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Bulls to critique

Grassfarmer

Well-known member
Here are pictures I took today of some of our Luing bulls on their "grass test" - well it's not so much "a test" as a way of life, lol. They are just getting to the 18 month mark and weighed about 1200lbs a month ago. These were just quick snaps - if anyone wants better pictures or needs them tied up and blown out before they pass judgment be my guest. :wink: :lol: :lol:

DSC03556.jpg

The test ration - plain old grass, hopefully get 2 or 3 weeks out of it yet before we get snowed up.
10U.jpg

10U - or "I owe you" as my friend calls him.
15U.jpg

15U Half brother to the last. I really think we've got something with him - just don't know what :?
15U3.jpg

Same bull from the rear, this has been our highest gainer and heaviest fleshed bull this summer.
Lochay-1.jpg

31U A nice deep bull out of a nice deep cow - I think he'll be a cow maker.
Jeff1.jpg

One of my friends bull that's on our test too. Especially for the folks that don't like reds :wink: (he's a yellow IMHO)
 

leanin' H

Well-known member
Now don't take this the wrong way.......... (Which is usually almost a guarantee somebody will) :wink: Those bulls have the exact same look on their faces as the horned toads that inhabit our deserts and mountains! :lol: :lol: The last lighter colored bull should be named "Horny Toad". And when he breeds lots and lots of cows the name will fit perfect! :D Bulls look really short in all that TALL grass. I like how compact and fleshy they are. Bet they throw soggy calves. Nice bunch of bulls. Thanks! :D
 

WyomingRancher

Well-known member
They look like a hardy set of bulls :D . I like the 15U bull best since he seems to have a bit more length in addition to his thickness. The last bull (1/2 brother) seems to have similar length, but doesn't look as thick from what I can tell from the pics.

And H, you've hit it on the head...literally! :lol:
 

MN Farm Girl

Well-known member
10U
- I love his moderate frame and bone structure.
- He carries muscle into the lower third of this quarter
- He has a big set of nuts
- The shape of his head screams bull
- Clean fronted
- Wide topped
- Works product from end to end
- Best combination of butts, nuts and guts!
- He offers depth of body as well as flank
15U
I will start off by saying that he is a good bull with both pros and cons.
pros:
- Wide topped
- Heavy boned
- Fair amount of 1/4
- Larger framed, later maturity
cons:
- Would like to see more lower 1/3 to his 1/4.
- so many bulls are "cat-hammed" these days
- I would like a little better balanced... he is heavier and wastier fronted than i would like to see.

But besides these things he is an awesome bull that will make future replacement heifers for the herd.

31U
To me he is:
-long necked
-he offers good dimesion of structure
-large scrotal circumference
-heavy fronted
Never the less a bull that will produce replacement heifers/cows

Friends bull:
-square hipped
-straight in lines
-correct angle to shoulder
-wide based
-deep flanked
-heavy muscled

My consensus:1-2-4-3
These are mearly my observations from pictures. I hope no one is offended as this was not meant to happen. It is hard to judge from pictures and this is how i see the bulls.
Thanks for the practice on a high quality set of bulls to practice on. Our judging team is headed to Liousville in November for the judging contest and any practice I can get my hands on is helpful.
 

Grassfarmer

Well-known member
MN Farm Girl said:
10U
- I love his moderate frame and bone structure.
- He carries muscle into the lower third of this quarter
- He has a big set of nuts
- The shape of his head screams bull
- Clean fronted
- Wide topped
- Works product from end to end
- Best combination of butts, nuts and guts!
- He offers depth of body as well as flank
15U
I will start off by saying that he is a good bull with both pros and cons.
pros:
- Wide topped
- Heavy boned
- Fair amount of 1/4
- Larger framed, later maturity
cons:
- Would like to see more lower 1/3 to his 1/4.
- so many bulls are "cat-hammed" these days
- I would like a little better balanced... he is heavier and wastier fronted than i would like to see.

But besides these things he is an awesome bull that will make future replacement heifers for the herd.

31U
To me he is:
-long necked
-he offers good dimesion of structure
-large scrotal circumference
-heavy fronted
Never the less a bull that will produce replacement heifers/cows

Friends bull:
-square hipped
-straight in lines
-correct angle to shoulder
-wide based
-deep flanked
-heavy muscled

My consensus:1-2-4-3
These are mearly my observations from pictures. I hope no one is offended as this was not meant to happen. It is hard to judge from pictures and this is how i see the bulls.
Thanks for the practice on a high quality set of bulls to practice on. Our judging team is headed to Liousville in November for the judging contest and any practice I can get my hands on is helpful.

Well thank you for that most interesting and detailed critique, it's always interesting to hear others take. Before I say too much I'm not clear that my numbering system didn't confuse you (or wyoming rancher for that matter) - when you say 31U has a large scrotal - he's the second bull from the bottom and I can't see his scrotum in the picture :)
On the whole you made a good job but I know it's difficult to judge them without seeing them in the flesh.

In my opinion 10U (1st bull) got lucky when I took his picture - he was posed just right and it makes him look a little better than he really is. I don't like his hind legs I think they are too fine for the quarter he carries.

15U (2nd and 3rd picture) is in my opinion the best one I've had to date. I suspect if I measured him he would be the shortest and squatest bull shown. There isn't a lot I can find to fault him on - but could you explain the "cat hammed" term I'm unfamiliar with it.

31U (4th picture) is a bull I like because I really like his mother. I don't like the dip behind the shoulder as I see it as a sign of weakness. He's one of those bulls that doesn't "flow well" he has a longer neck and shoulder as you say but his hind quarter is short in comparison. He has the biggest, deepest barrel chest of the bulls and will make quite a distinctive bull when he is mature.

The friends bull at the end is another one with a dipped back and a higher tail head. I like his front and middle but think he lacks hind quarter. He is the smallest bull there - and the wrong color for me :roll: :lol:

See why I'm a bad bull salesman? I always find too many faults with my own cattle :wink: :lol:

Good luck with your judging contest and thanks for the critique!
 

WyomingRancher

Well-known member
Yep, it would be easier to judge in person :D . Honestly, I sometimes think my cattle look better in pictures, than what they really are in person... so pics can be hard to use in making fair assessments.

All I can honestly conclude from the pics is that the bulls ought to throw some thick calves, and daughters which should hold their condition
:wink: .
 

the_jersey_lilly_2000

Well-known member
leanin' H said:
Those bulls have the exact same look on their faces as the horned toads that inhabit our deserts and mountains! :lol: :lol:

Hahaha I had the same thought when I first looked at their heads. That's too funny.

Nice lookin bunch of bulls.....even the "light red" one. :wink:
 

PureCountry

Well-known member
Luing is a composite breed of Shorthorn and Highland. Grassfarmer can elaborate, but I will say that I've been anxiously awaiting a tour of his place for years, but I never seem to make the time to go see him. :lol:
 

Grassfarmer

Well-known member
Denny said:
So what mixture of breeds do these derive from?
Only two Denny - the Scotch Highland and the Beef Shorthorn. The breed composition is 3/8ths Highland 5/8ths Shorthorn. They started the breeding program in the 1940s and were recognised by Government as a breed in their own right in 1965 (the only new breed of cattle in the UK in the 20th century.)
 

Grassfarmer

Well-known member
PureCountry said:
Luing is a composite breed of Shorthorn and Highland. Grassfarmer can elaborate, but I will say that I've been anxiously awaiting a tour of his place for years, but I never seem to make the time to go see him. :lol:

And I've been the same with you and yours PureCountry. By the time we get the essential stuff done for the summer it's already winter :cry:
I guess I need to attend a course to learn better time management - but when will I find the time :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

per

Well-known member
Grassfarmer said:
PureCountry said:
Luing is a composite breed of Shorthorn and Highland. Grassfarmer can elaborate, but I will say that I've been anxiously awaiting a tour of his place for years, but I never seem to make the time to go see him. :lol:

And I've been the same with you and yours PureCountry. By the time we get the essential stuff done for the summer it's already winter :cry:
I guess I need to attend a course to learn better time management - but when will I find the time :lol: :lol: :lol:
Both of your places are on my people to visit list. I drove right past PC's place this summer but didn't have the time to stop. :? While on the tour Rkaiser and Hillsdown might be fun to visit. I run into Rkaiser's sister fairly often so at least I get updates on him once in a while. Hoping also to meet Silver an Gcreek some day soon. Should only be a 2500 mile tour. :shock:
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Better start riding broncs that's gow I get to see greek and pure country lol. Looks like Williams Lake will be July long this year G if Ty rides open pro. It's not about time management it's about not being afraid to be lazy.
 

PureCountry

Well-known member
Northern Rancher said:
Better start riding broncs that's gow I get to see greek and pure country lol. Looks like Williams Lake will be July long this year G if Ty rides open pro. It's not about time management it's about not being afraid to be lazy.

Ain't that the truth. Seems like we always feel guilty to stop and smell the roses unless we're rained out, snowed in, or broke down. The wife was after me to go visit some friends with her this week, and I told her to go alone, I'm busy trying to knock down our swath grazing before the snow does it for us. What did I get? One break down after another on the old swather and I'm waiting for parts. :x Maybe it's a sign I shoulda listened. :lol:
 

Hay Feeder

Well-known member
Grassfarmer said:
Denny said:
So what mixture of breeds do these derive from?
Only two Denny - the Scotch Highland and the Beef Shorthorn. The breed composition is 3/8ths Highland 5/8ths Shorthorn. They started the breeding program in the 1940s and were recognised by Government as a breed in their own right in 1965 (the only new breed of cattle in the UK in the 20th century.)

Interesting that a major semen company is disposing of all the Gelbvieh, Limousin and Salers bulls. Luing sure could of had that srtong hold of those type of breeds. Luing much more rancher orinented still wondering why Gelbvieh is still going or sliding the slippery slope.
 

Denny

Well-known member
Hay Feeder said:
Grassfarmer said:
Denny said:
So what mixture of breeds do these derive from?
Only two Denny - the Scotch Highland and the Beef Shorthorn. The breed composition is 3/8ths Highland 5/8ths Shorthorn. They started the breeding program in the 1940s and were recognised by Government as a breed in their own right in 1965 (the only new breed of cattle in the UK in the 20th century.)

Interesting that a major semen company is disposing of all the Gelbvieh, Limousin and Salers bulls. Luing sure could of had that srtong hold of those type of breeds. Luing much more rancher orinented still wondering why Gelbvieh is still going or sliding the slippery slope.

The salebarn guys here claim they get sick too easy and hence drive the price down..
 

Grassfarmer

Well-known member
Northern Rancher said:
Better start riding broncs that's gow I get to see greek and pure country lol. Looks like Williams Lake will be July long this year G if Ty rides open pro. It's not about time management it's about not being afraid to be lazy.

I'm working hard to break the bad habits NR but it's tough when you grow up with that west of Scotland protestant work ethic "s#%$ won't happen if you work hard enough" :wink: :lol: The first part of breaking my addiction was moving to Canada - when I am crazy busy for a few days in the year here I remind my wife that this was the norm "back home" Definitely an easier life style in Canada.
 

Northern Rancher

Well-known member
Maybe I could do some seminars on 'Applied Loafing' don't worry I got plenty of 'busy work' when I was a kid. It wasn't really productive but it kept you working. Just a minute my Dad was of the scotch canadian persusion lol.
 

Grassfarmer

Well-known member
Looking back the "busy work" we put the real hours in on was forking manure. We had one cattle shed was 34x36 feet and held about 32 weaned calves. We forked that manually into a manure spreader once mid winter and once in the spring. The manure pack was about 2-3 feet deep :shock: This was one of several sheds we cleaned this way. Don't know why - this was the mid-late 1980's not the 1880s and it was long after the introduction of hydraulics and tractor loaders.
I will say though that once we got "tooled up" a bit better with tractor loaders etc to make life easier the profitability declined substantially. We started working for input manufacturers instead.
 
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