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Continental Cross Cows and Angus Bulls?

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
What does everybody think of this? I was thinking about running some Maine/Simmental cows for frame and breed them to a solid Angus bull. Would the bigger framed cows and smaller bull eliminate calving problems? And does anyone have any experience with the tempermant of these crosses? Would the heifer calves be good to retain for replacements?

Thanks,

Alex
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
It wouldn't solve your calving problems just by breeding to an Angus
bull. If the cows have heavy birthweights bred into them, thats where
the heavy calves most likely come from, regardless of what bull you use.
BW is 70% heritable from the cow.

To do what you are wanting to do, breed the
Angus COWS to the Maine-Simmental bull. Either way looks like trouble to me. :shock:
But I'm old............. :p :wink:
 

3words

Well-known member
Personally i wouldn't do it,i think the maine simmental would bring out the worst of both breed's.I only have limited experience with the maine breed,but everytime i did over at a neighbours it just reminded me to never own a maine cow.If you want to cross that simmental and have some good cows cross them with a good hereford bull.Thats my 2 cents,take it what it's worth.
 

littlejoe

Well-known member
Denny said:
Most Simmentals are 7/8ths angus already.

and of course the angus they're 7/8 of are % holstein or percheron---or whatever they used to put about 1 1/2' of elevation and little areas of white on 'purebred' bulls bellys in about 3 generations....
 

RSL

Well-known member
I would lean the other way, but simply because that's what we do at home.
AN cows and SM bulls. The cows have more flesh and marbling, are smaller, milk less and cost less to run than SM cows, but I still get the benefits of growth and yield from the SM and the heifers are a premium product.
As for CE, I can't think of a single SM sired calf that we have even seen born, but will acknowledge that we have lost one in a snow storm. Sire selection within a breed choice is pretty important whether it is AN or another breed.
 

Shortgrass

Well-known member
I've had people tell me that I should put an Angus Bull on my Charolais cows. That is one cross I do not like. You can cross the other way - Char bull x Angus cow and do well. The Angus on Char will give you a lot of rat tails. I would more inclined to cross the Sim/Maine bull on Angus cows, but never tried much with Maines. FH is sure right.
 

Clarencen

Well-known member
This is just my opinion. If you already own those crossbred cows, that may be as good a way to go as any. If you want to start a herd, stay somewhere in the middle. We can expect a lot of changes in the next few years. Our markets are changing and so are our resources.
Cattle have changed a lot in the past 30 years. I don't believe we get the dramatic results with cross breeding as we did in the 1970's.

As far as calving ease goes, I would still want to consider calfing ease bulls for my heifers regardless of where this trait comes from.

The size of the calf at birth has a lot to do with calfing ease, but not all. If we cross for hybrid vigor and faster growth, it seems to me the calf would also be larger at birth.

Don't look for dramatic results with just one breeding. To build a herd that fits your resources and that fits the ever changing market takes years.
 

Big Muddy rancher

Well-known member
Personally I would say you have it backwards. Use Angus cows with terminal sires if you like.

But since we can do it the way we like if we can pay the bills go ahead and try it. :D

You wouldn't be happy until you did. :lol: :lol: :lol:
 

Angus Cattle Shower

Well-known member
I was just thinking bigger cows and smaller buills might solve my calving troubles. Going out in -40 to deal with a heifer calving or to pull a big calf out of a smaller cow gets pretty old, pretty fast, not that I have to tell any of you that haha
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Angus Cattle Shower said:
I was just thinking bigger cows and smaller buills might solve my calving troubles. Going out in -40 to deal with a heifer calving or to pull a big calf out of a smaller cow gets pretty old, pretty fast, not that I have to tell any of you that haha

Moderation in all traits is your best direction for the longrun... If you are buying cows- try and get them from a herd that has a long history of range calving- where the cows either do all the work themselves or are gone... A lot of your problems will already be weeded out...

And there are lots of easy calving pedigreed bulls out there- (I prefer angus- but even some of the other breeds will work)...

BUT-- even tho you do all that- you still better plan on ending up with some calving problems- and calving losses....But at least it puts the odds more in your favor...
 

Denny

Well-known member
littlejoe said:
Denny said:
Most Simmentals are 7/8ths angus already.

and of course the angus they're 7/8 of are % holstein or percheron---or whatever they used to put about 1 1/2' of elevation and little areas of white on 'purebred' bulls bellys in about 3 generations....

I was going to say most of the angus are already part Maine,or Holstein
 

3words

Well-known member
Denny said:
littlejoe said:
Denny said:
Most Simmentals are 7/8ths angus already.

and of course the angus they're 7/8 of are % holstein or percheron---or whatever they used to put about 1 1/2' of elevation and little areas of white on 'purebred' bulls bellys in about 3 generations....

I was going to say most of the angus are already part Maine,or Holstein

Is that why my last black angus bull is 1 1/2 feet taller and weighed over a ton at 2?I was thinking maybe my simmental cows were just shrinking!!
 

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