Hollis":2cbiehjl said:Ok let's look at what everyone gave up chasing high marbling, fast gaining animals. Did it really get us ahead of the game?
Depends on your game.Hollis":z2vw9957 said:Ok let's look at what everyone gave up chasing high marbling, fast gaining animals.
Did it really get us ahead of the game?
Well, put.Aaron":3nh5rw57 said:Hollis":3nh5rw57 said:Ok let's look at what everyone gave up chasing high marbling, fast gaining animals.
Did it really get us ahead of the game?
Everyone doesn't have to play the game. But don't be surprised if you're deemed irrelevant if you don't.
Similar to high school. You don't have to play football - but don't be surprised if the cheerleaders don't give you
the time of day, if you don't.
If the money didn't matter, Angus would not be such a big concern.
But color does matter in the real world - just like performance does.
Hollis":9caebh1v said:
JWBrahman":1xw9fy9f said:Hollis":1xw9fy9f said:
Where is that bull and is he for sale? I would stick him on Brahman and Braford cows this morning and laugh all the way to the bank.
JWBrahman":28qynnk5 said:Hollis that is 6V, isn't it? I was joking around to prove a point. There is no such thing as a one size fits all type, frame, or breed. 6V bred to a Brahman or Brahman F1 will produce calves that wean 600 pounds plus in five months. 6V bred to a Canadian Simmford or Holstangus would probably be a stupid move.
Thank you Aaron for stating what I wanted to say. If you have a market for grass fed or direct market at a lighter weight carcass, then this bull might have a place. If you are selling all your calves at the sale barn, those calves will wind up in a feedyard and then one of the 4 big packers. That is our customer and that customer is wanting a live animal in the 1350 to 1450 lb range.Aaron":3eynvx9q said:Fine type if you're direct marketing. But you will get slaughtered at the sales barn for being too small of frame and too fat on the rail. It would be the equivalent price of selling a Galloway or Scottish Highland - which would bankrupt guys who are actually making a living with Hereford cattle. Last fall I got 1.45-1.55 for my 9 weight steers. Fellow who is a big Galloway breeder got .80 to 1.00 for same weight cattle - but he admits he doesn't care as he survives on his pension.
It would be great if all breeds could be maintained as their original type - but that doesn't work in the real world free market - small pockets maybe.
Petercoates87":12qmnhub said:Incoming newbie question again. What's wrong with this guy in the picture? I know we can tell how tall he might be but he looks good to me. He got a chunky butt, looks thick in the middle and got a thick neck. What's a classic hereford smaller than today's cattle? What's a good live weight at a year?
Petercoates87":1s5sj5r2 said:So how long do everyone keep their cattle for til it's time to market them?
Travis very well stated. I often relate to some mini Hereford breeders I know about. They can run more cattle on less acres. They are easier to handle and they sell everything they raise that they don't keep for replacements and have a waiting list for the meat. They wouldn't work for a rancher on a 10,000 acre ranch where they had to travel a distance for food and water but do well on smaller acreages and I'm told the beef is among the best. I was always taught to take the hand you were dealt and figure out how to make it work the best for you. Again no size or color works best for all.SPH":33hz1hlv said:The bull has some desirable traits, I like his thickness and I don't think anyone is trying to discredit him other than pointing out that to say that you can't just take 1 type and say that all animals in that breed should look exactly like his type. Like several have stated about this topic - which has lead to some good discussion - I think one of the best comments so far was what JWBrahman said "There is no such thing as a one size fits all type, frame, or breed." I think that statement was about as to the point as anyone can get. A bull like that may do well for certain breeders and in certain areas and markets but not as much in others. The same can be said for probably everyone here that you could take their cattle and move them to the other end of the country furthest away from the environment they were raised in and you are going to find differences in the type of cattle in demand and being raised in those markets/area are not going to mirror where they came from.
Anyone who thinks there is such a thing as "one size fits all" type of breeding needs to broaden their views past their own market and environment more. Breeders don't tell the buyers in their market what they should be buying, they listen to what the buyers are telling them about the type they want because ultimately the buyers are the ones you are going to count on to pay the bills and be able to be successful. It's kind of like telling a guy who is looking for a tractor to do heavy field work with that your small chore tractor is of good quality and does a good job for what you need it to do so it should be good for him too. We all know that wouldn't fly, the same type of thinking can be applied to cattle. You probably aren't going to convince a guy looking for a specific type that has done well and had success with that another type is what he should use instead.