IL Rancher said:
I was out with the feedlot guy last week talking to him about crossbreeding and terminal sires and the like.. Just asking him for advice and what he was seeing since they do carcass reports and the like.. Not saying I was going to follow the advice but it was interesting to get a different point of few.. Wasn't too high on Continental breeding right now but they push for choice cattle and a lot of the cont influenced cattle the clients are sending in (They are a custum feeder) just don't ring the bell in that manner.. But than again he also made the comment of the first thing you are selling is pounds so he wasn't completely negative on the Gelb, Simmi, Char lines (Although he was pretty negative on Limis and Maines)..
All in all it was a rather interesting hour at the feedyard, still trying to put together everything that was said to me..
Hmmmmmmm.....I am hitting 83% Choice sorting my own cattle.....A lot are saleyard cattle, but I like the way a Simmental cross calf performs on feed and on the rail.....Heck, I had a group of straight Charlais grade predominently Choice 1's a few years back and averaged about $1350 on the paycheck per head...........Best I ever did....
I personally use a Simmental angus cross as well....If you are looking for females, maybe hereford would not be a bad choice. I was at a conference where the Hereford folks were showing the effects on fertility of throwing Hereford into the mix. It was pretty impressive...
I also by chance have some cows with some Saler influence. Not by plan, just picked up some good crossbred pairs. these have done very well for me. I figure they seem to be out of favor just enough to be the next hot new thing, LOL,
PPRM