Bull partnerships

I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with going in on a bull with another breeder? I was talking with a breeder near me about finally getting a herd bull of high quality, and he mentioned he's currently in the process of doing the same since he lost one of his top bulls this year. We have very similar pedigrees in our cattle, and we are both in need of an outcross to these pedigrees.

I've had good luck using bulls he's suggested in the past, and I have liked the herd bulls I've seen on his farm. He would be the one picking out the bull on one of his upcoming trips, though I'd have him send me pictures and information on the bull before he buys it.

Any suggestions on how to move forward? How do semen sales usually work with shared rights? He said we could do 1/2 ownership or 1/3-2/3 depending on budgets. Once the bull is bought do we each need to insure separately for our portion of ownership?

Thanks in advance

Nobody has any insights to share?

Business partnerships are all about the details whether it is partnering on a bull or an oil well.  Who is responsible for what expenses and how will any revenue be split and in your case who will care and have possession of the bull.  Insurance is just a variable, if you want protection then buy insurance together or individually and verify perils on the policy.  Define and list your out of pocket expenses up front and monthly, semen distributors can tell you what costs are associated with handling your semen so put that cost in your model.  You have to promote, so figure in all those costs....Personally, I would want to know what niche I am trying to fill with a particular bull and be intimately involved in selection, owning interest in a bull that is never pushed or promoted, whether he is good or bad, is a bad recipe.

If raising better cattle is your objective, I might use that "bull investment capital" to AI my herd to some PROVEN sires which may lead you in a direction to finding a bull worth investing in, bull promotion and semen selling can be worthwhile but costs are high and it is a risk, finding the bull that can consistently produce above average cattle is the hurdle.  Luckily we love this business so we throw money at times where we shouldn't! LOL No risk No reward we tell ourselves!

Good luck, hope this helps, partnerships don't need to be a mystery, it's just a business transaction.

Sometimes these partnerships, when transitioning to different ownership, get very messy.  Who will have salvage value of the bull?  If you share possession, do both owners take good care of their bulls, or does either ranch/farm tend to let their bulls lose too much body condition, etc.?  Will one of you use the bull in the spring and the other, in the fall?  What happens if your valuable partnership bull breaks a back leg (this happened in ND when two bulls got in a fight) or breaks something else necessary for him to service cows?  Who pays the vet bill if the bull gets an abscess on his foot?  What is the herd health status of the partner?

Thanks for the responses! There are several points I hadn't thought of, namely vet expenses for little things like a foot abscess. I'll have to make a list of these things to discuss with my potential partner, and probably get an agreement drafted. Does anyone know of any other questions I should be asking?

I think if you look around in MN u can find a good shorthorn bull for 2-3 thousand. I know Doug bruns and Cody Nelson will be having a sale this fall with bulls. I've got a bull from a guy by hayfield we lease for very reasonable.