Any cattle farmers on here who know much about bulls?

[Prontoe]

I'm worried about my Dad.

National Ploughing Championships cancelled for this year.

Mlou Thank you!
At least you're useful for standing in gaps. Dad said it was a very important job. When I was 6 and terrified of a herd of cattle.

We can be clueless!

My mother simply wasn't suited to being the wife of a farmer. She couldn't stand him 'bringing shite all around the house I've just cleaned' either. So he'd have to de-robe outside the back door. Poor man. What a fucking life. He's happy enough with the new Mrs (well, they're 25 years together so she's not exactly new), so I suppose that's the important thing. Broke my mother's heart though - she wasn't right for about 10 years until she sold the house - because my Dad and new Mrs would be walking around the fields surrounding the house. As I said - complicated.

Yes, I think it was Krav Maga. Something like that anyway. Used to train Israeli soldiers or something. Bro very proud of himself but couldn't hold a candle to my father at splitting sticks!

I've helped with standing in gaps and one occasion where the cows escaped out a field but other than that, I know sweet fanny Adams!

That was the extent of my involvement too.

To answer the question about the new woman - she was younger - so still working age (maybe 55 now?) and she works in the factory my Dad used to be a manager in. To add to the complicated history, she and I worked together and my Dad was our boss, when I was 18 and he was having an affair with her. But he's happy with her now still 25 years later. As I said, my mother is a wicked woman with a wicked temper. She didn't really deserve what happened to her. She had a lot of miscarriages, hence to over-protectiveness of us I think. I also have a younger sister, but my mother had 10 miscarriages in all. I'm pretty convinced as is my brother, that our mother suffered from PND. But there was no help 40 years ago, so she just battered the shit out of us I guess and got on with it. It's quite a sad tale, all told. Hence all of us being scattered around the world - anywhere but home.

Another vivid memory I have is of me having to bring a basin of hot water and carbolic soap out to my father in the field where a sheep was having trouble lambing. He was going to have to pull the lamb or something. Why my mother never got involved, I do not know.

Another great bone of contention in the marriage was when the neighbour would be gone to London and my Dad would have to help on his farm - his wife was a very goodlooking well kept sort of woman and my mother was convinced they were having an affair. All sorts of madness I could tell you about lol!

When we're the cattle last tested for brucellosis if he is getting still births?

OP you need to ask your Dad.......when is he going to get rid of the bull because after a few years the herd will be his own daughters. Then he HAS to get rid

Well I've literally just got off the phone with him so I'm not going to annoy him again today, but I will ask him tomorrow about the bull's daughters! He's clued in enough to inbreeding I would imagine. Well he talks about it in human terms anyway lol.
No idea when cattle were tested for TB - I think it's a yearly test they have?
He's pretty sure why the calves were still born as he witnessed the bull lambasting the cow and I am not sure whether he also witnessed the weanlings hurting the other cow, but it's at least what he has assumed. I'd be a bit suspicious myself that it's two twins that he's lost, but I don't know enough about it.

Well, this thread took quite the turn.

Turned into a bull fight!!
As opposed to a bun one!!

Does your dad wear his pants over his trousers? Held up with baler twine maybe?

Do ignore future posts from those not believing or even just enjoying the thread, OP. They should report the thread and trot on, as is their prerogative, not try to troll hunt or derail it. That's the Talk Guidelines. Don't engage and waste your time and energy. Bullocks, or something similar.

Actually, your story reminds me very much of a family I know - but it's not them, so don't worry.

Long story short, you’re not going to be able to convince the man to change his ways. That’s just the way of it, unfortunately.

What you can do is keep in regular contact with him, so if something does happen to him you can at least get an ambulance to him as soon as possible. The main danger is working on his own - it’s not just the bull that’s a risk - and not being able to get help if he’s injured.