I didn't see anyone post this link, and I'm not sure if Randy frequents the boards other than Bull Session. This is the link to his cattle:
http://www.westernrancher.com/CelticCattle.html
He does have some links at the bottom of the page that lead to pages with more information. I've cut and pasted some of the assocation's "hard sell" stuff below:
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The Welsh Black Female
The Welsh Black cow truly exemplifies the breed's economic characteristics. Her performance earns the slogan "The Brood Cow Breed"
Welsh Blacks have been selected for milk production throughout history. Cows give an even flow of milk with 4% butterfat over long lactations enabling them to maximize the benefits of the crossbred calf.
Genetic fertility is envied and can be maintained at the standard 283 days under tough range conditions. Many heifers cycle under one year of age.
The quiet, easily handled cow is considered in her prime at 10 years. Some Canadian cows have produced 14 calves by 16 years of age and are still producing.
A mature cow weighs 1100 - 1400 pounds and has a large pelvic arch, resulting in very minimal calving difficulties even with the large beef-type terminal sires used in crossbreeding.
The Welsh Black cow has the ability to deliver a large calf easily, supply plenty of milk over a long lactation and breed back regularly with a minimum of management inputs. Lower costs for housing, supplemental feed, and labor enhance the Welsh Blacks economic advantage.
The Welsh Black Bull
Mature Welsh Bulls weigh from 1900 to 2500 pounds. Birth weights generally range from 70 to 90 pounds with 1 or 2 assists per 100 calvings.
Welsh Blacks are among the fastest growing of all British Breeds, both in rate of gain and weights for age, and their excellent feed conversion achieves this gaiin, more economically than most.
With a thick hide and dense hair coat, these cattle will feed and finish without the need to lay down a thick outer fat layer. They will slaughter at about a year of age in the 1100 - 1300 lb. range, with a lean carcass with excellent marbling and above average cutability.
For cross breeding the Welsh Black Bull offers a quick growing crossbred calf that will produce a quality carcass at today's preferred weight.
The most important contribution of the Welsh Bull is through his replacement heifers with immediate profitable improvement in any herd's reproductive performance. The black baldy and black percentage crosses have achieved an enviable record as the "near perfect" commercial brood cow. For the cow-calf man Welsh Black can show the way.
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On a personal note, I've never run Welsh Blacks, but I have every intention of giving them a go in my commercial herd. From what I've seen, especially of Randy's cattle, they are money makers in a northern environment. Lots of volume, easy keeping, decent growth. I plan to buy a few females and breed them to my PB Shorthorn bull. I suspect the resulting females will be nothing short of spectacular.
As far as the Maine cross goes, I haven't talked to anyone whose tried it, and I know Randy isn't a big fan of continentals so I'm not sure what he'd say. In my opinion though, all the traits that made Angus cross so well to Maines are echoed and amplified in the Welsh Black animals. I've been wrong before, once or twice, but I can't see how it would miss.
Rod
:lol: