2018 Murray Grey Calves

[Backbone Ranch]

We have gotten some much needed rain over the last few weeks. The grass is finally starting to green up and the cows are still holding great condition. We will not likely be weaning the calves for another two months. Our first calf heifers are due to start calving in the next three weeks or so. I am hoping for heifers because we had 75% bull calves this spring, but we will just have to wait and see. I took some photos of the current calves the other day, so I thought that I would share.

801 Bull- 6 1/2 month old son of Ballee Thumbs Up. He was 70 lbs at birth and is sired by a New Zealand bull.

803 Bull- 6 1/2 month old son of Spectrum Kenton. Birth weight was 82 lbs.

805 Bull- 6 month old son of MCC Trigger's Champion. He was 78 lbs at birth and is out of a 4 year old that is turning into one of our top cows.

811 Bull- 6 month old son of BB Uncle Tony. He was 82 lbs at birth and his full sister is one of our prettiest cows.

812 Heifer- 4 1/2 month old old Tony daughter. She is 75% Murray Grey x 25% Angus and was 72 lbs at birth. We have one full sister to her that is about to have her first calf.

813 Bull- 6 month old Tony son. He was 74 lbs at birth.

823 Bull- 5 1/2 month old son of Tony. This bull is 75% Murray Grey x 25% Angus. He was 76 lbs at birth and is out of one of our best cows.

829 Bull- 5 month old Tony son. He is 7/8 Murray Grey x 1/8 Angus. His birth weight was 97 lbs.

722 Heifer- 18 month old Tony daughter. She is not a 2018 calf, but she is a full sibling to the 829 bull. Her mother is a 4 year old that has produced some really nice calves for us so far.

 

[holm25]

I like that 801 bull and the heifers...

Are you leaving that 805 bull a bull or you gonna steer him?

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Great group of cattle.
801 is best bull
813 could be best, can't see front end, but I really like what I see
805 needs to be cut (IMHO)
Both Tony heifers "shine". Love your Tony's.

 

[holm25]

Great group of cattle.
801 is best bull
813 could be best, can't see front end, but I really like what I see
805 needs to be cut (IMHO)
Both Tony heifers "shine". Love your Tony's.

I agree on that 805...

 

[Backbone Ranch]

I really appreciate the comments. Regarding the bulls, we do not make any final decisions as to which individuals get castrated until weaning. However, I will say now that he is not as masculine as our Tony sons. I really think that his sire, MCC Trigger's Champion, is more suited for the producing replacement heifers. We have only had three calves out of him to date, and being born in 1979, there are few of his progeny in production currently, but we really like our Trigger's Champion daughter. She is due to calve in the next 2-4 weeks and is right at 2 1/2 years of age. She is currently bred to Tony.

 

[holm25]

I really appreciate the comments. Regarding the bulls, we do not make any final decisions as to which individuals get castrated until weaning. However, I will say now that he is not as masculine as our Tony sons. I really think that his sire, MCC Trigger's Champion, is more suited for the producing replacement heifers. We have only had three calves out of him to date, and being born in 1979, there are few of his progeny in production currently, but we really like our Trigger's Champion daughter. She is due to calve in the next 2-4 weeks and is right at 2 1/2 years of age. She is currently bred to Tony.

Now I do like that heifer :nod:

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Great female - a bit over-conditioned for me, but the combination of her and Tony should be awesome!!!

 

[frieghttrain]

We have gotten some much needed rain over the last few weeks. The grass is finally starting to green up and the cows are still holding great condition. We will not likely be weaning the calves for another two months. Our first calf heifers are due to start calving in the next three weeks or so. I am hoping for heifers because we had 75% bull calves this spring, but we will just have to wait and see. I took some photos of the current calves the other day, so I thought that I would share.

801 Bull- 6 1/2 month old son of Ballee Thumbs Up. He was 70 lbs at birth and is sired by a New Zealand bull.

803 Bull- 6 1/2 month old son of Spectrum Kenton. Birth weight was 82 lbs.

805 Bull- 6 month old son of MCC Trigger's Champion. He was 78 lbs at birth and is out of a 4 year old that is turning into one of our top cows.

811 Bull- 6 month old son of BB Uncle Tony. He was 82 lbs at birth and his full sister is one of our prettiest cows.

812 Heifer- 4 1/2 month old old Tony daughter. She is 75% Murray Grey x 25% Angus and was 72 lbs at birth. We have one full sister to her that is about to have her first calf.

813 Bull- 6 month old Tony son. He was 74 lbs at birth.

823 Bull- 5 1/2 month old son of Tony. This bull is 75% Murray Grey x 25% Angus. He was 76 lbs at birth and is out of one of our best cows.

829 Bull- 5 month old Tony son. He is 7/8 Murray Grey x 1/8 Angus. His birth weight was 97 lbs.

722 Heifer- 18 month old Tony daughter. She is not a 2018 calf, but she is a full sibling to the 829 bull. Her mother is a 4 year old that has produced some really nice calves for us so far.

Planning on using one of those bull calves? Calves look real good

 

[Backbone Ranch]

Frieghttrain- Yes, our current plans are to retain the 801 bull calf. Here are two photos of him from this morning. He just hit 7 months and has another month and a half to go until he is weaned. His dam is an 8 year old.

And we will not be keeping this bull calf for our own use because he is only 75% Murray Grey, but I think that he is going to make a great commercial bull. He is a 6 month old Tony son.

And this was him at two days.

This heifer is one that we are definitely retaining. She is 75% Murray Grey x 25% Guernsey and is 6 months old. She too is sired by Tony.

And these last two pictures are of a 15 month old Tony son that we are planning to breed to our heifers in a few months, and quite a few of our cows next spring. He was 82 lbs at birth.

 

[cotton1]

I always enjoy your cattle pictures Backbone!