong/IMG_4446_zpsg7pxddkz.jpg)

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Thanks for the posting his picture, what a good looking boy!

[elsbet]

LC, is this Armstrong? I remember his baby pictures. What a good looking boy! Hugs to you, I know it will be hard to see him move on…