Dylan Biggs
Well-known member
Just thought I might share some pics and some history of this old home raised Angus bull. Canadian registration # 1303204, tattoo tkra 61p. He is a black red carrier. Sometimes you get lucky. I kept him because he was a good calf, nothing extraordinary, just a good correct calf out of a good cow and a good cow line, the Thelma cow line from Six Mile that we acquired from Ken Fraser in the late eighties. At the time he claimed it was his best cow family, that cow family has gone on to prove their worth here since. Lots of cow families have come and gone a few have adapted and continued to expand their influence overtime.
Bear in mind that these purebreds have always been managed as and with our commercial cows except for the breeding pasture. Cow numbers fluctuate with drought, through BSE and grasshopper infestations over time, we calved 300 plus cows this May and June. Our cows have been exposed to a 48 day breeding season since 1985. Many purebreds we have brought in over the years could not stay in the herd, though the commercial cows always hung in there. Bear in mind also the challenge of winter in this country north of 52 degrees latitude. Winter can be brutal here for 6 months like last year and as anyone who knows the historical thin margins in the cow business feed is fed as sparingly as possible. Always riding the thin line between maintaining adequate BCS and limiting feed expenses.
61P is not a growth bull, that is not my intention with Angus, my focus has been maternal function, the factory, fertility, calving ease, mothering ability, udder quality, disposition and longevity all within a level of management that reflects commercial viability. What he has done for me is all of the above. Moderate framed females that work and continue to work over time. Not necessarily pretty but functional. My work is to stabilize these traits within my population and be able to consistently pass these along through the sires selected with a high degree of repeatability.
These cattle won't suit everyone, nor should they, but over time they suit me, our management, environment, and business model over time.
As a yearling I let the young lad breed a few cows, his first calves were S's. That fall he wasn't satisfied with just a few and crawled 4 fences and found some cows of my neighbors 3 miles away. My neighbor kindly counciled I should get rid of him as that is the kind of head ache no one needs. I figured he would settle down as he matured and honestly I admired his desire to breed. And he has yet to settle down. This spring when I was checking our calving cows he made a visit to our cows from the north end of the ranch, four miles away, as a 10 yr old. He has bred a pile of cows in his career between here, Minburn Angus and Crowfoot Cattle Co and many neighbors in between.
Well yesterday we semen tested and he scored 91%, still has 48 cm scrotal. The pictures of him below are of when he was in his young, middle aged and as of yesterday. His feet have never been trimmed. Also a couple of his sons, the last two are line bred sons from the last couple of days.
Bear in mind that these purebreds have always been managed as and with our commercial cows except for the breeding pasture. Cow numbers fluctuate with drought, through BSE and grasshopper infestations over time, we calved 300 plus cows this May and June. Our cows have been exposed to a 48 day breeding season since 1985. Many purebreds we have brought in over the years could not stay in the herd, though the commercial cows always hung in there. Bear in mind also the challenge of winter in this country north of 52 degrees latitude. Winter can be brutal here for 6 months like last year and as anyone who knows the historical thin margins in the cow business feed is fed as sparingly as possible. Always riding the thin line between maintaining adequate BCS and limiting feed expenses.
61P is not a growth bull, that is not my intention with Angus, my focus has been maternal function, the factory, fertility, calving ease, mothering ability, udder quality, disposition and longevity all within a level of management that reflects commercial viability. What he has done for me is all of the above. Moderate framed females that work and continue to work over time. Not necessarily pretty but functional. My work is to stabilize these traits within my population and be able to consistently pass these along through the sires selected with a high degree of repeatability.
These cattle won't suit everyone, nor should they, but over time they suit me, our management, environment, and business model over time.
As a yearling I let the young lad breed a few cows, his first calves were S's. That fall he wasn't satisfied with just a few and crawled 4 fences and found some cows of my neighbors 3 miles away. My neighbor kindly counciled I should get rid of him as that is the kind of head ache no one needs. I figured he would settle down as he matured and honestly I admired his desire to breed. And he has yet to settle down. This spring when I was checking our calving cows he made a visit to our cows from the north end of the ranch, four miles away, as a 10 yr old. He has bred a pile of cows in his career between here, Minburn Angus and Crowfoot Cattle Co and many neighbors in between.
Well yesterday we semen tested and he scored 91%, still has 48 cm scrotal. The pictures of him below are of when he was in his young, middle aged and as of yesterday. His feet have never been trimmed. Also a couple of his sons, the last two are line bred sons from the last couple of days.
He would like that. His libido is strong and fences not a big obstacle, but he doesn't mind gates at all. Fortunately his disposition is excellent and he passes it on to his progeny consistently. Part 2 I put in the first reply, so the title is a misnomer. My cattle are just cattle, I just do my best to share their good sides. :tiphat:
