A Cattle Pick 'Em

[artesianspringsfarm]

All this football talk had me thinking as I walked around looking at this group of cattle yesterday. I think we should do a Pick 'Em/judging contest on here to see what people prefer and why. The interesting thing about the sale that happened today was that there were quite a few interesting flushes taht resulted in a set of heifers or bulls all around the same age, so lets start with three rounds:

Round one: Yearling Heifers:

These three are full sisters but all have a very different look. Which would you take and why?

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...272becc1fa396dfd8bfd325f6341e4.mp4?1440523255

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...38ceb14f5540f3c077342b120f3387.mp4?1440523284

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...c2cacd44dbe31f22adc28a0f6206fc.mp4?1440523286


Round 2: Yearling Bulls

These are also full brothers. Pick 'Em!

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...ce1441494f9ebb658221e834361088.mp4?1440523348

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...0c2ea8035a30744ee5783d840f3717.mp4?1440523349

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...ce80a9b58325769acdfdb65b3533ad.mp4?1440523488

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

Round 3: Bred Heifers

These three are maternal sisters.

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...76196e2ba1974c0324f0b9e0dc6a3b.mp4?1440522808

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...d25d8920cb3ed883c8bdfd1537e552.mp4?1440522838

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...29500a2aaa17dcbdda1c6f164cb513.mp4?1440522838

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Pretty good tilt on the second heifer, bulls are horrible,light all over....don't like any of em.. But they could be called fancy in the right circles... LIke Ron Popiels products,, made to sale not use

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

Pretty good tilt on the second heifer, bulls are horrible,light all over....don't like any of em.. But they could be called fancy in the right circles... LIke Ron Popiels products,, made to sale not use

There's one I've never heard. Care to define? (in regards to the tilt on the second heifer). I think I may know what you mean but want to hear you explain.


I'm also curious as to how old you think the bulls are? I know I said yearling but given that I dont see them as too light or refined, I'm wondering if expected finish at a certain age is where you would disagree.

 

[Boot Jack Bulls]

Where'd their butts go? :shock: Really though, not bad cattle overall, I just prefer much more hip on them.

 

[cow pollinater]

The bred heifers don't look bad but I don't like the bulls or the first set of heifers at all.

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

ok, so I guess my goal was more of for people to look at 3 critters that were similar in type and pick the one they thought was "best in class," whether they are your type or not, but this is fun too . Boot Jack, how much hip do you expect a one year old heifer to have? This more up your alley?

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...f1f3e362b600bf38d8a0f9ff3d30dc.mp4?1440523761

 

[Fire Sweep Ranch]

ok, so I guess my goal was more of for people to look at 3 critters that were similar in type and pick the one they thought was "best in class," whether they are your type or not, but this is fun too . Boot Jack, how much hip do you expect a one year old heifer to have? This more up your alley?

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...f1f3e362b600bf38d8a0f9ff3d30dc.mp4?1440523761

I'll agree with everyone about the bulls. No butt. That bull you linked above is even worse. Draw a line down the middle of his body, north and south, like you cut him in half... which way would each half fall? He is front heavy! All of his weight is in his front half, not his back half. I like my bulls with a ton more muscle in the rear end.

Of the heifers, I just looked quickly (my internet is extremely slow!) but if I was to place them based on my quick look, I would go 1, 3, 2. I do not like 2 or 3, but thought 1 might have hope. I did not even look at the breds... sorry.

 

[Boot Jack Bulls]

Here's a yearling Angus female from our herd. This is more of what I personally look for....and no, that is not all hair. I'm a limi fan through and through, so my idea of adequate hip is somewhat skewed. I would place them the same as FSR. I think all three groups are hard to place, there is no obvious top or bottom, and the videos are not the best to judge from. Heifers would probably cross pretty nice with a continental breed for some f1s though.

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

Here's a yearling Angus female from our herd. This is more of what I personally look for....and no, that is not all hair.

Definitely not all hair and a nice heifer. If that's your type, the genetics on these lots wouldnt be up your alley. And I'm going to guess that I probably aren't chasing the ones that you are using either. Different strokes . . . Out of curiosity, what's your feeding program for your show string?

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

ok, so I guess my goal was more of for people to look at 3 critters that were similar in type and pick the one they thought was "best in class," whether they are your type or not, but this is fun too . Boot Jack, how much hip do you expect a one year old heifer to have? This more up your alley?

https://d3s7yb5qtsmwow.cloudfront.n...f1f3e362b600bf38d8a0f9ff3d30dc.mp4?1440523761

I'll agree with everyone about the bulls. No butt. That bull you linked above is even worse. Draw a line down the middle of his body, north and south, like you cut him in half... which way would each half fall? He is front heavy! All of his weight is in his front half, not his back half. I like my bulls with a ton more muscle in the rear end.

Of the heifers, I just looked quickly (my internet is extremely slow!) but if I was to place them based on my quick look, I would go 1, 3, 2. I do not like 2 or 3, but thought 1 might have hope. I did not even look at the breds... sorry.

Firesweep, nothing to apologize for! I don't own any of them Even if I did, you wouldnt hurt my feelings. Out of curiosity, I'm assuming you would say the same about these two bulls?

 

[Boot Jack Bulls]

Purina fitters edge. Beet pulp as needed for fill and a Purina fat pellet for cover, especially on the limis. And you are probably right on the different directions of breeding programs. Our Angus MUST cross well with the limis, but that's not a common outlook on most Angus programs. Care to share what bloodlines you do use and give us some background on your program? It is always interesting to see what others do....after all, that's one of the main reasons we come here! :cboy:
And I like the middle bull best of this last group for his rear third. Really not a fan of the way his shoulders tie into his neck though....

 

[gizmom]

I would place the three classes:
Round 1
C
A
B

Round 2
F
G
H
Really don't see much difference between the three bulls

Round 3
C
B
E

gizmom

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

I would place the three classes:
Round 1
C
A
B

Round 2
F
G
H
Really don't see much difference between the three bulls

Round 3
C
B
E

gizmom

Gizmom, I'm curious as to why C on the first class? Just like the capacity and spring of rib better? Also, what do you think of the cattle in general?

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

Purina fitters edge. Beet pulp as needed for fill and a Purina fat pellet for cover, especially on the limis. And you are probably right on the different directions of breeding programs. Our Angus MUST cross well with the limis, but that's not a common outlook on most Angus programs. Care to share what bloodlines you do use and give us some background on your program? It is always interesting to see what others do....after all, that's one of the main reasons we come here! :cboy:
And I like the middle bull best of this last group for his rear third. Really not a fan of the way his shoulders tie into his neck though....

Boot Jack, I appreciate the conversation. As far as background I have to start by saying I bet I have very little background or perspective compared to you. I grew up very much into registered Holsteins. I have only been around beef cattle for about 5 years and have really only decided on an angle for us to pursue for about the last two. We direct market our steers and they are all grassfed and finished. Also, I am trying to grow our herd for probably the next ten years so the number one focus for me is raising quality females. I'm really focused on maternal genetics in the Angus breed and am not looking for any curve-bending growth or trying to mash down any scales. I've got a few cows that were bred for that kind of focus and have had all kinds of trouble with udders, disposition, maternal instinct, etc. I'm looking to make a herd of cows that calve at 2 years unassisted and raise a calf every year with no trouble on grass alone while dealing with very harsh winters. Some of the lines that I'm dabbling with are some Shoshone breeding, Sinclair/EXT, and Cole Creek. Time will tell how that pans out. THere is no doubt those kinds of lines create a very different looking female than what seems to be in style right now but my hope is that these long, correct, super feminine females will be great mommas for a long time.

 

[Black and Good]

I agree with gizmonon on the cattle. :nod: Also, in my opinion they act a little fast to me. B&G

 

[gizmom]

arte (much shorter than artesianspringsfarm)

First let me say your cattle look healthy not over fat but in good condition. The first class of heifers will probably all make nice productive cows, I would be breeding these heifers to add more muscle through the lower quarter, all the heifers show good length are clean fronted and feminine. The C heifer in the first class is just smoother made than the A heifer I don't like the top line on the second heifer. The bulls are very much like the heifers they have adequate depth of body and length but to improve them I would add muscle and bone. If I ever look at my herd and feel I can't make improvements it will be time for me to retire. I have never seen the perfect cow don't imagine I ever will but by golly I am not going to stop trying to make her. I love the way you did the videos that is very cool and way more technical than I can manage. You might want to look at OCC Unmistakable 946U reg# 16294218 I am hearing some really good things about this bull.

gizmom

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

Gizmom,

Thanks for the reasoning. Just to be clear, these are not my animals. They were part of a dispersal held yesterday. I will put up registration numbers in a bit just so anyone curious could see.

 

[gizmom]

Would that be the JSK dispersal sale?

gizmom

 

[artesianspringsfarm]

Would that be the JSK dispersal sale?

gizmom

It was indeed. Now that the cat is out of the bag, you can go here if you want to see pedigrees: https://dvauction.com/video_catalogs/1511. I did end up with a couple lots but not any of the ones from the "classes" I put up. Did you follow this one at all?