The true cost of a bull….

….in recent weeks, we’ve noted the same concern expressed on both sides of the Atlantic.  In England, Farmers’ Weekly is warning that pumping up bulls with grain for shows and sales is setting up the buyer for an expensive disappointment.

Farmers’ Weekly says, as we’ve noted here before, the heavy use of grain results in not only poor quality semen….but shortened useful life.

Meanwhile, Kit Pharo, in his weekly newsletter, calculated the actual cost to the American cattleman for his “bigger and better” fixation.

First, here is the British view:

http://www.fwi.co.uk/articles/24/01/2014/142976/make-sure-breeding-bulls-are-fit-for-purpose.htm

Pharo has made the same point before, and so have we, but Pharo takes it a step further in his newsletter, calculating the real cost of buying what he calls a “diesel bull”.  Using statistics, he calculates that the average commercial bull on grain produces about 80 calves in his 3 year useful lifetime.

A grass fed bull, in contrast, will sire about 280 calves in six years.  Obviously a much lower per-calf investment.  In fact, Kit figures you can spend about $14,000 for a grass fed bull and still get your money’s worth!