Bull or Beef

[travlnusa]

Finished my first calving season this week. I have learned so much reading most of the posts here, but now I have a question.

All calves are black angus. When looking at bull calves, what so you all look at and consider when deciding to raise as a bull to sell or what to steer for beef? Do you simply look at EPD numbers, etc, the overall look of the calf, or what?

I have been raising holstein steers that I sell as retail beef, and if I steer, I will get "retail" prices.

My guess is that very few bulls are worth improving the breed so I am leaning towards beef.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

 

[warpaint]

That's a tough one. I think most folks would like to raise the next World Champion, no matter the breed.

 

[Caustic Burno]

Finished my first calving season this week. I have learned so much reading most of the posts here, but now I have a question.

All calves are black angus. When looking at bull calves, what so you all look at and consider when deciding to raise as a bull to sell or what to steer for beef? Do you simply look at EPD numbers, etc, the overall look of the calf, or what?

I have been raising holstein steers that I sell as retail beef, and if I steer, I will get "retail" prices.

My guess is that very few bulls are worth improving the breed so I am leaning towards beef.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

Epd's are a guide but John Q public has bought into hook line and sinker. I want to see the herd bull and cows with working clothes on and calves on the ground before I buy. You can make anything look pretty out of a sack remember everything looks pretty fat but a woman and a huntin dog. The problem you face is reputation you could have the finest Herefords I have ever seen and I am headed back to Two seedstock producers whose bulls have proven results here.

 

[backhoeboogie]

The first thing I look at is the head. Consider calving ease and such. Vitality. Then I look at structure. Then I look at how they gain and how they maintain their structure.

If you have something that simply doesn't have the "look" I'd say beef. If you have one with traits you'd really like to have for your own herd, it grows well and has vigor, it may be worthy of considering as breeding stock.

You have to bear in mind that each person has their own personal wants. My priority is calving ease as I don't want to take a chance on losing calves or cows. My cows are 20 miles away and I can't be with them 24/7. Hence, my considerations follow my capabilities.

 

[la4angus]

I have been raising holstein steers that I sell as retail beef, and if I steer, I will get "retail" prices.

My guess is that very few bulls are worth improving the breed so I am leaning towards beef.

IMO you would be money ahead steering all the bulls and feeding them out and sell retail beef.

 

[S.R.R.]

[ remember everything looks pretty fat but a woman and a huntin dog..

:lol: :lol: Good one!

 

[dun]

I have been raising holstein steers that I sell as retail beef, and if I steer, I will get "retail" prices.

My guess is that very few bulls are worth improving the breed so I am leaning towards beef.

In the dairy community, if you don;t have the records to back up a bull pertaining to his heritage of milk production etc. there is very little demand. A small dairy may be willing to buy a bull without data, vut there are more then enough bulls with the data to support their claims that an unknown would have very little value.
If there are DHIA records available that would increase the value, but there are still more then enough Holstein bulls running around that can be used to freshen a cow.

dun

 

[backhoeboogie]

Dun,

They are talking angus this time around, I think.

 

[J. T.]

[ remember everything looks pretty fat but a woman and a huntin dog..

:lol: :lol: Good one!

Now that statement might hurt Crowder's feelings.

 

[MikeC]

[ remember everything looks pretty fat but a woman and a huntin dog..

:lol: :lol: Good one!

Now that statement might hurt Crowder's feelings.

From the looks of some of Crowder's women, he ain't got no feelings! :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[backhoeboogie]

[ remember everything looks pretty fat but a woman and a huntin dog..

:lol: :lol: Good one!

Now that statement might hurt Crowder's feelings.

From the looks of some of Crowder's women, he ain't got no feelings! :lol: :lol: :lol:

You got that right. I think I'd rather kiss one of my cows than those ladies on that tailgate.

 

[Double R Ranch]

[/quote]IMO you would be money ahead steering all the bulls and feeding them out and sell retail beef.[/quote]

I agree completely. We steer everything that hits the ground. I would rather bring in outside genes when the time comes. Steers make you "money".
Best of luck.
Double R

 

[travlnusa]

Thanks to all. Steers it will be.

 

[aplusmnt]

Finished my first calving season this week. I have learned so much reading most of the posts here, but now I have a question.

All calves are black angus. When looking at bull calves, what so you all look at and consider when deciding to raise as a bull to sell or what to steer for beef? Do you simply look at EPD numbers, etc, the overall look of the calf, or what?

I have been raising holstein steers that I sell as retail beef, and if I steer, I will get "retail" prices.

My guess is that very few bulls are worth improving the breed so I am leaning towards beef.

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

I do not mean this as an insult, because I am in the same situation. I have thought about rather I would maybe keep some calves back as bulls and try to sell them. But I decided if I have to ask questions on this beginners board I probably do not have the knowledge or experiance that it takes to pick, and raise any good bulls. I might get lucky a time or two but in the end I figured it would be just a mess. So I will steer them all and maybe keep some back as show steers if they turn out good.

Now that being said I know one day I will think I know what I am doing and keep one as a bull, because I get to thinking sometimes I know more than I really do.

 

[travlnusa]

You make a VERY good point. I did not take it as an insult at all. Thanks for the logical argument you made.

 

[preston39]

travl..,
Don't rush it...if you are referring to the angus. You have months before a final bull/steer decision should be made. New studies show that you get better growth and gain ..intact ...until 450-500#. Make a steer later if that is what you decide.

 

[DoubleK]

Travl

My mentor used to say, "Alligators don't have puppies." It's the same way with bloodlines. Assuming that a bull sires true to his parents, you should consider his bloodlines first.

A mediocre cow and bull may sometimes produce what appears to be an outstanding son. He looks like herd sire material. He may possibly be the one-in-a hundred that outsires all his ancestors, but there's a stronger possibility that his calves will grow up to look like his own sire and dam - mediocre!

A safe principal to follow is never use a herd bull unless you want to raise calves like his sire and dam. Nine times out of ten he will produce his own genetic traits.

Remember, 50% of the genetics of your calf crop come from your herd sire.


Dub