Calf Pics (lots of pics)

[randiliana]

Here are some of the pics I took today while checking cows. Everyone looks good. Calves are mostly March born.

The daughters steer calf.

Some of the first crop from our "new" Hereford bull
Heifers

Steers
We are considering this one for 4H.

Some Shorthorn sired calves
Heifers

The bull calf, I'm still on the fence about him.

Some other calves
Angus sired steer out of a Hereford x Angus cow

Hereford sired heifer out of Hereford x Angus cow

Angus sired heifer out of a Hereford x Angus cow.

 

[PureCountry]

Your "on-the-fence" bull calf isn't what I would call breeding stock. He doesn't have enough muscle or volume for me. But the rest look like real good commercial beef calves. That's what they were intended for, and that's just what they are. Thanks for sharing.

 

[andybob]

Nice calves Randiliana, are you workng toward a three way rotational cross to maximise heterosis?

 

[randiliana]

Your "on-the-fence" bull calf isn't what I would call breeding stock. He doesn't have enough muscle or volume for me. But the rest look like real good commercial beef calves. That's what they were intended for, and that's just what they are. Thanks for sharing.

I know, and that is why we are on the fence about him. But, I do know his mama and we have 3 of his sisters in the herd. They all have lots of volume, but the muscle is the biggest thing I have a problem with. We will see, right now I am leaning toward cutting him, but that won't happen for a couple more months anyways.

 

[randiliana]

Nice calves Randiliana, are you workng toward a three way rotational cross to maximise heterosis?

Well, yes and no...... The herd is a compromise of what I want and what DH wants. The Shorthorn x is my thing, and the Angus and Hereford are more DH's thing. Most of the crossbred cows are either Hereford x Angus or Shorthorn crossed with either Hereford or Angus. We have started to use some SimmAngus bulls for terminal on our bottom end cows.

 

[High Plains]

Ear tag # 18 is my kind of heifer. Pretty good, pretty good. Heck, they all look pretty good.

Just my opinion, but I'd cut the bull. His pattern is nice but he does give up too much muscle to suit me.

Thanks for sharing your pics.

HP

 

[Ben H]

imagine if humans were "cut" at about 10-15 years of age if they didn't look right?

the first, fourth and fifth calves have too much space undernearth them for me. The bull calf seems a little pinched in the heart girth.

 

[Faster horses]

Nice pictures. You do a really good job taking them.

I'm curious as to WHY you would even consider the 'on the fence bull calf' as a bull? What would he add to your herd? Besides no muscle, he looks to me like he would/could mongerlize things too much. FWIW...

I just don't know much about crossbreeding other than F1 crosses, so maybe I can learn something.

 

[randiliana]

Nice pictures. You do a really good job taking them.

I'm curious as to WHY you would even consider the 'on the fence bull calf' as a bull? What would he add to your herd? Besides no muscle, he looks to me like he would/could mongerlize things too much. FWIW...

I just don't know much about crossbreeding other than F1 crosses, so maybe I can learn something.

Thanks, FH.

He is purebred Shorthorn, not a crossbred. That is part of the reason we left him as a bull calf. The rest of it goes back to his mama. We have all 3 of her heifers in the herd. His full sister was used by our daughter in 4-H this past spring, and the only other bull calf was used by our son in 4-H last year. So, he should add some real maternal genetics to the herd. But, as you say, he is lacking in the muscle department, and that is the reason I am on the fence about him.