Spotted Brahma":34wphlsi said:
Massey135":34wphlsi said:
You will still get considerably "type" ears, hump and of it with the Brahman bull back on her. Look around there is a lot of variation in the breed. I would def not ever put a holstein bull over those brahman cows. Straightbreed em thats where the $$ is
If you look on sexing technologies facebook page they have a gallery of pictures from mexico. In it is a herd of white brahman cows that were AI'd with sexed Holstein semen. They have the most gorgeous F1 heifers you ever seen, and they are mostly black in color. I AI'd a Holstein heifer to Indu as well as a Brahma x Holstein cow.
My only concern was the birthweight of the calf using a Holstein Bull. Not to say Brahman over holstein is any better than Holstein over brahman. The dairyman across the road from our lease in Sulphur Springs, Yancey, always has some newborns gettin under the fence. Ill stop by and push them back under for him. The last time I stopped by he said, "I gotta show you this one- born last night"- sucker weighted 154lbs and was thigh high. I ask him why he was using those kind of genetics and he said, "those are the kind that milk"- point being, dairyman haven't selected for bw like they should because milk production is their (only) priority. BW have long been overlooked in dairy cattle and thats what causes my concern with using a dairy breed bull- other than Jersey.
I had a handfull of the brahma x holstein mix that I raised as bottle calves. They were great cows and were marked like a black holstein with white points- the star on their forhead, white udder, and tail switch. The only thing I hated was breed them to an Angus bull--- and see if you don't get some spotting back. I had calves that looked just like beef type spotted holsteins-- Some more white than black! The Char bull back over them solved that problem and the calves grew better too. The last thing you wanna do is have a calf that doesn't have the genetics to utilized all the milk his momma can give... Such a waste.
cathill":34wphlsi said:
Massey135,
The issue is finding a good bull of their type to breed to my Brahman type cows. Not a lot of them, especially colorful Indu type here in Missouri. I've been told totally opposite stories by everyone, either they are worthless because they are Brahman or they're the best thing ever and worth their weight.....lol. Hardly anything is said about Brahman and their crosses that is middle of the road. Seems they are either really loved or really disliked so I figure either way I breed is Super terrific and horrible at the same time, lol. I Love the type but I'll probably take these 2 cows both directions over time. For now, they will be bred to my son's bulls. I'll continue to watch locally for a good bull calf for them, hoping for lots of color, long ears, good Indu type or Gir. I don't have any reason to conform. No one is really going to care what I produce since I have only the 2 cows. If I'm lucky and have heifers, I'll be keeping any of them that are more exotic and work on developing the type.
Cathill, REST EASY! No one questions the performance of brahman cattle. The only naysayers are those who don't like the brahmans because of their looks. Their maternal qualities are unmatched. They milk heavily, theyre fertile, LONGEVITY,
and they'll protect their baby till the second its time to wean them. There are some bloodlines that are pretty flat sided and don't have the capacity to consume enough low quality forage to put on excess flesh, but these lines have been much bred out (of the American Brahman). This is the problem you will experience with the non improved indu breeds; that and poor udders.
Id like to see a Santa Gert bull over those Indu cows. You will still retain considerably brahman type but will also pick up some much needed fleshing ability and beef type characteristics.
