Recent content by SRBeef

I recently had a related issue here with bulls. I've been straight Hereford but wanted to try another breed bull on my docile, older Hereford cow group to see if heterosis was worth trying. Until recently I had another breed bull who sired F1 calves that were the best calves I've ever had...

Making hay also helps in managing pastures. Grass growth never quite matches herd needs. Either too much or too little grass. Bale it and put it in a hay shed or hire it inline wrapped when too much grass. Feed it in a sacrifice area when not enough grass rather than destroying pastures. I...

I am building my herd numbers up internally by retaining all heifers for now. The only way I cull any cow or heifer is if she is open. Even then I want to see a blood test confirmation on ones that my vet calls as open or can not determine at preg check time in the fall. After I get to my...

A cow will eat between 2.5% and 3% of her weight in hay (dry matter basis) per day.

Thanks for posting your price list. Are those prices in US or Canadian dollars. Seems to be about a 35 cent difference in exchange rate. This would put your $5.50 ground beef at $4.08 US dollars which seems low. BTW to sell by the cut or wholesale, in addition to being slaughtered and processed...

A few years ago both Iowa State and the U of MN had numbers of around $500-550/yr to keep a cow I think currently that would have to be 600-700. I use $650. for the cow plus 50% of that to get a spring calf to January. So $975 is my breakeven on a calf sold in January though I don't really sell...

Thank you. However I starting to remember why I haven't posted here in a long time. I feel this board and others are far more interesting and useful when we discuss ideas rather than people. I can understand when someone prefers a different type of cattle. There are many different...

You are sure in a warm, generous mood today... I currently have 21 calves from this bull and they are outstanding. I've retained almost every heifer from my previous Huth bulls with some excellent results. Even good luck keeping a couple bulls for my own use from Huth bulls and my best cows...

I have had good luck with pasture type Herefords from Jerry Huth at Huth Polled Herefords in Wisconsin. He raises them for the pasture, not the show ring. http://huthcattle.com/

I have found the same thing: the AHA EPD's on my Huth bull seem to reflect his calves very closely. Especially his CED calving ease. Calves about fell out of the back of my cows this past spring. Lighter birth weights even out of my larger cows but seem to be gaining well. Older bull calves...

I'm curious about the Titan 23D influence. Titan 23D calved in 1972. How can you look at the AHA website to see if he is in a particular bull's pedigree? Looking back through just the the topside of my current (Huth Z072) bull's pedigree, he goes back to Felton's then the Line one/Prospector in...

I found that backing the trailer up to the loading ramp a couple days early and leaving it helps. They get used to it being there.

I respectfully disagree. I think the economists are a bit wiser now. Conditions are completely different than the 70's. Everyone has too much at stake to let either inflation or interest rates get way out of control. Folks selling gold want everyone to run scared.... short form answer to a...

I've read some Wisconsin publications that say the best time to fertilize hay ground is in early June. The logic as I recall is that you will get the first flush of grass in May anyway, apply the N for a second and later cuttings. Early June you are still likely to get a rain to wash it in. P...

US retail beef prices are still very modest by world standards. The US cattle herd is still very low and not going to change very quickly. It can't. World population is increasing and becoming wealthier and they want beef. Most people are not looking at chicken or pork as a direct substitute...