Breaking Bulls

[Simmgal]

I have a 6 month old purebred Simmental bull that I am going to start breaking to show, and am planning on keeping him for a few show seasons. I have shown bulls before, but I have worked with them from the day they were born and didn't keep them over 6 months before I sold them, so they didn't have to have a nose ring. What do most of you do when it comes to a nose lead/ring? Do you put in a ring, or do you put in an easily removable lead? Just didn't know if it mattered either way, or if a certain type was easier or more comfortable to use.

Thanks in advance! (thumbsup)

 

[Shadow Hill Farm]

When I used to show I would help a guy and he used removable rings for the shows. Didn't need to have a permanent one cause they were so docile. Is he pretty quiet? I know some people like to have them just to have more control. The permanent ones that is. Would love to see a pic of him. Good luck.

 

[Shadow Hill Farm]

When I used to show I would help a guy and he used removable rings for the shows. Didn't need to have a permanent one cause they were so docile. Is he pretty quiet? I know some people like to have them just to have more control. The permanent ones that is. Would love to see a pic of him. Good luck.

When he would work with them he would put them in so they would be used to it and take them out when he was done. Nothing like trying to throw something new in when you are getting ready to go into the ring.

 

[Simmgal]

When I used to show I would help a guy and he used removable rings for the shows. Didn't need to have a permanent one cause they were so docile. Is he pretty quiet? I know some people like to have them just to have more control. The permanent ones that is. Would love to see a pic of him. Good luck.

When he would work with them he would put them in so they would be used to it and take them out when he was done. Nothing like trying to throw something new in when you are getting ready to go into the ring.

Thanks! He is fairly docile. Not stupid, but not gonna come running up to you to be petted. He's calmer than my heifers by long shot! Thanks for the advice! (thumbsup) And I wuold definately train him with a removable lead if I were to use one! Had some friends put a chain halter on a not so calm heifer for the first time at the heifer show at the fair...turned into a rodeo.. (pop)

 

[SSIMMENTALS]

I would just go ahead and put in a permanent ring. We showed a bull last year with one, and it was no trouble. Get someone who knows what they're doing, and it's not a big deal to get it in. Didn't affect ours on eating or anything like that. It was just easier for us to have a ring in him than to fight with him to put a removable one in everytime we worked him. He wasn't bad bahaved at all, but having a ring in him just made life easier.  If you put a ring in, you need to twist it around in his nose everyday at first or it will grow back over the ring. I'd break him good, then ring him, then let him get used to leading with the ring.

 

[Shadow Hill Farm]

Your welcome!  ;D Another thing he would do too is couple of weeks before show time he would put all his show cattle in there stalls during the day and put the rings in on the bulls. He had an awesome set up! He had like 15 stalls and they were nice. All had fans and all and of course the separate paddocks. I miss that farm!  (lol)

 

[simmyman67]

Put in a permanent bull ring. My bull, you know Black Jack, was the biggest baby when he was six months and I assumed putting in a nose ring wasn't necessary, so I didn't. When he reached about a year, he started getting ornery and bullish and we had to put one in. He was still a big puppy, but didn't lead right. You might as well go ahead and do it. Black Jack is as sweet as they get, and we still had to put one in him. 

 

[Shadow Hill Farm]

Put in a permanent bull ring. My bull, you know Black Jack, was the biggest baby when he was six months and I assumed putting in a nose ring wasn't necessary, so I didn't. When he reached about a year, he started getting ornery and bullish and we had to put one in. He was still a big puppy, but didn't lead right. You might as well go ahead and do it. Black Jack is as sweet as they get, and we still had to put one in him. 

I agree what you wrote too. I guess it's everyone's personal preference. The guy I had helped out these bulls were 3 years old been shown since day one. Some of the nicer bulls I have come across. Fitting them was easier than most of the cows or heifers. (lol) Even out in the fields never had a problem with them. I'm not saying all his bulls were like that. There were couple of idiots that he had too that did need the permanent ones in! I had one bull calf that I showed up til a about 8 months of age and he was awesome in terms of temperament. I would love to see a picture of your Black Jack! Oh these are Angus too. I know you guys are into the Simmies!  ;D Which I like them too!

 

[MCC]

Put a ring in him and get it over with. Sooner or later he will fight you when you go to put that bug in his nose. With a ring in there when he gets ornery when you go to catch him you can take a showstick and catch him by his ring.

 

[lightnin4]

In my experience, a permanent ring is easier on everyone.  My Dad hates them, but he never had to put the temporary ones in at the shows.  That said, all the bulls we showed had permanent ones except one Simmental bull.  He was an exception to all the rules.  We showed him untill he was 2 then sold him.  We kept him in a 4-5 acre lot about 1/2 a mile from our house and could walk right up and halter him then lead him to the barn.  Nothing ever bothered him.  He didn't mind me putting in the temporary leads, but I never had to "use them".  Once you ever use (pull on) the nose rings, bulls want to sling their heads when you try to reach for their nose.  And, you don't want to be in a head butting contest with a bull!  

 

[sackshowcattle]

You might also want to check the rules of where you want to show I know some shows require anything over 18 months to have a permanent ring.

 

[Simmgal]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate all the help! A permanent ring makes more sense to me!  ;D