Bull necks

[Supa Dexta]

Just wandering around the AI sites and was thinking about neck shapes and lengths. Don't know anything specific about them, but I kinda prefer a stubby neck with the head more pointed forward than up and out. But thats just visual appeal on my part. I kinda like them more of a block, and really weren't they evolved to butt heads, so a straight head and spine would be strongest?

Are there any correlations between a bulls neck and other factors? Up:

http://www.remitall.ca/images/prospct2.jpg

Where other bulls are straight ahead

http://www.bieberredangus.com/animalpix/3picA238.jpg

Upgrade, up and out:

http://genex.crinet.com/beef/images/ani ... pgrade.jpg

bulletproof, ahead:

http://genex.crinet.com/beef/images/ani ... bullet.jpg

Must be giraffe in the woodpile somewhere along the lines.

 

[dun]

http://www.bovineengineering.com/
Click on Linear Measurments

 

[Supa Dexta]

Awesome, just what I was after. And seems I was on to something all along.

What I do find interesting is they are saying these giraffe necked bulls have quite a few poor qualities, listed here:

Short necks are a good indicator of libido and high testosterone.
The cervical vertebrates have a tendency to curve up, making the neck shorter.
Short necks indicate a larger scrotal therefore a higher level of hormones.
Short necks indicate wider shoulders (mail characteristics).
Bulls with a neck longer than a –2 inches at 12 months lack male hormones, resulting in late maturing daughters, reaching puberty later in life and tend to be slow breeders.
Long necks are structural defects, no genetic progress can be made with these bulls. They will be high maintenance bulls.
Bulls with long necks have a smaller scrotum.
Bulls with shorter necks sire daughters with wider rumps.
Bulls with short necks sire daughters that mature early.

But some of the 'hot bulls' have this type of neck, then they try and get them posed up like a draught horse with head held high and standing tall and straight - and to me they just don't look right. This is what I like to see>

http://fermegagnoninc.com/images/photos ... ev2014.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... %C3%A9.jpg

Not this,

http://www.jbarangus.com/Bulls%20for%20 ... 20bull.jpg

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

http://www.bovineengineering.com/
Click on Linear Measurments

That's a heck of a good resource dun, thanks for posting it.

 

[kickinbull]

If you have time this winter visit Living Web Farms site. Video,Three days. Sustainable Ranching. It covers a lot about selecting cattle that are more productive and how to choose bulls and cows.

 

[Bigfoot]

I gotta be honest and say, in all my life I've never paid attention to a bulls neck (other than as a sign of masculinity). I pay attention to the shape of the head, but not the neck.

 

[TennesseeTuxedo]

I gotta be honest and say, in all my life I've never paid attention to a bulls neck (other than as a sign of masculinity). I pay attention to the shape of the head, but not the neck.

Live and learn Bigfoot.

 

[ram]

I always call a big old buck "a no necker" And those red bulls have no necks, I like'em. I always call bulls like them black one's "cow necked"

 

[Bigfoot]

I gotta be honest and say, in all my life I've never paid attention to a bulls neck (other than as a sign of masculinity). I pay attention to the shape of the head, but not the neck.

Live and learn Bigfoot.

Or be left behind.

 

[Supa Dexta]

Everyone sees things differently. Even when its right in front of you.

Its just been standing out to me, more and more the last number of years. Like their necks are kinked almost. Doesn't look comfortable or healthy.

 

[Ebenezer]

Some of that magic selection criteria listed as a reference merely selects for signs of early maturing, small framed cattle. Just know that before you go a year and start unloading small frame calves at the barn for a low price.

 

[Chris H]

Awesome, just what I was after. And seems I was on to something all along.

What I do find interesting is they are saying these giraffe necked bulls have quite a few poor qualities, listed here:

Short necks are a good indicator of libido and high testosterone.
The cervical vertebrates have a tendency to curve up, making the neck shorter.
Short necks indicate a larger scrotal therefore a higher level of hormones.
Short necks indicate wider shoulders (mail characteristics).
Bulls with a neck longer than a –2 inches at 12 months lack male hormones, resulting in late maturing daughters, reaching puberty later in life and tend to be slow breeders.
Long necks are structural defects, no genetic progress can be made with these bulls. They will be high maintenance bulls.
Bulls with long necks have a smaller scrotum.
Bulls with shorter necks sire daughters with wider rumps.
Bulls with short necks sire daughters that mature early.

But some of the 'hot bulls' have this type of neck, then they try and get them posed up like a draught horse with head held high and standing tall and straight - and to me they just don't look right. This is what I like to see>

http://fermegagnoninc.com/images/photos ... ev2014.jpg

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... %C3%A9.jpg

Not this,

http://www.jbarangus.com/Bulls%20for%20 ... 20bull.jpg

That angus has plenty of curvature to his neck, he just has the poll of his head way above the top of his shoulders. I'd be more concerned about that bull's attitude than anything. I do agree with you, I like the look of the first two. I've had enough 'high-headed' cattle to last a lifetime.