sme.misfit.farms
Active member
It's pretty standard, I like them at the 60's range but the heifer is doing her job well so I'm happy. I do love me some Simmi's though. There's a moderator that's a simmi x aberdeen called Cerveza. He's a cool dude
American Aberdeen Angus
- Thread starter Double R Ranch
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Double R Ranch
Well-known member
I thought it was probably time for an update on the Aberdeens we purchased back in January. There are 3 left here. The cow that lost her calf some months ago is bred back now (AI), a heifer which was just bred (AI) and what was a very short bred heifer that just calved a 40# on the dot red bull calf (now steer) today. All in all I will most likely sell them all. I am not impressed. The one who lost her calf is still wilder along with the heifer that was just bred. Mostly docile in the pasture now but attempt to move them with the herd and they are head high and outta here. Alone forget about it. Feet are not great and the udder on the newly calved heifer is less than desirable as was the other one that calved. It's concerning to me that this one was with a bull for months and didn't take or couldn't keep the fetus until just a week or two before the bull was pulled. The breeder claimed they don't breed young yet I just AI bred the heifer at 14 months old and she's been cycling quite a while. We'll see if this cow breeds back AI or not. As of now I'll be looking for ways to get the bred cow and bred heifer sold when they are a bit farther along in gestation. I really hesitated to breed them and just sell as beef. The fate of the one that just calved is still in the air. She's the closest to the breeds claims out of them all and is for the most part docile now. Doesn't have the greatest feet but not nearly as bad as the others. Torn on selling them as I don't usually sell animals that aren't good/great as breeders unless selling for beef. I know backyard folks don't care much about the bad traits but I do. We are tossing around the idea of keeping the 1 that calved today as a breeder for our own freezer beef. Her calf will be our trial run. I don't see any way of recouping our costs at this point which was the hope if we decided they weren't for us originally. We'll see what opportunities come up for them.
puzzled in oregon
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It's frustrating. There can be so much variation within a breed. I see Dexters advertised as gentle backyard pets, that
are supposed to be perfect for the small property owner. Then I have been privileged to see first hand how a yearling Dexter bull
could literally limb up a 6' fence and go over the top.
Hope you can locate some better Aberdeens.
are supposed to be perfect for the small property owner. Then I have been privileged to see first hand how a yearling Dexter bull
could literally limb up a 6' fence and go over the top.
Hope you can locate some better Aberdeens.
Double R Ranch
Well-known member
Thanks @puzzled in oregon. I'm not sure I'll give anymore a go. I have plenty of good standard Angus.
Hpacres440p
Well-known member
The crosses are a good combination for more manageable size and good carcass quality. I've been impressed in my own batch of crosses (mostly) with the grass to meat conversion. That said, I have a steer this year who is pretty disappointing on grass and is really requiring a decent amount of feed to get any growth (while others are fat on the same amount). Won't use that AI sire again. Get rid of the bad attitudes. Wean the calves and beef them all. If they're that flighty, I'm afraid you'll end up with less than great gains and that's what the breed is supposed to be selected for. You're going to get scalped if you go to a sale barn with them. I like my crosses, fullbloods are being overproduced without enough culling, in my opinion.
I've put two pedigrees in my freezer, one for bad attitude, the other for infertility. The rest were intentionally headed that direction. All have been really tasty.
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Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
Isn't ALL beef, fed properly to finish, tasty?
Twisted
Well-known member
Some are just another pretty face.
Hpacres440p
Well-known member
Yes @Jeanne - Simme Valley. Tasty, but some are tougher or have such huge cuts that everything 1" thick is a roast.
On the Full Blood Steers we have found that the different fat profiles, AA, VA, VV appears to make a big difference in the flavor of the beef. AA being the preferred that type.
Even the steers that we process get DNA tested for fat profiles and tenderness.
We believe that there is a difference between the flavor of breeds and crosses ...there all good, but there is definitely a difference in taste, tenderness, and fat type.
We pull one steak from every steer we process to sample, record picture, check marble fineness, basically a quality check. We always cook them the same with no spices or anything on it.
It's kind of ironic, but the best steer we ever raised was one we sold, of course you don't know until you eat that sample steak.
Even the steers that we process get DNA tested for fat profiles and tenderness.
We believe that there is a difference between the flavor of breeds and crosses ...there all good, but there is definitely a difference in taste, tenderness, and fat type.
We pull one steak from every steer we process to sample, record picture, check marble fineness, basically a quality check. We always cook them the same with no spices or anything on it.
It's kind of ironic, but the best steer we ever raised was one we sold, of course you don't know until you eat that sample steak.
Hpacres440p
Well-known member
We do the "quality check" tests too, but not the genome testing. We can notice changes in marbling and tenderness as our feed program changed and comparing "bought" non-AA vs our raised part AA. Worst we had was a half Akauishi/half AA purchased open heifer. She was not super docile, and was tough despite breed advertising. Our Brahma and LH cross purchased steers, both very tender, had less marbling but still had good flavor. Both very docile. Our AA crosses have had the best marbling on grass without a full feed program, and best flavor/tenderness OF THE ANIMALS WE HAVE PROCESSED. There are differences.
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dave_shelby
Well-known member
@Double R Ranch thanks for the update. I've tried some different cattle and it takes brains not emotion to admit they aren't working. And with all things cattle, generally: individuals over breeds.
Double R Ranch
Well-known member
I really wanted to like these cattle. I am sad that they came from a long time well known breeder and are this bad and of such poor quality. I have a hard time not blaming the breed itself but I am finding in talking with others who gave them a try that my experiences are not just a single case. It seems to be breed wide. I wish I had been able to talk to the many folks that have contacted since all of this before I had spent so much on the trip/purchase. I wouldn't have made this mistake. I've learned a lot about purchasing from farther away as well as not trusting long time well known breeders at their word.
Jeanne - Simme Valley
Well-known member
Sorry that happened to you. It happens all the time. A breeder in another state always sounds more enticing than a local breeder.
Luckily a Charolais breeder was talking to a family that was looking at buying a Simmental in Ohio. Charolais breeder said they were foolish - they had one of the best Simmental breeders close by in NY. (Thank You!!!)
Boy & parents came out. Mom made one of the nicest compliments I think I have ever had. She said our cows and calves out on pasture were better than every "show" heifer they saw - all clipped up and fancy.
Luckily a Charolais breeder was talking to a family that was looking at buying a Simmental in Ohio. Charolais breeder said they were foolish - they had one of the best Simmental breeders close by in NY. (Thank You!!!)
Boy & parents came out. Mom made one of the nicest compliments I think I have ever had. She said our cows and calves out on pasture were better than every "show" heifer they saw - all clipped up and fancy.
GoWyo
Well-known member
I have my "200 mile rule" which is any animal purchase that has to come from 200 miles away must be better than the local "junk."
Twisted
Well-known member
I'm leery of "deals" on cattle for sale 200 miles away because I've sold some for "deals" at least 200 miles away hoping they couldn't find their way back.
Double R Ranch
Well-known member
I went to this breeder because they are well known long time breeders of this breed. I wasn't having luck finding anything closer to us but backyard breeders with no clue of the breed. These cattle weren't deals. That's for sure. I went because of the breeders supposed reputation.
sme.misfit.farms
Active member
I still really feel bad you went through this. You taught me a lot and opened my eyes to said breeder. Last couple years have taught me that when getting into niche breeds there is inevitable gatekeeping and cliques. Between the call ducks and these guys it makes me scratch my head. I do hope people get better at culling out the fullbloods and fixing these issues in the breed. They can be great cattle, but man there's some nightmares.
StrojanHerefords
Well-known member
Sadly, those issues affect all breeds. The breed associations were formed by people who believed that they would benefit by working together. Today, the spirit of cooperation no longer exists.
