WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING ANIMALS

Patrick always advises his farmers to buy bulls from reputable breeders who provide a fertility certificate and preferably some of the bull’s history.

“The first questions I ask when a farmer wants to buy a bull are about numbers and the type of cattle. I want to know whether his animals are older cows or heifers, and whether they are short or long animals,” explains Patrick. This information helps when selecting a bull that is fit for purpose. “It really matters,” he emphasises.

A large bull may cause birth complications for heifers if the calf is too big. “For heifers, one should look at smaller-framed bulls,” he explains. “This is why it’s important to examine the records when you buy a bull. One can study these to check the birth

weight, maternal weight and weaning weight of that bull. With those facts, you can determine whether the bull will be okay to use on the heifers. A bigger bull with a birth weight of 39kg to 40kg cannot be used on heifers as it could lead to a difficult birth (dystocia), where the calf may get stuck in the birth canal and both mother and calf could die,” Patrick says.

“I usually advise farmers who are starting cattle farming to buy pregnant cows, a cow and a calf, or a three-inone (a pregnant cow and a calf),” he continues. His reasoning is that these animals tend to be more problem-free.

“Inexperienced farmers, on the other hand, should not buy pregnant heifers, as they may not know what kind of bull serviced them. As a firsttime farmer, you don’t want to have calving complications.”