1700 lbs Bulls

[Just Ranchin]

It is the time of year again where we are all flooded with sale catalogues. I am not an exotic breeder, but I decided to have a look at this year's offering from a couple breeders within the driving area. Turns out we are doing something terribly wrong developing our bulls, as lots of the simmie and Char bulls are showing 365 day weights of 1500-1750 lbs. Did I miss something? If a steer is considered "finished" at 1300-1400 lbs, then would that mean that these bulls are "finished" at 10 months of age? I know they wouldn't last at home!

 

[ANGUS327]

Those bulls will add '' skelatal volume" as one sale catalogue I got described the bulls.

 

[Northern Rancher]

Well they're finished in a matter of speaking.

 

[Just Ranchin]

Well they're finished in a matter of speaking.

Then why are intelligent people buying into it? Frustrating as hell- you can't argue with stupid

 

[Northern Rancher]

The poor guys raising bulls right get a double whammy because their bulls breed about double the cows a grain stuffed softie will so they sell half as many. Some people that raise them right got paid very well this weekend-I'll just leave it at that!

 

[Anonymous]

Well they're finished in a matter of speaking.

Then why are intelligent people buying into it? Frustrating as hell- you can't argue with stupid

$$$---Emotion and commotion in promotion can make a lot of folks think they can make more $$ from the bigger, better, fasters- and usually it ends up costing them lots more in the long run....

Been there- Done it....

 

[littlejoe]

I was looking at black bull catelogue today===1300# plus for yearlings.

A week or so ago, I went up and got the 2yr olds I'd bought earlier--born may june of '09---2 @ 1200# plus, the other 1300#---never have been pushed, moderate frame, wye breeding. I'd asked about the scrotals when i bought them---guy said he could look it up, but vet always told him there was no comparision with quality on naturally developed bulls and 'feedlot' bulls.

For so long, people been chasing big fast growing types---then keep the biggest heifers outa them, 'cause they're the 'prettiest' then wonder why their cows are so damned big

I've bought bulls @ sales and turned them out with my home raised AI sired bulls----sale bulls were maybe 150# heavier at turnout---about same size at end of first cycle---maybe 100# lighter first fall----natural don't fall apart

 

[Anonymous]

I was looking at black bull catelogue today===1300# plus for yearlings.

A week or so ago, I went up and got the 2yr olds I'd bought earlier--born may june of '09---2 @ 1200# plus, the other 1300#---never have been pushed, moderate frame, wye breeding. I'd asked about the scrotals when i bought them---guy said he could look it up, but vet always told him there was no comparision with quality on naturally developed bulls and 'feedlot' bulls.

For so long, people been chasing big fast growing types---then keep the biggest heifers outa them, 'cause they're the 'prettiest' then wonder why their cows are so damned big

I've bought bulls @ sales and turned them out with my home raised AI sired bulls----sale bulls were maybe 150# heavier at turnout---about same size at end of first cycle---maybe 100# lighter first fall----natural don't fall apart

Littlejoe--- I agree 100%...The bulls/heifers I've kept/bought for the last several years are ones that saw little or no grain (I walk thru the young bulls and give them the equivalent of 1/2 a coffee can of grain in the feeders just for dispositional purposes- and have most where I can stand there and scratch them all day-- just like the old Wye bred herd bull)- the heifers go back out with the old cows about 3 weeks after weaning- and they learn to live real life on just grass or hay--------and the ones we sold this year to folks that we know- and the ones we kept for our own use were fed/treated the same way.....

Showsale FAT looks nice in the sales promotion books- and salesring- covers up a lot of defects-and is a great emotion/commotion promotion-- but means little when that prospective sire/heifer gets out and is actually supposed to do their job...

 

[Northern Rancher]

A'I studs love the fatties-it used to be called 'test station disease' back when they were more in favour. I'll never forget the talk the head of the dairy collection unit gave the beef boys on the subfertility of beef bulls. Think of that nect time your A'I guy tells you a bull is in short supply-it isn't always because of demand-most times his fat shrouded nuts can't produce quality squeezin's. Good dairy bulls will produce 1500 units per collection-some of the buls from the most highly promoted outfits don't produce any or 150 if they are lucky. I firmly believe a bull can be flushed just like a cow to produce semen. The 'children of the corn' sensations have to be let down in condition then attempted to ramp it back up-all the while they are in a pretty high priced bull hotel.

 

[PureCountry]

Little Joe - I hear you on the weights. Our Galloway coming 2's - may/june born - are 1200lbs tops. Most guys have a hard time looking through the hair and the size. The ones that can see what's there come back for more. The guy that bought our top-selling red bull last year said he gained weight and bred cows/heifers like crazy. His Momma is 16 this year still going strong. This is him at last years sale weighing 1200lbs in April, almost 2:

And later that year at his new owner's place in Saskatchewan.

 

[Northern Rancher]

He looks good.

 

[W.T]

Don't you remember that fat is a awful pretty color.

 

[Dylan Biggs]

Turns out we are doing something terribly wrong developing our bulls, as lots of the simmie and Char bulls are showing 365 day weights of 1500-1750 lbs.

WOW! :shock:

Not my cup of tea.