$/hd to AI cattle

The straw price depends on the type of genetics you want. Commercial, Registered breed, Bodacious? As far as the other cost it depends on if you have a trailer and are willing to haul them somewhere to be AI’d. The cheapest way I think, if you just want pregnant cows, would be to buy a bull and put him with your cows until they’re pregnant then sell him. But there’s risk to consider with that(death, overpaying at purchase). Would need to have the bull semen tested as well.

You might do best buying bred cows.

We rented a bull but that was 50 years ago.

I’m clueless, but I guess you can’t ‘rent’ a bull? Why is that so expensive? Assuming you can but for 5 head it doesn’t make sense?

I’m sure there are tons of options and just getting into the business for the OP is just limited

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but I guess you can’t ‘rent’ a bull? Why is that so expensive

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Because of the responsibility. He could die, get out of the pasture, or hurt you. And if I own a bull, I want him breeding my cows. If I own multiple bulls, then I have them by themselves since they’ll fight if cows are around , and want to sell them before any of those three things happen

They gotta get the hierarchy sorted out. They’re gonna fight. As long as it’s one-on-one and fairly evenly matched it’s usually not too bad. They will gang up on one if more are there. Then it can be a problem. Sometimes horrific injuries resulting in ground meat.

For five cows, do as scanni suggested and buy bred cows. That’ll get you through the first go-round and it’ll give you time to decide about a bull.

I actually had one die on me.

When I was done with the bull I called the guy to come pick it up and said it'll be a couple days. Those couple days turned into fall and I had to get him out of the cows so he had to go in with the feeder steers. He got sick on the full feed.

That was not a fun phone call and he threatened to sue but nothing ever happened.

Edit to add: There are diseases that can cause cows to abort like brucellosis that you should look out for,too.

Also, I wouldn't go buy at a sale barn. You don't know anything about those animals.