Is 77 lbs a big calf for a Charolais heifer?
- Thread starter Whitewing
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Unassisted, I think, but I didn't specifically ask. Both are fine apparently because when they're not, I hear about it.
Most of the mine run about 25 kilos or 55 lbs.
I had one that was way less than that when born but quickly caught up with the others. To this day he's called ratton, or mouse. :lol:
Most of the mine run about 25 kilos or 55 lbs.
I had one that was way less than that when born but quickly caught up with the others. To this day he's called ratton, or mouse. :lol:
Shortgrass
Well-known member
I'll bet it was unassisted. Brahman are long slender critters. If they don't ear-lock :wink: . I've had lots of heifers with calves that big.
per
Well-known member
Back in my "Continental" period we had lots of heifer calves in the 80 lb range unassisted. Unassisted being the key word here. Not to worry.
Shortgrass said:
Aside from putting some new genes in my animals, I figured a Brahman might be a good one to cross with those Charolais heifers because they are long and slender critters.
Our animals are generally smaller than what you guys run up 'north'. A 77 lb calf seems to get a lot of attention in my area.
Bward said:I thought you were being sarcastic.Some of those Brahma sired continental dam crosses can be huge! 77 pounds is a peanut.
Nope. This is easily the largest calf I've had on the place though it's the first batch of Brahma/Charolais crosses. This one weighed 35 kilos, they usually come in the range of 22 - 26 kilos.
As I said, S. American cattle tend to run smaller than their N. American cousins.
Whitewing said:Bward said:I thought you were being sarcastic.
Nope. This is easily the largest calf I've had on the place though it's the first batch of Brahma/Charolais crosses. This one weighed 35 kilos, they usually come in the range of 22 - 26 kilos.
As I said, S. American cattle tend to run smaller than their N. American cousins.
I hope you or some of them vaqueros have chains or whatever ready ......you'll have one that will either kill the cow or kill the calf coming.
It's just trouble waiting to happen if you are breeding a Chevy bull on bramer females....
Down right stupid really.......................
Faster horses
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jingo2 it's so nice to have you back. We've missed the good
cheer that you bring to the forum. :roll:
cheer that you bring to the forum. :roll:
jingo2 said:Whitewing said:Bward said:I thought you were being sarcastic.
Nope. This is easily the largest calf I've had on the place though it's the first batch of Brahma/Charolais crosses. This one weighed 35 kilos, they usually come in the range of 22 - 26 kilos.
As I said, S. American cattle tend to run smaller than their N. American cousins.
I hope you or some of them vaqueros have chains or whatever ready ......you'll have one that will either kill the cow or kill the calf coming.
It's just trouble waiting to happen if you are breeding a Chevy bull on bramer females....
Down right stupid really.......................
I routinely cross my Charolais bulls with mestiza cows, pretty much without problem so far.....after several years.
My mestiza and Charolais heifers I cross with a Brahman bull because I figure it's better for their first birthing.
Oh, and good Sunday morning sunshine.
Buyer
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Yep a breath of fresh air isn't he.
Shortgrass
Well-known member
jingo2 said:
I can tell you are a fan of smaller cattle, of which there certainly is a place for, and I can also tell you have had little actual experience with Chars. Now, you can tell I like em' , they work for me. I am able to produce the type that work for feeders, as there is little demand for oxen any more. I have seen a couple of calves around the 115 mark, too large for any breed, but in 25 years of raising them I've never had a calf toward the 150 mark. As with any breed, there is a great difference between animals. I successfully strive to produce 70 - 80 lb calves on heifers, and 90 - 100 lb calves on mature cows. You can find Angus bulls that will do the same thing for you. Sorry, but your remark just hit me wrong :lol: . If you raise cattle, and have some that work in your program, just stay with it. :wink:
I'll say this Shortgrass, I love my Charolais. They're from a line that was originally from the US, spent many years in Cuba, and then made their way to Venezuela.
There aren't many of us breeding them in Venezuela both those of us who do breed them, like them. I find them really docile and easy to manage, right up to the largest and oldest bulls. And they're doing well on grass alone.
The guys at my ranch love 'em too as most had never worked with them before. In fact, when we bring in a new animal and it's overly wild, they're wanting to ship it off immediately for slaughter as they've gotten used to the tameness of the Charolais.
I'm crossing the Charolais with my mestizo herd because the offspring make really impressive animals. Having said that, I'm still producing pure-bred Charolais and sell several bulls every year to nearby herds whose owners are impressed when they see the crosses we're producing.
There aren't many of us breeding them in Venezuela both those of us who do breed them, like them. I find them really docile and easy to manage, right up to the largest and oldest bulls. And they're doing well on grass alone.
The guys at my ranch love 'em too as most had never worked with them before. In fact, when we bring in a new animal and it's overly wild, they're wanting to ship it off immediately for slaughter as they've gotten used to the tameness of the Charolais.
I'm crossing the Charolais with my mestizo herd because the offspring make really impressive animals. Having said that, I'm still producing pure-bred Charolais and sell several bulls every year to nearby herds whose owners are impressed when they see the crosses we're producing.