Changing colors

[kenny thomas]

I am sick of all the "black is the only way to go" talk. Today I bought 2 Charolais bulls to use as my herd bulls. I have several registered Angus cows and a couple of registered black simmys but next year everything will have a Charolais cross calf. I never get the weaning weights anymore that I once thought was common. I keep no heifers and background most of my calves so its all pounds at selling time to me.
Anyone else think this way?

 

[Ky cowboy]

I like smokes. I miss shorthorn cattle, always a surprise when you found a new calf

 

[Muddy]

I'm always a Charolais fan. Char X calves sell very well in this area.

 

[Ky hills]

Charolais is the breed I started with. I admit that I haven't had near the weaning weights, since I changed over. That being said, I had large average birthweights too. I think Charolais are good cattle, and can work well in a crossbreeding program.

 

[Aaron]

Smokies are the worst-selling cattle here. I usually say Shorthorns, but it's a close race to the bottom and I think smokies here may have the edge. Straight Angus or Charolais is fine, but the minute you cross the two, 3/4 of the bidders drop out. They make the margins on Holstein steers look pretty good.

 

[Muddy]

Smokies are the worst-selling cattle here. I usually say Shorthorns, but it's a close race to the bottom and I think smokies here may have the edge. Straight Angus or Charolais is fine, but the minute you cross the two, 3/4 of the bidders drop out. They make the margins on Holstein steers look pretty good.

Very interesting, Aaron. Buyers here, like greys and yellows, more than straight Herefords and shorthorns. I didn't see any differences in the prices between the blacks and the smokies in same weight class in most local sale barns.

 

[Lazy M]

I've thought about doing the same. Smokes usually sell just as well as blacks here. Reds get crushed though, and I've got so many red cows I'm afraid that I'd take too much of a beating to make up for the extra pounds

 

[Bigfoot]

I us a char bull quit often. Usually my best weaning weights are off of them. I've kept several heifers over the years from that cross. That diluter gene hangs around a while to.

 

[M-5]

"White is Right"

 

[Craig Miller]

Char crosses usually top the sale here.

 

[bmoore87]

Chars are the hot cross for local calves going into the feed yards around here for their growth and frame. All things equal I think good black calves still might bring a little more especially since we had a black only packing plant starting up nearby.

 

[Bigfoot]

Chars are my first choice to run on grass. They will grow frame, while some breeds seem to stall out without being pushed with feed.

 

[Stocker Steve]

Smokies are the worst-selling cattle here. I usually say Shorthorns, but it's a close race to the bottom and I think smokies here may have the edge.

Small smokie groups are the best buy at the barn. They get discounted, but gain very well and sell with the reds when you bring back a bunch. :banana: MARC data says Char and Simi increase weaning wt the most. Simi does not get discounted here so they are the $$$ terminal choice.

Sick of 6 frame black angus. Have two RA bulls now, and also experimenting with red simi semen on rwf F1s.

 

[Muddy]

Smokies are the worst-selling cattle here. I usually say Shorthorns, but it's a close race to the bottom and I think smokies here may have the edge.

Small smokie groups are the best buy at the barn. They get discounted, but gain very well and sell with the reds when you bring back a bunch. :banana: MARC data says Char and Simi increase weaning wt the most. Simi does not get discounted here so they are the $$$ terminal choice.

Of course, the buyers won't know these black calves are Sim sired or Balancer sired or Angus sired.

 

[Banjo]

I am sick of all the "black is the only way to go" talk. Today I bought 2 Charolais bulls to use as my herd bulls. I have several registered Angus cows and a couple of registered black simmys but next year everything will have a Charolais cross calf. I never get the weaning weights anymore that I once thought was common. I keep no heifers and background most of my calves so its all pounds at selling time to me.
Anyone else think this way?

Your definitely gonna get the hybrid vigor. I am going to breed a few to a Hereford bull this time...black baldies seem to top the mkt around here. I'm sure the bull calves will sell good, but mainly I'm going for replacement heifers since I have an aging cowherd.

 

[Randi]

Smokies are the worst-selling cattle here. I usually say Shorthorns, but it's a close race to the bottom and I think smokies here may have the edge. Straight Angus or Charolais is fine, but the minute you cross the two, 3/4 of the bidders drop out. They make the margins on Holstein steers look pretty good.

Smokies sell poorly here, but not the silvers. Silvers sell right in the same range as red cattle.

Last fall, our calves ranked in this order.... Tans, Blacks, Reds and Silvers, Hereford, Roan. And Spots would have been in with the roans.

 

[Muddy]

So they liked tan (which is a Char X) but not a smokey?

 

[Stocker Steve]

Smokies sell poorly here, but not the silvers. Silvers sell right in the same range as red cattle.

What cross is a silver?

 

[Dubcharo]

"White is Right"

I like that one!

 

[Randi]

Smokies sell poorly here, but not the silvers. Silvers sell right in the same range as red cattle.

What cross is a silver?

Same cross as a Smokie, Silvers just don't have the curly coat and rat tail...