Selection works

[Big Swede]

Back in the mid 90's our cow herd had gotten to a point that I was totally disgusted and ready to start a new direction. We had gotten caught up in the race for frame in Angus bulls of the 80's. Our young cows were tall, lacked capacity and volume, and had very little milk and even had some disposition issues to top it all off. I was ready for a new direction.

My cousin river rat and his family had bought some bulls from Jorgensen's back in the early 90's and were making great strides in all the areas we needed to correct. I bought my first commercial bulls from them in 98 and have done so every year since. I think that's about the time they became a cooperater herd for Jorgensen's bull lease program.

Anyway the reason for that history is that I now have a squeeze chute for sale. It was a manual Powder River that I had converted to hydraulic. I started freeze branding my bred heifers back in 99 and never used to have a problem working them without them getting stuck in the chute. Now just about every one barely makes it through and there was one we didn't even try, we just backed her down the alley. I wouldn't even consider running my mature cows through it anymore.

Anyway if someone is interested in a good usable chute let me know. Thanks a lot Wade, no really thanks. :wink:

 

[George]

I bought my chute in the early 1970s and it worked well until I bought some Charolis about 8 to 10 years ago. Instead of trading chutes I reworked it to allow the big girls access - - - I can still squeeze it down when needed.

Cows sure seem to have grown over the decades!!!

 

[river rat]

I can't remember the movie this phrase is from, but I'll reuse it anyway Big Swede. "I love it when a plan comes together!!"

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

I can't remember the movie this phrase is from, but I'll reuse it anyway Big Swede. "I love it when a plan comes together!!"

Hannibal Smith the A team

I bought a bull that went back to Jorgensen's Ideal. Last fall I was a bit disappointed as I thought some of the bull calves lacked the hair i like. I did cull a couple because of that but the ones I kept seemed to hair up over winter nice and they look real good now.

 

[C Thompson]

Hello Big Swede,
This might be a silly question but how much would the cows weigh that won't fit the chute? Or are they just too long to get the tail gate closed on them? Our cows weigh about 1250 to 1300 lbs and we are trying to get them smaller. We do have a couple that will go 1500 and we would like to send them to town because they don't wean very big calves but they keep coming in bred in the fall. Culling for us has always been easier to talk about than to actually carry out.

 

[Soapweed]

I can't remember the movie this phrase is from, but I'll reuse it anyway Big Swede. "I love it when a plan comes together!!"

Hannibal Smith the A team

I bought a bull that went back to Jorgensen's Ideal. Last fall I was a bit disappointed as I thought some of the bull calves lacked the hair i like. I did cull a couple because of that but the ones I kept seemed to hair up over winter nice and they look real good now.

Some Galloway infuence could put more hair in your herd. :wink:

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

I can't remember the movie this phrase is from, but I'll reuse it anyway Big Swede. "I love it when a plan comes together!!"

Hannibal Smith the A team

I bought a bull that went back to Jorgensen's Ideal. Last fall I was a bit disappointed as I thought some of the bull calves lacked the hair i like. I did cull a couple because of that but the ones I kept seemed to hair up over winter nice and they look real good now.

Some Galloway infuence could put more hair in your herd. :wink:

I think I found something better and I will let you know in a couple of years. :wink:

 

[Soapweed]

Hannibal Smith the A team

I bought a bull that went back to Jorgensen's Ideal. Last fall I was a bit disappointed as I thought some of the bull calves lacked the hair i like. I did cull a couple because of that but the ones I kept seemed to hair up over winter nice and they look real good now.

Some Galloway infuence could put more hair in your herd. :wink:

I think I found something better and I will let you know in a couple of years. :wink:

Scottish Highlander?

 

[gcreekrch]

Some Galloway infuence could put more hair in your herd. :wink:

I think I found something better and I will let you know in a couple of years. :wink:

Scottish Highlander?

Black, polled ones too!

 

[Big Swede]

Hey C Thompson, the thing about these cattle now is they are so much broodier and wider than they used to be. Our cows used to be probably 6.5 to 7 frame and now I would guess they are 5.5 to 6 frame but they weigh 100 to 150 pounds more than they used to.

The thing that really struck me is when these heifers are about to wean their first calf they already look like cows. Years ago they were all shriveled up looking like they needed to go to a feedlot so they could survive the winter. They are so much more functional and cheaper to feed now than they used to be.
I think most people could say the same things about their herds. The Angus breed as well as other breeds have really improved over the years. Just look at an AI catalogue from the 80's if you don't believe me.

 

[badroute]

Not only has the phenotype and structure improved since the 80's and 90's but I beleive the disposition has also. Now dont get me wrong the breed could still improve in that area but I think we have come a long way. I was only a kid in the 80's and 90's but what little I do remember was there was some nasty bulls and cows associated with the frame race.

 

[Galloway2]

Some Galloway infuence could put more hair in your herd. :wink:

I think I found something better and I will let you know in a couple of years. :wink:

Scottish Highlander?

Soapweed, I am insulted...

 

[loomixguy]

I see LOTS of cattle everyday. I see some folks' cattle more often than they do. In my travels, there are only 2 breeds I will actually stop my truck to take a good long look at. Herefords and Red Angus. I have a customer who was bitching and moaning about buying Angus bulls every year or two to breed to his Angus cows. I asked him why didn't he buy some Hereford bulls and raise baldies. He did, and is tickled with the results.....FWIW.....

There are some mighty fine Red Angus out there anymore, too.

 

[Hereford76]

do you think calving later has played into that any or did you calve on grass back then too?

 

[PureCountry]

C'mon BMR, there isn't a better choice than Galloway. Highlander - just as good, not better. Welsh Black - just as good in some ways.

Kaiser's Welsh Blacks, just as good for sure, as long as you avoid the jug-headed ones. lol Hope he reads that.

 

[littlejoe]

I can't remember the movie this phrase is from, but I'll reuse it anyway Big Swede. "I love it when a plan comes together!!"

Hannibal Smith the A team

I bought a bull that went back to Jorgensen's Ideal. Last fall I was a bit disappointed as I thought some of the bull calves lacked the hair i like. I did cull a couple because of that but the ones I kept seemed to hair up over winter nice and they look real good now.

Some Galloway infuence could put more hair in your herd. :wink:

they're hairy enuf. BUT--you got anything that'll work on my haid?

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

C'mon BMR, there isn't a better choice than Galloway. Highlander - just as good, not better. Welsh Black - just as good in some ways.

Kaiser's Welsh Blacks, just as good for sure, as long as you avoid the jug-headed ones. lol Hope he reads that.

I never said anything about Galloway/ Highlanders. That was Soap's fantasy. :wink: :lol: :lol:

 

[George]

My neighbor across the road picked up 4 purebred yearling Angus bulls that are at my place till breeding - - - never been out of the county but are the hairiest Angus I have ever seen.

Even now with temps. in the lower 70s they have about 3" of hair all over - - - With some of my cows across the fence it sure is different. I thought my cows had plenty of hair but the hair on these bulls will flow in the wind!

I will take some pictures later today.

 

[Big Swede]

Calving on grass certainly hasn't hurt their condition score this time of year that's for sure but the real difference is genetics. I don't think I've told this story here but about three years ago one of my cows got into a guys herd that my brother pastured cattle for. I took a four wheeler through this herd of about 400 head of cows that looked like mine used to look, tall, lanky, high flanked. Anyway about 15 minutes into my search from about 300 yards away I see a cow and I said to myself "Now, there's my kind of cow." Deep, broody not so tall and sure enough it was my cow. So genetics is the main factor.

 

[George]

Here are the pictures of the hairy bulls.


A pair of half brothers

Last of the long hairs - - - they were hot today at +80F

So hairy he looks fuzzy