SPH said:
I think the pictures you have posted are a prime example how on a given day a picture taken at a certain angle and stance the perspective you can have of an animal based off that single photo can drastically change from 1 photo to another. As far as replacement heifers go all 3 look fine to me right now. The true test comes once they have a calf and how they raise them. Over the years we have raised cattle I have both gotten excited and pessimistic about replacement heifers as they developed and once they have a calf or 2 have changed my opinion on them. Have seen a heifer look the part of a great cow from birth to 2 years old only to be a terrible mother to her calf and wean a dud and wind up as a cull and also seen heifers that just made the cut as a replacement prospect after weaning turn into really good cows that stayed around a long time.
Just as much emphasis that is placed on phenotype you also have to factor in what you know about the genetics behind the breeding of the female too. I'd give the benefit of the doubt to a heifer out of a cow that has longevity and proven bloodlines in your herd when making cull decisions.
Here is the prime example of a heifer we nearly culled at weaning in 2000. She was a 95 weaning ratio and a smaller framed female but out of a cow who had proven herself so we kept her as a replacement prospect. She was a 98 yearling ratio, still below the average of our replacement females but we kept her because she still had potential. She went on to have 10 calves for us with an average WW ratio of 108 which made her a Dam of Distinction with AHA. We always were amazed at how she would wean the top or one of the top calves every year. If you were to blindly pair her calf with a cow in the pasture she probably would be one of the last cows you would pick to be the dam of one of the best calves in the pasture. There were years we wondered if she was bred as she looked really thin but her calf weaned the heaviest. The true test of a good cow is one that consistently weans a good calf and breeds back every year.
Yup, sometimes it's not the pretty ones that do the best, even if they have good bloodline history, I've been disappointed a number of times.. BTW, there's 4 heifers there, first pic is Pookie and Zippy, with Zippy's momma Zecca in the background (She could really use more condition, she's about a BCS 4, hoping she's bred back)
Second pic is Peggy and Pookie
3rd pic is Zippy
4th pic is Dusty, just couldn't get any kind of pose from her, Here's a better one from today
Her full sister, but she's probably a freemartin
I really like her, so I might either test her, or keep her and if she doesn't breed, she's freezer beef
Pookie's mother, full sister to Dusty's momma.. definitely the nicer cow, and while Pookie could use a bit of improvement, her calf this year I just really don't like AT ALL.. Who knows, she may be a good producer though!
Here's a first timer with a calf I'm probably keeping, the most people-loving calf I've ever had, comes running up to anyone to say hi, could be a bit deeper chested, but she's meaty and wide
Here's Peggy's momma and full sister, she was born late.. she's not bad but probably won't make the cut
My purebred heifer (Robin) with a heifer (Hannah) i'm going to keep, Like Peggy, she looks good from the side, she's got a deep chest but lacks in the butt department a bit
