bit the bullet and bought some herefords

[angus9259]

Been raising registered angus for years. Guy down the street had four 3-4 year old herefords for sale with heifer calves and bred back. $2600 for the three way. Nice cows. Seemed too good to let go. Always been with a virgin bull, closed herd. I always liked herefords, but there's such an aversion to red and white where I am. There goes the neighborhood!!

 

[jerry27150]

put a black bull on them & they will outsell most everything

 

[Stocker Steve]

Congrats, but too bad you did not get a herf bull calf for those black cows...

 

[AllForage]

Lots of people think the docility and handling of herfs is more than worth any dock.

 

[sim.-ang.king]

I feel your pain. 4 of the ugly things have invaded my farm.

 

[Aaron]

Lots of people think the docility and handling of herfs is more than worth any dock.

Pinched and dehorned some calves for a neighbor a week ago. One black baldy amongst all the Herefords. I hate those things - kick and jump in the chute. Told him he would have to find someone dumber than I to do the calves if he ever goes all black.

 

[angus9259]

Now THAT'S science!!! :lol:

Cow's are like people. There's mean ones and nice ones of every color. I have an entire herd of blacks that I have a hard time working because they're so quiet. That said, there are plenty of herds with crazy blacks. The craziest group I've seen were horned herefords and horned baldies. But I'm not naive enough to say that horns make cattle crazy!! Or was that why you were de horning????? :???:

 

[Taurus]

Lots of people think the docility and handling of herfs is more than worth any dock.

Pinched and dehorned some calves for a neighbor a week ago. One black baldy amongst all the Herefords. I hate those things - kick and jump in the chute. Told him he would have to find someone dumber than I to do the calves if he ever goes all black.

I hate to work with anything with white face, I always find them to be mean and wilder than blacks. Meanest thing we worked with was a Hereford cow and second one was a Hereford x red Angus cow. I think my late grandpa had to shot that hereford cow. Last wild one I dealt with was a Hereford x Holstein.

 

[Aaron]

So many horror stories with crazy Herefords in the States. They must be too British and still hold a grudge against some of you guys.

 

[JWBrahman]

Congratulations, that sounds like a heckuva deal. You really cannot call yourself an Angus guy without a few Herefords and baldies. Haha

Just have to ask Taurus, what is your opinion on brockle faces?
:lol:

 

[shortybreeder]

Lots of people think the docility and handling of herfs is more than worth any dock.

Pinched and dehorned some calves for a neighbor a week ago. One black baldy amongst all the Herefords. I hate those things - kick and jump in the chute. Told him he would have to find someone dumber than I to do the calves if he ever goes all black.

I hate to work with anything with white face, I always find them to be mean and wilder than blacks. Meanest thing we worked with was a Hereford cow and second one was a Hereford x red Angus cow. I think my late grandpa had to shot that hereford cow. Last wild one I dealt with was a Hereford x Holstein.

It's all in how you handle them... I heard a quote once that said "If a cow isn't doing what you want her to do, it's because you are asking her to do the wrong thing." My hereford x holstein cows come up to me and eat apples out of my hand, so these stereotypes are exactly that: stereotypes.

 

[Taurus]

Pinched and dehorned some calves for a neighbor a week ago. One black baldy amongst all the Herefords. I hate those things - kick and jump in the chute. Told him he would have to find someone dumber than I to do the calves if he ever goes all black.

I hate to work with anything with white face, I always find them to be mean and wilder than blacks. Meanest thing we worked with was a Hereford cow and second one was a Hereford x red Angus cow. I think my late grandpa had to shot that hereford cow. Last wild one I dealt with was a Hereford x Holstein.

It's all in how you handle them... I heard a quote once that said "If a cow isn't doing what you want her to do, it's because you are asking her to do the wrong thing." My hereford x holstein cows come up to me and eat apples out of my hand, so these stereotypes are exactly that: stereotypes.

that is what I am try to make a point......stereotyping a color is really dumb! There will be always some crazies in every breed, even Herefords and Holsteins.

 

[DaveM]

I'm new to owning cattle. When I read this thread I assume there is always an automatic dock in price when selling Herefords. Am I correct in this interpretation? If so, is there a factual reason that Herefords don't bring top dollar? Like more bone weight than other breeds, etc.? Or is it that some people believe the meat tastes better? Just curious.....I for one like the herefords as much as any breed, but many threads talk about a dock at the sale barn. Is there an obvious reason that I haven't learned about yet?

 

[Supa Dexta]

Black brainwashing has caused it. See the light people.. Light coloured calves that is.

 

[shortybreeder]

I'm new to owning cattle. When I read this thread I assume there is always an automatic dock in price when selling Herefords. Am I correct in this interpretation? If so, is there a factual reason that Herefords don't bring top dollar? Like more bone weight than other breeds, etc.? Or is it that some people believe the meat tastes better? Just curious.....I for one like the herefords as much as any breed, but many threads talk about a dock at the sale barn. Is there an obvious reason that I haven't learned about yet?

Like supa said, it's all about black brainwashing. But the heterosis in a black baldy F1 should put enough extra pounds on the calf to cover the slightly lower price. You may be wondering why this is a benefit, where you end up benefiting is that your cows are more efficient and typically have better fertility (the F1 that is). Your heifers are also heavier/better conditioned at weaning so if you are retaining your own then they will have a headstart in getting to proper breeding size. Many benefits to crossing black cattle with Herefords, so don't let the dock scare you away.

You can also feed out your own steers and take advantage of the price dock for yourself. Once the hide is off it doesn't matter what color they were.

 

[Taurus]

Straight Hereford feeders gain more fat at feedlots....however, it depends on which sale barn you go to. One of our local sale barns didn't dock you for have a straight Hereford or a skunk calf but will gladly dock you so hard for having a chrome shorthorn calf. The other local sale barn by me gladly accept calves of all colors as long as they will do well in feedlots and finished out at 1,500lbs. Honestly I didn't buy black brainwashing as the buyers with sharp eyes will know what they are getting.

 

[DaveM]

Ok, I will do some research to figure out what the heterosis of an F 1 baldy means, but the common opinion of both you and Supa, chalk up the docking to brainwashing. I know when I was growing up, I didn't See much about "angus beef" on restaurant menus. Now it seems to be the norm on menuS Could it be that the Angus breed has done a better job of marketing? Is this type of topic discussed at breeders association meeting of all breeds? Or does the industry just say, "black cattle brings more money, so I'll raise black cattle?" For me, raising beef is an enjoyable hobby, so it's not all about the money. I enjoy raising and eating herefords, so I'll stick with them. I'm just analytical by nature and need to figure out why a hereford would bring less money per pound than a black cow?

 

[plumber_greg]

Too stupid to put in bold quotes what shortybreeder said. He said,"Once the hide is off it doesn't matter what color they were."
I agree. BUT they gotta' grade for the packers after the hide is off. That's why black out sells the rest. The buyers will pay more for a product that will grade what they want. How simple is that in any argument on why blacks sell better????????????????? gs

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Black brainwashing has caused it. See the light people.. Light coloured calves that is.

It could be brainwashing, or it could be someone is smart enough to make money off someone else's stupidity.


But I wouldn't know, i'm brainwashed. :dunce: :banana: :dunce: :banana: :dunce: :banana:

 

[sim.-ang.king]

Too stupid to put in bold quotes what shortybreeder said. He said,"Once the hide is off it doesn't matter what color they were."
I agree. BUT they gotta' grade for the packers after the hide is off. That's why black out sells the rest. The buyers will pay more for a product that will grade what they want. How simple is that in any argument on why blacks sell better????????????????? gs

So true, Herefords yield the worst when compared to anything solid colored, even if their quality grade is a bit higher.