I sold the 7 solid black ones to that man that buys them all. Scott said of the 14 left was one that was colored like a Guernsey, with a dark red or brown head and cape. Another was while with a black head and cape with black points. One was tan or tawny with brown head and cape. One was solid tan or tawny. The rest were all dark red or brown, with black points. George has told me before that were 8, maybe 10, breeds of cattle used for MFBs. He said most of the time they are bred true....not much intermingling or cross breeding. 2 of the breeds tend to be black, and all of these maintain a registry, or at lest pedigrees. He said the names of the breeds are usually the man's name, or the ranch name, where they originated. If you do find the cows that are a cross of 2 of the breeds, then one half is almost always one of the blacks. for the reason people are breeding black Corrs. These cows we got, 1/2 MFB and 1/2Corr, were because either a MFB cow wasn't producing bulls good enough to go to the ring. and was turned in with Corrientes . Or a MFB bull didn't make the grade, and was just turned out with Corr cows. All of these are heavy bred to a black MFB (that didn't qualify to be sent to the ring). Again, for the same reason people breed for black Corriente.
Scott said that they all look like our Corrientes, but a little stockier looking and heavier, but not much taller than our oldest Corrs, if any. He guesses these to be 800-900 lbs or more. They all had the horn shape we wanted, the same as a MFB, so that is good. It will make the steers worth a little more and easier to sell.
3 of them have calved already..one the night they got there. All 3 are black. He said if one of these 3/4 MFB calves were standing beside one of our Corr calves and one of our Corr x MFB calves, you could tell the difference in them... a little "beefier" looking.
Disposition wise, they are as good or maybe even a little gentler than our Corr herd. Clay unloaded these in our corral, and they all ran straight to water, and drank off and on for an hour, Scott said. He sent Zeke in his truck to get some hay. Zeke can drive great....he just can't get a license, and we never let him on a paved road. Typical Zeke, he brought 14 bales...he wanted each cow to have their own bale. Scott said they went back over there after supper, and they were all just lying on hay piles chewing their cud. Most lying close to or against the corral, and didn't even get up when Zeke climbed up on the panels to look at them. One didn't move when he reached in and touched it. Next morning that first calf was there, and Scott got in to try to walk closer to it to see what it was. He said the cow just trotted off to a far corner with the calf. Never acted excited or threatening. Yesterday, he and Zeke took their horses and just eased them up to the back of the place til they found the herd, at a walk.
Scott said that they all look like our Corrientes, but a little stockier looking and heavier, but not much taller than our oldest Corrs, if any. He guesses these to be 800-900 lbs or more. They all had the horn shape we wanted, the same as a MFB, so that is good. It will make the steers worth a little more and easier to sell.
3 of them have calved already..one the night they got there. All 3 are black. He said if one of these 3/4 MFB calves were standing beside one of our Corr calves and one of our Corr x MFB calves, you could tell the difference in them... a little "beefier" looking.
Disposition wise, they are as good or maybe even a little gentler than our Corr herd. Clay unloaded these in our corral, and they all ran straight to water, and drank off and on for an hour, Scott said. He sent Zeke in his truck to get some hay. Zeke can drive great....he just can't get a license, and we never let him on a paved road. Typical Zeke, he brought 14 bales...he wanted each cow to have their own bale. Scott said they went back over there after supper, and they were all just lying on hay piles chewing their cud. Most lying close to or against the corral, and didn't even get up when Zeke climbed up on the panels to look at them. One didn't move when he reached in and touched it. Next morning that first calf was there, and Scott got in to try to walk closer to it to see what it was. He said the cow just trotted off to a far corner with the calf. Never acted excited or threatening. Yesterday, he and Zeke took their horses and just eased them up to the back of the place til they found the herd, at a walk.