Cattle Critique

[Bestoutwest]

I was wondering how my cattle were stacking up and maybe where I could improve things, so I thought I'd ask. They are longhorns, yes, I know they are 'not worth as much' as the continental breeds, so please don't point that out. We made the decision on doing longhorns for several reasons. Our eventual goal is to breed for meat production and size, and stay away from animals based solely on horn size and color. Please be constructive with criticism, and thank you in advance.

Our cow

Her heifer calf

Another heifer

A bull calf

 

[Taurus]

So far the first heifer has nice rear than the two last ones but the two last ones have light rear. Perhaps add some Peeler bloodlines will beef up your longhorns better.

 

[ohiobeef]

I don't know much about Longhorns, except that I tried to feed out some a few years ago & they grew slowly. Good luck with your efforts to improve the breed. :tiphat:

 

[Kingfisher]

What are you using to breed them?

 

[Rafter S]

Do you mind sharing your reasons for going with Longhorns if meat production and size are your goals? And I'm just curious, not being critical.

 

[HOSS]

I probably know the least about longhorns of anybody on CT but I will say I kinda like the cow and the first heifer. I have seen much, much worse.

 

[Bestoutwest]

Do you mind sharing your reasons for going with Longhorns if meat production and size are your goals? And I'm just curious, not being critical.

Sure. We're a small acreage farm in the high desert. We're really close to a large urban population that's concerned with healthy eating so we decided to go after that market with, what we could find, as the healthiest choice for beef. I'm not wanting to sell through the salebarn primarily , so that's not a concern. Also, since they're less expensive to buy and fairly hardy I thought they'd be good to start with. Finally, both my wife and I really like the look and history of the breed. Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty impressed with that red calf so far. Can't wait to see what she turns into.

 

[Bestoutwest]

What are you using to breed them?

The bull in the picture when he's big enough.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I like the cow and the first heifer calf.

 

[Taurus]

What are you using to breed them?

The bull in the picture when he's big enough.

He's not what I want to use as a breeding bull. You can find better longhorn bulls even as a calf than that calf. If your goal is meat production then perhaps you can look in Peeler longhorn cattle.

 

[Rafter S]

Do you mind sharing your reasons for going with Longhorns if meat production and size are your goals? And I'm just curious, not being critical.

Sure. We're a small acreage farm in the high desert. We're really close to a large urban population that's concerned with healthy eating so we decided to go after that market with, what we could find, as the healthiest choice for beef. I'm not wanting to sell through the salebarn primarily , so that's not a concern. Also, since they're less expensive to buy and fairly hardy I thought they'd be good to start with. Finally, both my wife and I really like the look and history of the breed. Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty impressed with that red calf so far. Can't wait to see what she turns into.

Fair enough. It sounds like you have a reasonable plan. And while my knowledge of Longhorns is limited to using one on my first-calf heifers, I do think that for a Longhorn the heifer in the second picture looks pretty good, and I agree with someone else who said you can probably do better than the bull calf pictured for a herd bull.

 

[wacocowboy]

I wouldn't use that bull. I have had Longhorns and know a lot of people who use them because they are cheap and easy keepers. I would use a Hereford, Char, Brangus or Beefmaster bull you will get a lot better calves with more meat to eat. Only other thing if you ain't breeding for horns scoop those heifers, those horns are a pain when you have to doctor or do anything to the animal.

 

[Taurus]

I wouldn't use that bull. I have had Longhorns and know a lot of people who use them because they are cheap and easy keepers. I would use a Hereford, Char, Brangus or Beefmaster bull you will get a lot better calves with more meat to eat. Only other thing if you ain't breeding for horns scoop those heifers, those horns are a pain when you have to doctor or do anything to the animal.

Ditto to the crossbreeding! While the longhorns may be healthy lean beef, but they don't pack much meat on them. Few longhorns are quite boney, like that longhorn bull calf. Crossbreeding will usually solved that one. Personally I would use shorthorn, Hereford, piedmontese or Belgian blue bull on them.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Ryan, Running Arrow Bill, and TX Bobcat all raise LHs. You might try to send them a personal message.

There's absolutely a market. Doctor in Fort Worth is telling his heart patients they can eat all the beef they want, provided it is LH beef.

 

[Taurus]

Ryan, Running Arrow Bill, and TX Bobcat all raise LHs. You might try to send them a personal message.

There's absolutely a market. Doctor in Fort Worth is telling his heart patients they can eat all the beef they want, provided it is LH beef.

Send a message to Ryan first. He has best looking longhorns I ever seen!

 

[MO_cows]

Sorry but that bull calf is the worst specimen out of the ones pictured. No rump, fine boned, doesn't look masculine at all. He's got length and his hide would make a nice rug, that's what I can say nice about him.

Get a better bull, or figure out how to AI your cows to a better bull. If you do go with a beef breed bull to put more meat on your calves, pay attention to calving ease EPD and birthweights.

Good luck, hope you find success with what you are trying to do. The "alternative market" is growing all the time, there is beef labeled grassfed in the regular grocery stores around here now. People have their own ideas about what is desirable in their food, and a bunch of them are willing and able to pay up for it.

 

[stocky]

I have had alot of longhorns and I cut the horns off and breed them to a charolais bull. Cutting horns saves alot of trouble and saves from potential injury to person or animal. A charolais bull will add beef and growth to the calf. I like the cow and the first heifer, alot. The second heifer is marginal, at best. The bull is very light boned and I do not see any future in him as a breeder. I have used longhorn bulls on heifers and there are good longhorn bulls to use, but I am afraid that calf will never make much of a bull. Longhorns definitely can be valuable in the right situations.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Ryan, Running Arrow Bill, and TX Bobcat all raise LHs. You might try to send them a personal message.

There's absolutely a market. Doctor in Fort Worth is telling his heart patients they can eat all the beef they want, provided it is LH beef.

Send a message to Ryan first. He has best looking longhorns I ever seen!

I miss the posts from all of these folks. This forum seems pretty hard on them. Ryan has some fine looking animals indeed.

 

[Bestoutwest]

Thank you everyone for the replies. Even though they may not be what I would have wanted to hear, they were very civil and I learned a great deal from them. I have learned a great deal from this whole experience, and I will be able to make improvements with the next generation.

Thanks :wave:

 

[Bestoutwest]

Here are some updated pics of the heifers from last year.

Our heifer from this year. That's our 'mighty' corgi that only gets licked by cows.

As always, please be polite and constructive.

Thanks in advance