Bradford breeding?

[lkana]

Seeking some advice on crossbreeding. Alittle back ground on me. I grew up on a 90acre cattle ranch and always had purebred cattle. Angus, hereford, etc. I left for the military and have been away from ranching for a good while. Now that I'm back and have bought the same property I grew up on I'm looking to get back into cattle. I'm looking at getting into crossbreed for a number of reasons. Mainly that what seems to bring the most money here and of course for the heterosis and hybrid vigor. Here's where I'm alittle lost as to making a decision. I had narrowed it down to brafords. Was basically going to put a braford bull on braford heifers. But after some research I've found that their f2 offspring wouldn't be as desirable. Now I'm playing with the idea of braford heifers and either an Angus or charolais bull. I know in my area people like a decent amount of ear and seems a great bet is a brahman hereford mix so that's one reason in going with brafords but trying to get opinions on what to cross them with. Alittle info on my planned operation for now atleast would be to do what I'm familiar with and retain the cows and bull and sell offspring at the sale barn. We did this growing up but ofcourse with pure breed we would also produce our own replacement heifers and with crossing I wouldn't be able to do that.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Hard to beat the super baldies.
Angus bull on Braford cows progeny will ring the bell in my part of the world.

 

[Caustic Burno]

They will look like these, the Charbray/ Hereford cross will throw a yellow baldie. They sale real good here also.
Hope that helps.

 

[lkana]

And please correct me if I'm wrong on this but seeing as to how I'll be taking the weaned calves to auction rather than privately selling as say replacement heifers I'll do better with a charolais bull since they will be a beefier heavy heifer.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Where are you located?
In my corner of the state the Braford cow is queen commanding the most money. Brangus is number two followed by the Super Baldie as replacements.
Most in my area do not want a Charbray cow as a replacement due to the diluter gene causing the smoke or yellow calves. Yellow calves sell well mine have never beat the black baldies.
Again this is my corner of the world.

 

[lkana]

I'm located near the Austin/San Antonio area

 

[Caustic Burno]

TexasBred and Vette are over your way.
They should have their finger on the pulse better than me being located in East Texas.

 

[Brute 23]

Braford generally refers to the composite breed that is 3/8 Brahman 5/8 Hereford.

F1 Brafords are the first gen crosses of Hereford and a Brahman.

You can breed the Brafords to Brafords and raise great Braford cattle. You can register them and and all that good stuff.

There is no benefit to breeding an F1 Braford to an F1 Braford. If you get F1 Brafords you will want to breed out to a Char or Angus bull as discussed to go to the auction barn.

In the area you are talking about Braford or Brangus cattle will work well with an Angus bull or Char bull.

If you have the capital to buy some Hereford or Brahman cows and make F1s you will get a premium and should have no problem selling them private treaty.

No matter which route you go focus on quality... not breed or color... and you will be good.

 

[5S Cattle]

I’d run a char bull on brafords. I have some brafords out of Brahman and Hereford cows hitting the ground now if you’re interested in young stuff you can raise yourself. I’m in Brenham

 

[MO-Ruminants]

Hope this doesn't make me a hijacker. Just how far north could F1 Braford cows perform as mamas?

 

[Caustic Burno]

Hope this doesn't make me a hijacker. Just how far north could F1 Braford cows perform as mamas?

I can’t answer that question.
The F-1’s that have the deep red Hereford color hair over better than the Tiger stripes. For some reason that trait doesn’t seem to dip into the DNA
pool as often.
Being in Missouri I would think 1/4 would be plenty if you are looking for the hybrid vigor.
This is one like I was talking about she is a certified Golden F-1. She took second place at the county fair as a heifer.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Hope this doesn't make me a hijacker. Just how far north could F1 Braford cows perform as mamas?

The cows might perform well there..dont know how well your markets value eared calves.ive found that sometimes liking something, and actually needing something, Ain't worth the effort..

 

[MO-Ruminants]

"The cows might perform well there..dont know how well your markets value eared calves.ive found that sometimes liking something, and actually needing something, Ain't worth the effort.."


Excellent point...When selling livestock, I have never yet had a buyer ask how much I like them.

Just how much ear will be on the offspring of a 1/2 Brahman Cow X Angus Bull?
Or taking it a step further, breeding the resulting baldies back to an Angus bull?

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Your calves should be 1/4 blood.. But it depends a lot on the parents,how much ear they'll show..that Brahman influence is like a fire that you think you've got put out..walk a way,, and there's a flickering ember that reignites..

 

[Ky hills]

Hope this doesn't make me a hijacker. Just how far north could F1 Braford cows perform as mamas?

I'm in east central Ky, and have a few Brahman influenced cows. Mine are mostly 3/4 Hereford and a Beefmaster. They do real good here as far as performance. I use Angus and Hereford Bulls and the calves are a range from little if any visible Brahman influence to as much as the mother. Most of their calves to this point usually don't show a lot and have blended right in with a group.

 

[Caustic Burno]

"The cows might perform well there..dont know how well your markets value eared calves.ive found that sometimes liking something, and actually needing something, Ain't worth the effort.."


Excellent point...When selling livestock, I have never yet had a buyer ask how much I like them.

Just how much ear will be on the offspring of a 1/2 Brahman Cow X Angus Bull?
Or taking it a step further, breeding the resulting baldies back to an Angus bull?

Look at the calves I posted as most are from 1/4 mommas as to what Alacowman is talking about.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

several generations later...breeding and retaining straight Angus..the Brahman influence is still persistent..

 

[1982vett]

TexasBred and Vette are over your way.
They should have their finger on the pulse better than me being located in East Texas.

Ikana, I’m probably about as far NE from you as I am Caustic to the SE. Probably that far to TexasBred to my NNE. Both should work well for you. Check out what’s selling at the auction your going to be using to sell and see which pencils out best. I don’t think the $ per head difference at the same age is going to amount to much. The Charolis should be heavier but the black hide should bring a few cents a pound more if their is a difference at all.