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How Long is too Long?

A

Anonymous

Guest
Since we're talking about bulls and heifers--- I was thinking the other day (dangerous thing for me to do :lol: )-- Anyway I saw picture of the Rito 616 bull, I believe--and how long he was...You could have lined up 3 angus bulls of 40-50 years ago in his length....

Anyway- how long are we going to be able to breed these cattle for- without having some kind of problems :???: Some almost look like they should break down in the back now...What kind of problems will we create in the future in our attempt to put more beef into an animal?
 

Aaron

Well-known member
Maybe some of the other Hereford guys can remember the polled bull 'Screech' that was used a bit in the mid 90's. I think it was Johner Stock Farm that was promoting him. Wow, was he long! And he had plenty of strength in the back, which was even more surprising. I don't know how much more length you can get into these cattle, but in the end, length is one of the few things that matter...so the longer the better.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
One old breeder that I knew talked about cattle needing a 'strong
chest floor' to handle the length. I never was quite sure what he
meant.

I believed he knew what he was talking about, however.
 

Jason

Well-known member
Long cattle need sufficient barrel and musceling to handle the length. Think about spanning a roof with trusses, 1 2x4 alone isn't enough when the span is longer then a few feet. A web of 2x4's makes it stronger to span a greater distance.

The barrel or girth of cattle will provide a web of muscel that will support their spine.

Some of the narrow cattle fall off behind the shoulder, more correctly they are pinched in the heart girth.

The chest floor is what experienced buyers look for in feeder cattle. A strong wide floor usually translates into better gainers. Too many breeders mistake heavy shoulders for a strong chest floor.

Longer animals are heavier, sometimes even at birth, but who cares if a calf takes an extra 3 seconds to pass like an arrow through the birth cannal? Better than having a watermelon that hangs up.

How long is too long? If they can't make the corner of the chute to get into the truck they might be too long.
 
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