Breed

[Tony_Wornick]

Being the newbie that I am, and deciding which breed to concentrate on, I was
wondering what benefits one breed might have over another? Is it just a preference?

 

[BC]

a lot of it is personal preference, but you need to select breeds that are adapted to your environment.

 

[Dale L]

As BC stated preference and environment are two of the big factors. It also depends on your purpose. Are you wanting to get into registered cattle and concentrate on one breed only or are you looking to sale mostly at the local salebarn? If you are goin to be using the local salebarn it is best to know what type of animal brings premium prices. Around here primarily black hided cattle will bring more than a brown or red calf of similar body type and frame size.

 

[dun]

One important issue is choose a breed you like. If you really like Herefords and you go with angus you aren;t going to be as satisfied in the long run. Might be best to start out with a bunch of comemrcial crossbred cows until you get you're feet wet. Smaller expenditure up front to get started and you can see whqat you like.

 

[Tony_Wornick]

Thanks for the replies. My friend and mentor in the "biz" is running black angus cross, so I might pick up some stock from him.

 

[djinwa]

A lot of money has been invested in promoting black cattle, so not many want to hear this, but figure a newbie ought to have all the info before getting started.

The higher prices for blacks might not last forever as more become aware of the costs due to the increased heat stress of blacks. Most of us know to not wear black in the summer.

So if you like angus, reds would take the heat better than black. Red Angus or Hereford shouldn't be much less at the salebarn, or even the same, but you can check. If you aren't selling to the barn, you might also consider Murray Greys which are light colored or British Whites which are flashy. These are the more common originally British breeds - best known as maternal or good breeds for momma cows.

Continental breeds (originated on the continent of Europe) include Charolais, Simmental, Limousin, Gelbvieh. Better known for putting muscle on calves, to make more pounds. Many of these breeds have changed to black to get more money, but there are still original reds or whites available.

http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/ansci/beef/as1615.pdf

Animals with dark hides are at a higher risk of suffering heat stress and dying. Deaths of black-hided cattle on pasture without shade and limited supplies of water have been recorded. Body core temperature research has shown that in a cohort of cattle that were genetically closely related but phenotypically had different hide colors, cattle with dark hides had a 2 F higher core body temperature than their cohorts with lighter-colored hide.
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Provide shade if possible. Solar radiation from sunny, clear skies contributes to body temperature in cattle. Black-hided cattle in the same pens with white-hided cattle will have internal body temperatures several degrees hotter than the white-hided cattle. Providing shade stops solar radiation from increasing body temperature. Although this may not be practical for all cattle in a feed yard, identify susceptible pens and be ready to intervene proactively with all measures possible.
Consider turning cattle out temporarily under trees for shade. The decrease in feed efficiency or loss of weight is minimal, considering the potential cost of losing cattle due to heat stress.

http://www.cattletoday.com/archive/2007 ... 1033.shtml

 

[Tony_Wornick]

Thanks for that info DJ, very good read. I agree with sun and black, especially here in Texas.

 

[Backbone Ranch]

We raise Murray Greys in Texas. So far, we haven't had any problems with them. They cope extremely well in the summer heat, wean good calves, are born between 65 and 80 lbs, and are great mothers. The breed also has a higher prevalence of tenderness and marbling genes than almost every other breed. Murray Greys can consistently finish choice or better on grass. Their dark pigmentation significantly reduces the possibility of cancer eye. They have a wonderful disposition. I have attached a few photos.
10 year old cow

6 year old cow

20 month old bull

 

[BC]

Thanks for that info DJ, very good read. I agree with sun and black, especially here in Texas.

Since you finally let us know a general location ("here in Texas"), I am going to suggest that your cows have some Brahman influence in them for adaptability to the environment.

 

[Tony_Wornick]

Yes, I've been trying to add my location to my profile, but don't see a "profile" link. I am about 35 miles N of Dallas.

 

[dun]

Click user control panel, then click profile, then enter your location and click submit

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I would suggest brangus cows, or Hereford cows with a brangus bull where you are.

 

[Rango]

I'd say for your part of the world you can't beat a brangus cow

 

[slick4591]

There's lots of color in our area and they all seem to do well, but the black ones seem to be bad about hanging out in the water. They'll contaminate a tank fairly quickly especially as dry as we are.

 

[Tony_Wornick]

Thanks again everyone. Now if I could just find some land!

 

[Chevyman]

hey tony, i think you owe djinwa and backbone a apology for wasting their time and effort to help.

what a dumb post

 

[Rango]

hey tony, i think you owe djinwa and backbone a apology for wasting their time and effort to help.

what a dumb post

Your just fishing for trouble ain't ya boy

 

[3waycross]

Thanks again everyone. Now if I could just find some land!

It's never too early to get a little education......good luck with the land.

 

[Rango]

Thanks again everyone. Now if I could just find some land!

Where your located as I'm sure you know the land is as high as a giraffe's ear's but get out a ways and it's better
Here's a good place to look
http://www.swranchsales.com/

 

[Tony_Wornick]

hey tony, i think you owe djinwa and backbone a apology for wasting their time and effort to help.

what a dumb post

And what a dumb reply..I've seen your replies and I don't think you have contributed to anyone's threads. So it is you who
should apologize to the entire board. You should just probably keep to yourself.