a statue of a bull by Siva Prathap Reddy on Unsplash

Bull Facts

Published: Apr 3rd, 2023 9:48 PM

Categories: Information / Fun Facts / Bull

For a while now, Farmcat has been posting facts about Bulls on their Twitter feed, alongside other farmers who share other animal facts that you can find via the links below:

Sheep Facts (Happy Valley Free Range Farm)
Cow Facts (DDFarmerette 365 Days 365 Cow Facts) <- This is the monster that birthed it all.
Goose Facts (charissa-goose facts)
Bull Facts (Farmcat)
Pig Facts (kelly)
Calving Facts (Blair Gilmore)
Bison Facts (BuffaloGuyRon)

The facts listed below here detail slightly more information than the Twitter posts due to Twitter's maximum character allowance.

Bull Facts 1

Producers select a bull for various traits including pedigree, body confirmation, foot soundness, color, temperament and scrotal size

Bull Facts 2

Size matters! The larger the bulls scrotal size, the more cows he is able to breed and there is a link that female progeny reach puberty faster. The scrotum is measured using a tape measure that is in cm. For 2 yr old bulls, over 34 is required to pass a semen test

Bull Facts 3

Bulls are larger due to their increased muscle and bone mass.The feet,neck and shoulders are thicker and their heads tend to be larger which helps them when fighting for dominance in a herd. The heaviest bull on record is this Maine Anjou from France. 1950 kg, 4299lb

Bull Facts 4

Bulls smell and taste the urine of a cow to sense pheromone levels which determines if they are ready to breed. The “ lip curl” is called the Flehmen response as the nostrils close and air is drawn in through the mouth into the vomeronasal organ to detect pheromones

Bull Facts 5

Bulls are unpredictable and can be dangerous due to high levels of testosterone and neuropeptides in the brain that cause aggression. For centuries, nose rings in the septum have been used as a way to control any aggression safely and humanely when needed.

Bull Facts 6

Virgin yearling and 2 yr old bulls that are not suitable for breeding can be used for traditional meat cuts when fed properly. Older bulls meat has is very lean so used more for hamburger, sausage and jerky. Lots go to Japan which uses different cooking techniques

Bull Facts 7

Bulls challenge each other for dominance over a herd to breed. They make sounds you don’t expect from the bovine family. Anything from a deep guttural growl to a high-pitched screaming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAPHRPdguA0

Bull Facts 8

Bulls will continually fight for dominance in a herd. They may look slow and cumbersome, but they can be incredibly fast and are dangerous to be around when they are fighting. In some cases a beaten bull will leave the herd. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehBg1OaKewY

Bull Facts 9

Some think the word “ bull” dates back to circa 1200 from the Old Norse word “bule” meaning bull, male of the domestic bovine, but it may have also come from an Old English word “bula” or German “ brullen” meaning “ to roar”. Bull cave paintings date back 17000 yrs

Bull Facts 10

The bull means different things to different cultures. To Native Americans, the bull was regarded as an omen of stability and safety. When we toured Peru, we noticed these on top of sheds and gateposts. The locals told us that the bull keeps evil spirits away.

Bull Facts 11.1

The Belgian Blue breed was developed in the 60s by selecting breeding animals with heavy (double) muscling. This is caused by a gene that suppresses a protein called Myostatin that normally inhibits muscle growth at a certain point. The carcass yield is very high

Bull Facts 11.2

Warning: content may be offensive. When a bull is evaluated for breeding, a semen test must be performed. This is done by inserting a probe called an electro-ejaculator into the rectum which causes the bull to ejaculate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTBe_OcvgUE

Bull Facts 11.3

Typically, Dairy breed bulls are more aggressive and dangerous than beef breeds. It’s believed that it’s because dairy bulls are raised by humans whereas beef bulls are raised by cows so their social structure is different. They want to assert dominance over humans

Bull Facts 12

Heck cattle are the remnants of a bizarre experiment by the Nazis to bring back an extinct breed named Aurochs. Canada shipped bison to Germany in the late 1930s for this experiment. They are extremely dangerous and few remain. Holsteins DNA match 95% with Aurochs

Bull Facts 13

Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhuit. The Kerry breed is native to Ireland and it’s history can be traced back 4000 yrs. They are a smaller framed animal used for dairy and meat and are very hardy with a thick hair coat. The bull is smaller than most weighing in at ~990 lbs

Bull Facts 14

Another breed from Ireland is the Dexter that, was considered a type within the Kerry breed. Very similar to Kerry stature and are used as a milk, meat and even oxen. Can carry the gene for dwarfism that results in legs being 6-8” shorter than non affected animals.

Bull Facts 15

The Brahman (Brahma) breed is probably one the most recognized breeds in the world because of the distinctive hump on the shoulders. It originated from India and is well known for its tolerance to extreme heat with no adverse effects up to 105 F. Bull weigh~2200lbs

Bull Facts 16

The Watusi can be traced back as far as 4000 BC in Egypt before migrating with owners to Ethiopia and then down to the southern areas of Africa. They are medium sized with bulls weighing ~1600 lbs. Blood circulating through the horns acts as a cooling mechanism

Bull Facts 17

The Texas Longhorn is known for, wait for it…their spectacular horns that have been known to span over 8 ft! Originally of Spanish origin, the breed was mostly feral in what is now known as Texas and are very hardy due to natural selection. Bulls weigh 1200–1500lb

Bull Facts 18

The Scottish Highland is easily recognized because of its long horns and long heavy hair coat. It is the oldest registered breed in the world. The meat is similar to the Texas Longhorn as the fat and cholesterol is even lower than chicken.Bulls weigh around 1800lbs

Bull Facts 19

The Belted Galloway or “Belties” are from the same origin as Galloways but have a distinct white belt across their midsection that is possibly from a Dutch Lakenbelder cross. The ancient Scottish breed has a beaver like fur underneath a coarser outside coat.

Bull Facts 20

The Dutch Lakenvelder origin is uncertain but they were traced back to cattle in Austria and Switzerland in the 1600s. They are primarily a dairy breed and bulls weigh from 1350-2000 lbs. Can see why the Belted Galloway probably these bloodlines in their origin

Bull Facts 21

Wagyu are known for their highly marbled meat that makes it very tender. Wa means Japanese and gyu means cattle. They are treated very differently when it comes others breeds. They are fed beer in the summer, coats are sprayed with Sake and they are massaged a lot!

Bull Facts 22

The Santa Gertrudis breed was named after the Spanish land grant where the King ranch in the United States was first established. The breed is 3/8 Brahman and 5/8 Shorthorn and all descendants now are from a deep red bull calf called Monkey that was born in 1920.

Bull Facts 23

The Pustertaler Sprinzen (say that fast 5 times🤣) is a rare breed from the province of Bolzano in northern Italy. It is a dual purpose breed used for milk and beef. There are fewer than 500 purebreds left in the world and most are in Austria. Bulls weigh ~2000lbs

Bull Facts 24

The Bargur breed gets its name from the hills of the Bargur forest in Western India where it is raised. It is a small breed with short legs and strong hooves which helps it navigate rocky mountainous terrain. It is unsurpassed in endurance and speed of trotting

Bull Facts 25

The Irish Rovers played in Lloyd last night so…The Irish Moiled gets its name from the Gaelic term “Maol” meaning bald or no horns. It is a dual purpose breed and it is the only surviving domestic breed native to Northern Ireland. Bulls have excellent temperament

Bull Facts 26

Bully sticks or bull Pizzle are other names for bull penis.The organ can be 2.5-3 ft long and in addition to breeding,is used primarily for dog treats and to a lesser extent, walking canes. For the canes, a steel rod is placed through the length and then lacquered.

Bull Facts 27

The ⁦@TheIrishRovers and the Droimeann breed have a couple of things in common, the 1st being native to Ireland and the 2nd, longevity! Droimeann have been mentioned in historical records in song and poetry going back over 1000 yrs.Bulls are 54” at shoulder

Bull Facts 28.1

The Bazadaise ( pronounced Baz-Za-Day) is a breed that got its name from the town of Bazas in south-western France. It was used as a draught breed for hauling logs out of forests but is now primarily raised for meat which is heavily marbled. Bulls weigh ~ 2000 lbs.

Bull Facts 28.2

The Arouquesa is a smaller breed found mainly in Portugal. They were exported to Great Britain in the early 1800s to be used for pulling carts wagons and plows but were used as beef as well. In 1902 won the “Award for Best Beef” in Britain. Bulls weigh ~1000 lbs

Bull Facts 29

The Malvi are a breed of zebu cattle from the Malwa plateau in central India. They are small in size with short deep compact bodies with powerful legs that make them well suited as draught animals. Bulls are about 140 cm at the shoulder and weigh about 1100 lbs.

Bull Facts 30

The Marchigiana ( mar-key-jar-na) is a large muscular breed that is thought to have come from Asiatic cattle that were brought to Italy during the 4th century AD. They are crossed with Chianina and make up 45% of all white breeds in Italy. Bulls weigh 2000-2400 lbs

Bull Facts 31

the Barzona is a relatively new breed that was developed in Arizona starting in 1942 by Francis Bard and his wife. The wanted a breed that would adapt to Arizonas rugged terrain and harsh conditions. It’s a blend of Africander, Hereford, Angus and Santa Gertrudis

Bull Facts 31.2

The Africander (also known as Afrikaner) is thought to have arisen from a Zebu/Egyptian longhorn cross and is a native South African breed. It was almost exterminated from a disease called Rinderpest and being killed during the South African war. Bulls weigh ~1900#

Bull Facts 32

Bulls play a role in Easter celebrations in some cultures with Spain being one of the largest. The origin of the Spanish fighting bull traces back to wild bulls from the Iberian Peninsula and their use for arena games in the Roman Empire. Bulls bred for aggression

Bull Facts 33

The Gir (or Gyr) is an indigenous breed from India that is named after the Gir forest. It is one of the highest milk producers out of all the native breeds in India. It has a high tolerance to stress conditions. India created a commemorative stamp in yr 2000 featuring a Gir bull

Bull Facts 34

It is a tradition in Spain and parts of France to turn bulls loose and let them run down the streets on Easter Sunday as part of the Easter celebrations. In Arcos, one bull is turned out at 10 am and another at 3 pm. Alcohol is involved 😏
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGosElwGaBU

Bull Facts 35

The Girolando is a relatively new breed developed by Brazilian farmers in the 1940s. They crossed the Gir with the Dutch and then in 1989, a draft of standards for the breed became 5/8 Holstein and 3/8 Gir. They are very tolerant to heat. Bulls weigh ~1400 lbs

Bull Facts 36

A “Bull” market is recognized when a move of 20% rise or more from a trough or a peak of an asset or market as a whole is achieved. The term “Bull” is thought to derive from the way in which bulls attack their opponents by thrusting their horns into the air.

Bull Facts 37

The Brahmousin was created by Texas rancher Daryl Wiggins in the late 1970s. He blended the best of Limousin traits which are excellence in muscling, growth and carcass quality with Brahman heat tolerance, insect resistance and feed efficiency. Bulls weigh~2200 lbs

Bull Facts 38

Bull calves that are TOO BIG to be delivered the conventional way need to come into the world by caesarean http://section.Video shows how the calf comes out. A bouncing baby bull weighing 134 lbs. Warning: Content may be offensive to some. Do I have to say that?

Bull Facts 39

The Canchim is a Brazilian breed that was created in 1922 by crossing the Zebu breed Indobrazil with Charolais imported from France. The name comes from a tree that is common in the region of central Brazil where the breed was developed. Bulls weigh ~ 2000 lbs.

Bull Facts 40

Update from Bull Fact #38-After spending a bit of time in the TLC pen to make sure there are no issues with feeding or surgery complications, bull calf Too Big ( think I’ll name him TB😆) and his mother get moved into a pen with other pairs for a few more days

Bull Facts 41

The Miniature Hereford is a newer breed that was started by rancher Russ Largent from Texas in 1974. After much selection, a bull called Laser was used to produce smaller frame size animals and in 1991 the first Miniatures were sold on the open market. Bulls ~1000#

Bull Facts 42

First of all, thanks to all that didn’t hassle me about “Bill” Fact 41🤣🤣. The Belmont Red was developed for the harsh Australian environment beginning in 1954. It is a cross of Africander/Hereford/Shorthorn. They have a very placid nature. Bulls weigh 2400-3000#

Bull Facts 43

A grey bull for a grey day here. The Murray Grey is thought to have come from the farm of Peter Sutherland located in Thologolong, New South Wales in 1905. It was the result of crossing a Shorthorn cow to an Aberdeen Angus bull. They can be grey, silver or black

Bull Facts 44

The Luing ( pronounced Ling) is a Scottish breed that was developed by the Cadzow bros on The Island of Luing beginning in the 1940s. It is a cross between Shorthorn Highlander which gives them the qualities of fleshing, ruggedness and hardiness. Bulls weigh ~1900#