A few more Murray Greys

[Backbone Ranch]

We moved the cows and calves to a new pasture, so I thought I would get some pictures.

Our herd bull pictured at 29 months. He was born March 11, 2012 at 11:50 pm. He weighed 86 lbs at birth and weighed 682 lbs at weaning. He is a frame score 3, and weighed 1,505 lbs in May.

One of our young herd bull's bull calves. He is pictured at 5 months. We think that he is one of the best of the calf crop.

A 17 month old Murray Grey heifer. She is 75% Murray Grey and 25% Angus.

Another 17 month old heifer. She too is 75% Murray Grey and 25% Angus. She was born 2 weeks later than the other calves, but weighed 584 lbs at weaning.

This Murray Grey heifer was 76 lbs at birth and the first calf of the year for us. She was born in mid-February and is 6 months old in the photo.

A 7 1/2 year old Murray Grey cow with her bull calf. She is one of our larger cows, and she raises a good calf every year.

This cow was born in 2010. She is a great mother, and a very easy keeper.

This cow is 8 1/2 years old. She is a half sister to the 2010 cow. She has an excellent bull calf this year who has a great hind quarter. She is also another easy keeper.

 

[Nesikep]

I like the 2 year old bull a lot, not so keep on the bull calf, but that could change as he grows, Also really like the 7 1/2 year old cow... she's really long and has a nice topline, the 314 heifer looks like she might turn out like her. the 6 month old looks pretty as well :)

 

[3waycross]

awwww for cryin out loud Quit showing off........... :lol2: :tiphat:

that was one big photobomb :shock:

 

[HDRider]

I sure like looking at your beefs.

 

[goddy]

quit hiding the feet in that long grass :-)

really good looking cattle and well taken pics !

 

[Williamsv]

Beautiful cattle and great pictures. Wish my pastures looked that good. We are very dry here in Middle GA. Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed seeing them.
I am not familiar with Murray Grey's, but I sure like what I see on this forum

 

[waihou]

Great looking stock, the grass isn't too bad either!

 

[WalnutCrest]

I've said it once and I'll say it again.

Nice lookin' critters. :tiphat:

 

[Don McCallum]

That is some fine looking cattle, how do they do at the sale barn compared to black angus?

 

[Backbone Ranch]

Thanks for the feedback everybody. I appreciate it.

That is some fine looking cattle, how do they do at the sale barn compared to black angus?

To be honest, I do not know. We sell our cattle by private treaty, and the ones that are not good enough for breeding stock are put into our beef program and finished on grass by 2 years of age. There are not any Murray Grey breeders within a 50 mile radius from us, so I have not seen any go through the sale barn.

However, I have seen some cross-bred Murray Grey heifers recently. A man that we sold 8 bulls to had his first calves Murray Grey cross calves this year. We saw them last month while they were still on their mommas. They were a month younger than their Angus cross groupmates, but they were just as large and deeper bodied. This was the first time that I had seen true scale smashers in a group of heifers.

 

[UG]

Great photos. I like the bull calf; he shows good potential.

Though we're primarily a Gelbvieh and Angus operation, I like experimenting a bit with other breeds. MG's have been on my short list for years. Sometime when the world slows down a bit,I hope to pick-up a few straws of MG semen to breed to some of our commercial cows.

 

[MO_cows]

Good looking cattle!

 

[Backbone Ranch]

This heifer hit 5 months old last week. She was 65 lbs at birth and sired by the 2 1/2 year old bull. She is out of our best producing cow who is now 11 1/2 years old.

 

[Backbone Ranch]

That is some fine looking cattle, how do they do at the sale barn compared to black angus?

Our neighbor just sold a 5 month old Murray Grey heifer at the sale barn. He got $2.90 a lb for her.
Brangus x bull $1.98/lb
Brangus x heifer $2.36/lb
Black Baldie bull $2.90/lb

 

[RegCowman]

Could you share some carcass data?

 

[Backbone Ranch]

Murray Greys have phenomenal carcass quality. They have a higher prevalence of tenderness and marbling genes than many other breeds. They also produce high yielding carcasses. They will consistently finish choice or better on grass alone. Each year, they do quite well at the Calgary stampede. I was able to find the number of ribbons distributed during the carcass completion for British breeds at the Sydney Royal.

We also tested our entire herd for tenderness and marbling genes with Igenity. Our entire herd came back with really good results. Our herd bull in particular was exceptional. He was 10/10 stars for tenderness, 8/10 for marbling, and 7/10 for yield grade.

 

[Backbone Ranch]

Genotypically Square Meaters are Murray Greys, but they became a different breed in the 1990s. They are a specific phenotype which is ideal for grass-based operation. While Murray Greys can be registered no matter their size, Square Meaters have to fit certain height requirements to be registered. They are smaller than the average Murray Grey. There are much fewer Square Meaters than there are Murray Greys in Australia. The smaller number of Square Meaters equates to less entries in certain shows and competitions.