A few photos of my favorite young bull.
- Thread starter Whitewing
- Start date
Faster horses
Well-known member
I never knew these cattle existed. This is so interesting.
This bull has a real different head, to me anyway.
Thanks WW for starting this thread. It's great.
This bull has a real different head, to me anyway.
Thanks WW for starting this thread. It's great.
PureCountry
Well-known member
Whitewing said:
That's what happens when you take the feed pail away. Venezuela or central Alberta, when you go 100% grass-fed, it takes them longer to mature. We've struggled with trying to like the look of some of our cattle over the years since we went 100% grass/hay. Although, the genetics quickly showed through of who had it, and who didn't. I have yearling Galloway bulls right now that look quite similar to your bull, as far as condition and looking a little "feminine". This time next year, you won't recognize them. Their neck will thicken and fill out, as will their body. It's just the way it is. Even feeding 3 or 4 lbs of oats through the winter changes them tremendously from being all grass.
As Silver said, if he's working for you, keep on keepin' on.
Kato
Well-known member
We have had lots of Charolais bulls over the years. I think everyone needs to take into account that this one has probably been raised under entirely different conditions that what cattle here are.
We've found that Charolais bulls, for us at least, will grow until they are about four years old. You can buy a really pretty yearling, once he's in pasture on grass, not so pretty any more. Over the next couple of years he just gets better and better. If he's too big and fat and nice to look at when he's really young, he may not last all that long.
Post more photos when he's a four year old. I bet no one recognizes him.
We've found that Charolais bulls, for us at least, will grow until they are about four years old. You can buy a really pretty yearling, once he's in pasture on grass, not so pretty any more. Over the next couple of years he just gets better and better. If he's too big and fat and nice to look at when he's really young, he may not last all that long.
Post more photos when he's a four year old. I bet no one recognizes him.
Thanks for the encouragement and comments PC and Kato.
I've been the first to admit here that I've been flying by the seat of my pants as it relates to cattle production. My only exposure to agriculture as a youngster was rice production; zero cattle background for me or my dad.
And Kato, your comments about the changes from 2 to 4 years of age for these Charolais ring true from my limited experience here. I bought a young bull, about 2 years old at the time (along with a group of mature cows) for my second herd bull but decided to leave him with the original owner until I had more fencing completed and more pasture planted. What I thought would be a few months turned into almost a year. While I'd check on the cows from time to time, my new bull was always in a distant pasture with the other bulls when I'd visit the seller's ranch so I didn't see him for a long while. When I finally did, I was amazed at how much he'd matured and morphed in body structure.
What you guys have said about grass-feeding certainly makes sense. I do provide some commercial feed from time to time but that's mostly delivered to cows that are nursing or animals that need a serious boost because they're much thinner than they should be.
Once I'm done planting bermuda this year (if I ever finish), I'm going to plant some corn for my animals. I've got about 25 acres in grain sorghum right now so I think a bit of corn would make a nice mix.
And I'll do exactly what you've suggested Kato. I'll save these photos and then post others in another year or so so we can get an idea of just how much he's actually changed. I'm confident he's going to end up being the best young bull I've yet to produce.
I've been the first to admit here that I've been flying by the seat of my pants as it relates to cattle production. My only exposure to agriculture as a youngster was rice production; zero cattle background for me or my dad.
And Kato, your comments about the changes from 2 to 4 years of age for these Charolais ring true from my limited experience here. I bought a young bull, about 2 years old at the time (along with a group of mature cows) for my second herd bull but decided to leave him with the original owner until I had more fencing completed and more pasture planted. What I thought would be a few months turned into almost a year. While I'd check on the cows from time to time, my new bull was always in a distant pasture with the other bulls when I'd visit the seller's ranch so I didn't see him for a long while. When I finally did, I was amazed at how much he'd matured and morphed in body structure.
What you guys have said about grass-feeding certainly makes sense. I do provide some commercial feed from time to time but that's mostly delivered to cows that are nursing or animals that need a serious boost because they're much thinner than they should be.
Once I'm done planting bermuda this year (if I ever finish), I'm going to plant some corn for my animals. I've got about 25 acres in grain sorghum right now so I think a bit of corn would make a nice mix.
And I'll do exactly what you've suggested Kato. I'll save these photos and then post others in another year or so so we can get an idea of just how much he's actually changed. I'm confident he's going to end up being the best young bull I've yet to produce.
