A dairy farmer's solution for bull fighting & lameness

A Gippsland dairy farmer milking 240 cows has reduced fighting and lameness amongst the bulls on his farm by setting up a day–night rotation system using three groups of bulls. The bull groups are left at different locations on the farm where the cows go for day and night grazing. Each group works for about 12 of 36 hours. This gives the bulls good rotations and plenty of rest, and helps minimise fighting by restricting movement around the farm.

He also makes sure that his bulls don’t come onto the milking yard. He leaves the bulls in the paddocks, allowing them a fresh pick of grass, while cows are being milked.

The farmer recommends, “Getting the bulls there early or leasing them from one source where they have already established their pecking order is ideal” and “keeping them in a stable working team is important to minimise fighting.”