cypressfarms
Well-known member
Melking,
Don't let everyone scare you. I've had and been around brangus more than 20 years. Are there some that are hot headed? Sure. Not as many as tigerstripes though. In general they aren't as docile as a hereford or beefmaster, but you can't judge a particular cow by it's breed's reputation. The tamest cow I ever had is a brangus. I would bring them a small amount of food a day, pour it in a trough and sit back on a mule/4 wheeler and watch. Let them get used to you, and you to them. I would only feed them as a small reward for coming to you when you call. They'll associate you with good things.
One thing I will say about Brangus is that you can't "push" a brangus. Some breeds of cattle don't mind being pushed/herded with a horse/4 wheeler, etc. Brangus do not generally like this. For brangus, I "pull" them. When it's time to work them I pull a feed trough along and they all follow me in the corral. If one doesn't follow, I may try to get behind her once and calmly persuade her, but I don't put much pressure. They will get fired up fairly quick, and then the whole group get's fired up. I train the cows by calling them everytime I move them; they pretty much know the drill, I call they come. My cows like to move to the next pasture (I rotate) every couple of days. One trick I do is keep them in a paddock by the corral for 4 or 5 days. This makes them much more likely to want to come through the catch pen. With Brangus you learn many little tricks to make things easier. I even tag the calves at birth, but I wouldn't recommend this for a newbie.
Having said the above I love brangus. They make great momas, and have done me well for years. I have beefmasters now as well, and have become partial to beefmasters. One thing I don't have with my brangus though; pinkeye or bloat. They seem to be less likely to suffer from these than other breeds.
Cross a brangus moma with a hereford and as caustic would say, the bell will ring at the stockyard. Brangus baldies bring premium prices around here, as feeder steers or replacement heifers.
I wouldn't really recommend them as starters, but you already have them so that's out. Sorry for being so long-winded, but I think Brangus get a bum rap sometimes. There not all bad. PM me if you want to talk Brangus anytime; and no I am not a seedstock seller and have nothing to gain by promoting Brangus
Don't let everyone scare you. I've had and been around brangus more than 20 years. Are there some that are hot headed? Sure. Not as many as tigerstripes though. In general they aren't as docile as a hereford or beefmaster, but you can't judge a particular cow by it's breed's reputation. The tamest cow I ever had is a brangus. I would bring them a small amount of food a day, pour it in a trough and sit back on a mule/4 wheeler and watch. Let them get used to you, and you to them. I would only feed them as a small reward for coming to you when you call. They'll associate you with good things.
One thing I will say about Brangus is that you can't "push" a brangus. Some breeds of cattle don't mind being pushed/herded with a horse/4 wheeler, etc. Brangus do not generally like this. For brangus, I "pull" them. When it's time to work them I pull a feed trough along and they all follow me in the corral. If one doesn't follow, I may try to get behind her once and calmly persuade her, but I don't put much pressure. They will get fired up fairly quick, and then the whole group get's fired up. I train the cows by calling them everytime I move them; they pretty much know the drill, I call they come. My cows like to move to the next pasture (I rotate) every couple of days. One trick I do is keep them in a paddock by the corral for 4 or 5 days. This makes them much more likely to want to come through the catch pen. With Brangus you learn many little tricks to make things easier. I even tag the calves at birth, but I wouldn't recommend this for a newbie.
Having said the above I love brangus. They make great momas, and have done me well for years. I have beefmasters now as well, and have become partial to beefmasters. One thing I don't have with my brangus though; pinkeye or bloat. They seem to be less likely to suffer from these than other breeds.
Cross a brangus moma with a hereford and as caustic would say, the bell will ring at the stockyard. Brangus baldies bring premium prices around here, as feeder steers or replacement heifers.
I wouldn't really recommend them as starters, but you already have them so that's out. Sorry for being so long-winded, but I think Brangus get a bum rap sometimes. There not all bad. PM me if you want to talk Brangus anytime; and no I am not a seedstock seller and have nothing to gain by promoting Brangus