Wanted: a formidable mate for biggest bull

Reuters

LOT OF BULL: Malaysia's biggest bull 'Bob' stands next to a car in Bachok, in Malaysia's state of Kelantan.

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Size is a problem for Malaysia's biggest bull. He cannot find a mate who can withstand his frame, which is bigger than a mid-sized family saloon car.

Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 1.5 tonnes, the cream-coloured, six-year-old bull is a cross-bred between a local variety and the Charolais breed known for its large size.

"I tried to get him to mate twice but both the cows died because their backs broke when he mounted them," said owner Juharani Jafaar, a cafe operator in a small town in Malaysia's northeastern Kelantan state, who calls the animal Bob and treats him as his pet.

Bob's daily diet consists of 50kgs of Indian Napier giant grass and 5kgs of food pellets.

"He only weighed 300kgs but now weighs more than a tonne. He has been banned from entering any competition because he would literally dwarf the competition," said Juharani, who bought Bob five years ago in Thailand.

A spokesman from Malaysia's Veterinary Department said Bob is the largest cross breed bull the department has on record.

As well as sex, size presents other problems for Bob. Juharani said the bull needs up to a minute to get up due to his girth, and his weight led him to suffer a stroke last year.

"I cried when he suffered a stroke, but am thankful that he eventually recovered and is now up and about."

The bull's playful nature earned him the name Bob, derived from childrens' animated television character "Bob the Builder."

"He is like a child. I've taught him to stop, to lift one of his legs, and to shake his head," said Juharani, who did not say if he ever intended to put Bob on a diet.