jdcopkid
Well-known member
coming back to cattle after 15-20 years. I grew up raising bottle Holsteins. Got some beef cattle and am trying to figure out all my breeds… let me know what you see
Calf breed questions
- Thread starter jdcopkid
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Ky hills
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In the first picture the one laying up next to the building looks like a Brahman Hereford cross, and the one by it, a Hereford Charolais cross, with maybe a little Brahman influence, although Charolais can have big somewhat long ears too.
The black white faced calves are likely some version of Angus Hereford cross, and again at least some look like they have a little bit of Brahman influence too.
The red calf in the 5th picture might be a Santa Gertrudis or part.
The solid color black calves look like some might be Jersey Angus cross, and the others Angus crossed with something else
The black white faced calves are likely some version of Angus Hereford cross, and again at least some look like they have a little bit of Brahman influence too.
The red calf in the 5th picture might be a Santa Gertrudis or part.
The solid color black calves look like some might be Jersey Angus cross, and the others Angus crossed with something else
You got yourself a box of crayons!
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jdcopkid
Well-known member
Haha I sure did. Got this batch to just go through some "practice" as far as financials with feed, meds, etc.
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jdcopkid
Well-known member
Good to know that's almost exactly what I had come up with minus the jersey crosses. I know the 2 black and 2 brown had something going on but couldn't figure it out. Of course they were marketed as angus lol
Travlr
Well-known member
As someone that came from a background of bottle feeding Holsteins I'm wondering if you are comfortable with calves that are underweight? If you bought them that way and they were cheap because of their condition, you may know how to get them up and running. But if you think that's what calves should look like, being used to thinking in terms of dairy calves, then yours are seriously underfed.
As far as breeds, you've got a decent mix of crossbreeds. The white, brockle faced calves are all Hereford crosses. The black ones have Angus somewhere in their background even if they were sired by a black bull of another breed. The ones with ears have Brahman in them. The solid red one may be Santa Gertrudis or possibly Beefmaster. The pale one has some Charolais in it.
For future reference, if you are trying to make money on your livestock, consistent colors and sizes generate better prices in large groups.
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jdcopkid
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I appreciate the feedback. They aren't underfed. Definitely not trying to keep them underweight. A bunch of them got hit with shipping fever and scours. Two of them ended up with pneumonia but everyone is on the up and up now after treatment and some babying. They are starting to put on weight.
They clearly were weaned early. I've sent our hay off for analysis and am working on getting their protein intake to better levels with some DDGS. They have been on a grain mix from local feed store but speaking with some ag extensions and university beef programs, DDGS should help increase their protein with both rumen degradable and rumen undegradable protein, and try and "make up" some for being weaned so early.
Yea, this was a trial and error run. These were all bought under market value. I'll be working on picking a breed to actually start a herd on my next round. Just enjoying the calves and learning right now.
They clearly were weaned early. I've sent our hay off for analysis and am working on getting their protein intake to better levels with some DDGS. They have been on a grain mix from local feed store but speaking with some ag extensions and university beef programs, DDGS should help increase their protein with both rumen degradable and rumen undegradable protein, and try and "make up" some for being weaned so early.
Yea, this was a trial and error run. These were all bought under market value. I'll be working on picking a breed to actually start a herd on my next round. Just enjoying the calves and learning right now.
Travlr
Well-known member
Well it will be great to see your efforts and results as things progress. Pics are a bonus.
A couple of suggestions for using the forum. If you go to your profile and put in a general location everyone will know how to ask questions and give advice pertaining to your weather and latitude, etc., specific to your location. And when you want to reply to someone, if you hit the "reply" at the bottom right of your screen they will get a notice so they can see what you said with less chance of missing it. A habit that will make it easier for everyone to follow a conversation, too.
Good to have you here. Sounds like you're off to a good start on your test run.
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jdcopkid
Well-known member
Thank you! I thought I was hitting reply but apparently not. I updated my location as well. I'll definitely post some updates. I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far. The two that got pneumonia got some special babying and now all they want are neck scratches and love. It's pretty cool ha.
