Arkieman":1anxr8c5 said:
DOC HARRIS":1anxr8c5 said:
Arkieman":1anxr8c5 said:
DOC HARRIS":1anxr8c5 said:
Stardust - Very good "breedy" head showing good beef cattle characteristics. DOC HARRIS
Could you elaborate on what a breedy head is? I'm guessing you mean the look of her head leads you to believe she is more fertile/better maternally?
Thanks
Arkieman-The term "Breedy Head" (as with a lot of colloquial expressions) is frequently used in conversational language. It is specific reference to the head and face of individual animals when discussing 'type' or Breed characteristics - not in regard to fertility or maternal traits.
DOC HARRIS
O.K., so it's just a subjective type thing...
Guy #1: "Boy I sure like the head on that cow".
Guy #2: "Yeah, but her butt looks like a funnel - you should
sell her"
Guy #1: "Can't - head looks too good"
I guess I'm confused that a guy who tows such a hard line on cattle would be influenced by something as cosmetic as a "purty head"!
Doc I'm just pulling your chain, you've probably forgotten more about cattle than I'll ever know, but I think it shows that we
all like a certain "look" sometimes even when it may not have any bearing on what kind of "meat" is put on the plate...
Arkieman-Guy #1: "Boy I sure like the head on that cow".
Guy #2: "Yeah, but her butt looks like a funnel - you should
sell her"
Guy #1: "Can't - head looks too good"
I guess I'm confused that a guy who tows such a hard line on cattle would be influenced by something as cosmetic as a "purty head"!
:lol2: :lol2: :banana: hahahaha I've go to admit - THAT is a funny bit, and pretty darned subtle, too!
But now that you have mentioned it (and I had decided that I wouldn't go into an extensive amount of detail) I will elaborate on the seemingly insignificant and perhaps trifling so-called "cosmetic" aspect of a "Breedy" head.
Every breed of livestock, from Beef Cows to Sheep, Goats, Horses, and even Alpaca's, have Breed characteristics for that particular species, and breeds within those species, which are attractive and pleasant to observe - for one reason or for more than just one reason. In beef cattle, if you will
scrutinize carefully some of the physical features of a beef animal's head - ears, poll, dish between the eyes, muzzle, EYES (round, large, almond-shaped, etc.), width of mouth, expression (some look pretty darned stupid - and ARE), yes, even to the location of the hair whorl(s) on the face, you will see animals which will endear you to them and some that you will want to chuck down the disposal! Now, why is that? PERSONAL PREFERENCE and also because of past experiences with similar-looking animals during your lifetime! Why,- - it's just like women! There are some who have the most - - - uh - - I mean- a - well, give it some thought!
Back to the hair whorls. There are those breeders who will NOT keep a replacement heifer if the hair whorl is ABOVE the imaginery line drawn between the eyes! Or if they have (God forbid) TWO hair whorls!! Why is that? Temperment! High hair whorls indicate that the individual is ready to emulate "The Cow That Jumped Over The Moon!" And what makes breeder's think that the hair whorls have anything to do with lack of docility? PAST EXPERIENCES!
I had an Angus heifer 60 some-odd years ago who was BEAUTIFUL, had a beautiful head with a nice dish to the face, and had terrific calves, easily, was very docile, and she was from the Missouri Barbara Angus Family! I loved that little girl! No Roman nose for me! Missouri Barbara. If I had a herd right now, I would carefully seek out a Missouri Barbara Heifer. The line was developed by the University of Missouri Beef Department, and their herdsman who was from Scotland. She had a BEEFY head, and it indicated, to me, that a cow that LOOKED like that and had a face like that would be docile, have great calves easily, hair whorls in the right place, and I could throw my arms around her neck and say, "You are my pretty baby! You have a 'purty' head!" and she would MAKE ME MONEY! Maybe she wouldn't - but I would THINK that she would - so I would learn toward that type in my selection protocols. . . . and probably have a bearing on the kind of meat put on the table, too!
All of the above to explain - "Breedy Head"!
DON'T GET ME STARTED!
DOC HARRIS