Bred cow..?

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You seem pretty intent on finding reasons to overlook her faults... which have been described to you. Why would you want a calf from her if she won't improve the bull you are using? The entire goal of raising cattle is to improve from wherever you start.
Definitely not intent on it. More intent on finding good deals, I was hoping she'd had a high percentage highland calf I could hold on to but she's not confirmed and that was the biggest reason I wanted her, so unless she comes back offering me a stupid price, I'm going to pass on her.
 
A good deal is generally one that makes money. As opposed to just low price. Low price cattle could be a "good deal" or could be an expensive deal. Same for high price cattle.

Long feet can be genetic/structure related, nutrition related (too much feed - I don't think that is the issue here), or environment related. If genetic, trimming is just a temporary "fix". The issue that made them grow long is generally not "cured" by trimming. And chopping off the front end of the growth only is not the correct trimming. More about the foot angle.
 
Absolutely agree
A good way to start out is to go to the local auctions and sit on your hands. Pay attention to what goes on. Sit at the counter if they have a cafeteria and meet a few people. Don't buy anything from them. Find out who the cattle dealers are and sit so you can pay attention to what they bid on and how much they bid. Learn what brings better prices within each weight range until you can spot a poor calf or a good one. Then watch for deals when people aren't paying attention. Find a niche you fit in and specialize until you know enough to branch out.
And you'll also find out that the difference between good cattle and crap is a few cents a pound at times. If you are raising cattle it pays to look for better quality and pay an extra $50 on a cow that will return $200 more in the kind of calf they raise.
 
I wouldn't want her if she were next door. There is a neighbor kid who buys that kind but I think his limit is about $300.
 
A good way to start out is to go to the local auctions and sit on your hands. Pay attention to what goes on. Sit at the counter if they have a cafeteria and meet a few people. Don't buy anything from them. Find out who the cattle dealers are and sit so you can pay attention to what they bid on and how much they bid. Learn what brings better prices within each weight range until you can spot a poor calf or a good one. Then watch for deals when people aren't paying attention. Find a niche you fit in and specialize until you know enough to branch out.
And you'll also find out that the difference between good cattle and crap is a few cents a pound at times. If you are raising cattle it pays to look for better quality and pay an extra $50 on a cow that will return $200 more in the kind of calf they raise.
Thank you for the advice. I have been frequenting a local auction every Monday that I can and just watching and learning. I know I do need to find my "niche".
 
I don't see anything "Highland" about her at all...except maybe her forelock and her feet. Look at the shape of her face. She is a high percentage Corriente. IMO. If she was bred to a black beef bull, I could sell her for twice that amount. If you buy her for $800 and she has a Highland calf, you can always sell her again at weaning. Or, if her feet hold up, breed her again and get another one. Or breed her to a black beef bull and make some actual money! :)
 
I don't see anything "Highland" about her at all...except maybe her forelock and her feet. Look at the shape of her face. She is a high percentage Corriente. IMO. If she was bred to a black beef bull, I could sell her for twice that amount. If you buy her for $800 and she has a Highland calf, you can always sell her again at weaning. Or, if her feet hold up, breed her again and get another one. Or breed her to a black beef bull and make some actual money! :)
I didn't end up picking her up but that was a good idea :)
 
Im not being critical because i bought my last 3 bulls about 5 hours away but why does many people think something several miles away is better than whats right near us? I see people buy trucks and tractors from TX and other places but wont even look at one 20 miles away. I picked up a tractor in Ohio and one in Missouri last year for people here.
 
Im not being critical because i bought my last 3 bulls about 5 hours away but why does many people think something several miles away is better than whats right near us? I see people buy trucks and tractors from TX and other places but wont even look at one 20 miles away. I picked up a tractor in Ohio and one in Missouri last year for people here.
It cracks me up when I see a load of hay going down the road to be delivered a couple hundred miles from home... and the truck will come back with a different load of hay to be delivered somewhere close.
 
It cracks me up when I see a load of hay going down the road to be delivered a couple hundred miles from home... and the truck will come back with a different load of hay to be delivered somewhere close.
We are off US Hwy 85 and I see loads of hay going both north and south between the irrigation districts in Wyoming and Weld County, CO. Seems like a lot of fuel could be saved with a regional hay market. I don't understand why hay moves north because Colorado hay is usually more expensive.
 
Her ears say Highland x. Her skull could pass for Corriente. At 5 months the calf inside her is about the size of an
average house cat, so its not taking up much room.

I'll see if I can find a picture of the Highland cow I had 55 years ago. She was perfect :)
 
This is the Highland cow I had. The reason I say she was "perfect", is because she was mine :)
At the time I got her it was my understanding Highlanders usually did not calve before 3 yrs. Which is
when she had her first calf. She had a sense of humor, could jump a pretty good fence, if she chose to.
My parents let me enjoy her, she could do no wrong.

I hope you enjoy yours. Shorthorn and Angus were the best beef cross for her.

At about two.
Photo_2024-09-17_153147 (6).jpgPhoto_2024-09-17_145604 (2).jpg

With a Shorthorn calf, Same calf as a yearling.
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Photo_2024-09-17_151450 (5).jpg
 
This is the Highland cow I had. The reason I say she was "perfect", is because she was mine :)
At the time I got her it was my understanding Highlanders usually did not calve before 3 yrs. Which is
when she had her first calf. She had a sense of humor, could jump a pretty good fence, if she chose to.
My parents let me enjoy her, she could do no wrong.

I hope you enjoy yours. Shorthorn and Angus were the best beef cross for her.

At about two.
View attachment 49609View attachment 49610

With a Shorthorn calf, Same calf as a yearling.
View attachment 49613 View attachment 49614


View attachment 49615
That's awesome! Thank you for sharing. I think the breed is really cool even if beef guys hate them
 

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