I know this is 4 years old…. We’ve never used pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones, vaccines, or anything artificial in our cattle since 1912. Our beef have only been pasture raised and pasture finished for 20 years. We did use a 50/50 corn/oats ground mix when we ran dairy cattle at approx 8# each per day. I guess we were really lucky because I don’t remember any not breeding back and we rarely lose a calf.
Using a large bull will throw a larger birth-weight calf, which may cause birthing dificulties. You want a live, thrifty calf that gets up quickly and gains rapidly. Use short legged parents with forage fermenting barrel of a gut.
I agree with not wanting to breed a large bull with a small frame heifer. I look at the bull and the bull’s parents and avoid a huge bull when buying one. I’d rather have a 1,600-1,800lb bull, even as 1,200 if out of our program, and then use an adult bull for cleanup. I want easy calving, especially for the heifers.
I want a cow ~1100# (500 Kg) the bulls around twice that. to look at nature, the cows were ~1100# and the bulls 2000# (big or fat bull's fertility is as happened as one starved)
I know this is 4 years old…. We’ve never used pesticides, herbicides, growth hormones, vaccines, or anything artificial in our cattle since 1912. Our beef have only been pasture raised and pasture finished for 20 years.
We did use a 50/50 corn/oats ground mix when we ran dairy cattle at approx 8# each per day.
I guess we were really lucky because I don’t remember any not breeding back and we rarely lose a calf.
Thanks, valueble info
What’s the oldest cow you’ve had on your farm still calving? How old is too old?
Does it provide any advantage to use slightly larger Bulls to breed slightly smaller cows after normal difference in size is factored in?
Using a large bull will throw a larger birth-weight calf, which may cause birthing dificulties. You want a live, thrifty calf that gets up quickly and gains rapidly. Use short legged parents with forage fermenting barrel of a gut.
I agree with not wanting to breed a large bull with a small frame heifer. I look at the bull and the bull’s parents and avoid a huge bull when buying one. I’d rather have a 1,600-1,800lb bull, even as 1,200 if out of our program, and then use an adult bull for cleanup. I want easy calving, especially for the heifers.
Wish we could see the slideshow. He’s a handsome man but very little info on the hat
I want a cow ~1100# (500 Kg) the bulls around twice that. to look at nature, the cows were ~1100# and the bulls 2000# (big or fat bull's fertility is as happened as one starved)
Until a cow makes 11 yrs of age...she effectively has made me no net income. Most everything is development and maintenance.
How the hell do you figure that?