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<blockquote data-quote="DOC HARRIS" data-source="post: 628098" data-attributes="member: 1683"><p>Hans-</p><p></p><p>It takes some time to really get a workable picture of the <em>kind and type</em> of breeding bull which will satisfy your needs and justify your operation in beef cattle, therefore please take this criticism as helpful and not unkind or too harsh.</p><p></p><p>Your bull should NEVER be used as a herd bull for any period of time, or from which to retain heifers for your Beef Cattle program! One of the most important factors to consider in the selection of a herd bull are the "Functional Traits" he possesses, and that is AFTER the Genetics and General Phenotype of the animal himself.</p><p></p><p>The Phenotype is what the animal "LOOKS LIKE", and the traits and characteristics that appear from observing him, or 'Eye-balling" him, with specific points to consider in the analysis. There are many different sources at your disposal on the Internet to help you with the rather intricate "selection" processes involved in deciding what one should look for in the extremely important process of "Herd Bull Selection" One example would be to log onto "Dogpile.com", or one of several [Search] Engines and type "Beef Bull Selection" in the box. You will be inundated with information with which you can study and educate yourself regarding beef cattle analysis.</p><p></p><p>Getting back to your bull and some specifics concerning him. Starting at his feet and legs, he has weak pasterns (flattened feet with his weight on his 'heels'), he is sickle-hocked and stands "camped-under" with his entire hind leg structure positioned forward under his body instead of his legs positioned "on the corners" of his body to support his weight (not only when he is standing on all four feet, but PARTICULARLY when he is placing his weight on his hind legs when mounting a cow during breeding). This "Functional" trait will dictate that he will "break down" sooner than he should, perhaps in only one breeding season, and even possibly become what is termed "Stifled", which means his stifle joint breaking down, (Bad Knees) precluding his ability to mount a cow and making him worthless as a breeder. The stifle joint is the knee-like structure just above the hock of a four-legged animal. It is an inherited characteristic, which is one reason you don't want to retain heifers as herd replacements, for as cows, they can't carry calves successfully for the number of years required to justify them as breeding animals. He also has a sloping rump, instead of having a rump that is more level and therefore containing muscle (rump roasts), weak hind quarters (lacking adequate muscle).</p><p></p><p>One rather positive physical characteristic of note is, he has a reasonably deep heart girth (that area from his back to his chest floor just behind his front legs) which indicates some volume of thickness of body in proportion to his overall size, which is an indication of how his female calves could possess enough body capacity to carry progeny. But we have already precluded that desirability because of his passing on his terrible feet and legs to his offspring. But that trait is important for you to keep in mind when selecting both bulls and cows in the future. </p><p></p><p>This physical analysis is presented without knowing his Genotype, or the genetics that he will pass onto his progeny relating to Growth, Maternal, Carcass, and the very important Expected Progeny Differences (EPD's) necessary to be able to expect his offspring to be capable of making you a profit in a business enterprise, OR, prevent you from experiencing high expenses if this is only a hobby for you. The activity of raising beef cattle is not inexpensive, and your seedstock should be able to make you a reasonable return on your investment in order to be justified in doing the activity in the first place!</p><p></p><p>I hope that this will be some help to you in understanding what you have in this bull, and how you may be able to improve your status in the future.</p><p></p><p>DOC HARRIS</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DOC HARRIS, post: 628098, member: 1683"] Hans- It takes some time to really get a workable picture of the [i]kind and type[/i] of breeding bull which will satisfy your needs and justify your operation in beef cattle, therefore please take this criticism as helpful and not unkind or too harsh. Your bull should NEVER be used as a herd bull for any period of time, or from which to retain heifers for your Beef Cattle program! One of the most important factors to consider in the selection of a herd bull are the "Functional Traits" he possesses, and that is AFTER the Genetics and General Phenotype of the animal himself. The Phenotype is what the animal "LOOKS LIKE", and the traits and characteristics that appear from observing him, or 'Eye-balling" him, with specific points to consider in the analysis. There are many different sources at your disposal on the Internet to help you with the rather intricate "selection" processes involved in deciding what one should look for in the extremely important process of "Herd Bull Selection" One example would be to log onto "Dogpile.com", or one of several [Search] Engines and type "Beef Bull Selection" in the box. You will be inundated with information with which you can study and educate yourself regarding beef cattle analysis. Getting back to your bull and some specifics concerning him. Starting at his feet and legs, he has weak pasterns (flattened feet with his weight on his 'heels'), he is sickle-hocked and stands "camped-under" with his entire hind leg structure positioned forward under his body instead of his legs positioned "on the corners" of his body to support his weight (not only when he is standing on all four feet, but PARTICULARLY when he is placing his weight on his hind legs when mounting a cow during breeding). This "Functional" trait will dictate that he will "break down" sooner than he should, perhaps in only one breeding season, and even possibly become what is termed "Stifled", which means his stifle joint breaking down, (Bad Knees) precluding his ability to mount a cow and making him worthless as a breeder. The stifle joint is the knee-like structure just above the hock of a four-legged animal. It is an inherited characteristic, which is one reason you don't want to retain heifers as herd replacements, for as cows, they can't carry calves successfully for the number of years required to justify them as breeding animals. He also has a sloping rump, instead of having a rump that is more level and therefore containing muscle (rump roasts), weak hind quarters (lacking adequate muscle). One rather positive physical characteristic of note is, he has a reasonably deep heart girth (that area from his back to his chest floor just behind his front legs) which indicates some volume of thickness of body in proportion to his overall size, which is an indication of how his female calves could possess enough body capacity to carry progeny. But we have already precluded that desirability because of his passing on his terrible feet and legs to his offspring. But that trait is important for you to keep in mind when selecting both bulls and cows in the future. This physical analysis is presented without knowing his Genotype, or the genetics that he will pass onto his progeny relating to Growth, Maternal, Carcass, and the very important Expected Progeny Differences (EPD's) necessary to be able to expect his offspring to be capable of making you a profit in a business enterprise, OR, prevent you from experiencing high expenses if this is only a hobby for you. The activity of raising beef cattle is not inexpensive, and your seedstock should be able to make you a reasonable return on your investment in order to be justified in doing the activity in the first place! I hope that this will be some help to you in understanding what you have in this bull, and how you may be able to improve your status in the future. DOC HARRIS [/QUOTE]
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