Daughter buys cow/calf

[MistyMorning]

Good Morning all. Cold one here, got down to 29 last night! Time to get out the long johns.

My daughter just purchased a 7/8th simmental 1/8 angus cow with a may calf at side. The calf came from a purbred angus. We are now looking into what to breed the cow back to. Any thoughts on what would make a good second calf from this cow?

Thanks for any input.

Have a great day!

MM

 

[flaboy?]

If it were me it would be either another angus or a Hereford bull.

 

[Outrigger2]

i agree with baxter, gelbvieh

 

[HFSimmOH]

First thing is that the cow should already be bred back, your losing time fast. Second I would breed it Simmental, it would a purebred and she could show it or what ever but it depends on what her plans are for the cow. I wouldn't add in a third breed unless your plans are purely commercial because thats all your going to get.
Who is the cow out of?

 

[MistyMorning]

Thanks for the input guys. Just a couple of things. First they are not on site until this weekend. I stopped over to the guys place and helped him drench them yesterday. The calf is a really nice big girl and will be used as a replacement(she comes from a bull at the local research station.) That being said we don't want a summer calf so we have a little time here to do some research on breeds. Secondly, the next calf will be for purely commercial reasons. That being said I wonder why you guys suggested the breeds you did. If you can,please give me some more info on why you suggested the breeds that you did, now knowing this calf will be commercial.

Thanks for you time

MM

 

[MistyMorning]

We sure had an exciting weekend here. My daughters cow/calf came on sunday. She was so excited, she ran up and down the driveway so many times waiting for the truck. Every sound was a trailer! It was so great to see the look in her eye when the hauler (who is a local mentor) looked at her and told her she got one very fine pair. He said they would do well at any fair and the calf could be a real champion. We knew these were good cattle (brought two neigbors with lots of experience to see them before purcahsing and spoke at length with the vet who did the A.I.) but to hear it from this guy just settled everyones jitters! Personaly don't want to do the show thing, but we will see how things go. Was a real struggle to get that kid off to school today!

 

[HFSimmOH]

Let me explain my response a little bit more and why I say to stick with simmental. If the cow is a cross of simmental and angus then my experience has showed me that your most predictable calf is going to be from another bull of those breeds, I am a big supporter of the F1 type crosses (two breeds). The other reason that I suggest this is because this will be the first calf that you will see born from her so I would say don't push the envelope on calving ease till you learn a little more, so that for me would eliminate all shorthorn, maine, and club calf bulls because the last thing you want to do is cut that cow open to get a 120lbs calf out. Really it is your call with the help of your breeder but I would stay simmental, angus, or red angus (which make better calves then black angus, ie. less chance of a funnel butt)

 

[CPL]

Really it is your call with the help of your breeder but I would stay simmental, angus, or red angus (which make better calves then black angus, ie. less chance of a funnel butt)

I've seen some weak muscled simmis running around. Honestly it makes no difference what breed the bull is you breed her to. However, you have a better chance of the calf selling well if its black. Just get her bred to a solid bull that your not going to have to pull a 100 + pound calf from.

With that said, I second flaboy's Hereford bull comment ;-)

 

[MistyMorning]

Thanks you guys for the input, just a couple of questions, if we breed her to a simmental, wouldn't we be losing the crossbred vigor? I hear the term funnel butt thrown around on this forum a lot, but haven't heard a definition of what that means. Someone care to enlighten me! Last question, I know next to nothing about red angus, what are the differences between them and blacks? Can you tell I am a newbie! ;-)

Really, thanks so much for your input I really do appreciate it.

 

[dun]

I know next to nothing about red angus, what are the differences between them and blacks?

The amin and biggest diference is color. Red Angus didn;t chase the size fads that the blacks did but there are still some reds that are too large framed. The gene pool of reds is consideeerably smaller then blacks, but it's plenty deep enough if you stay away from the bull of the month mentality.

 

[rockridgecattle]

now i'm stumped, "bull of the month mentality"? :oops:
oh we have some simX. Crossed one or more of herford, char, hoistein(sp), angus. We breed them black or red angus and we like them.

 

[dun]

now i'm stumped, "bull of the month mentality"? :oops:
oh we have some simX. Crossed one or more of herford, char, hoistein(sp), angus. We breed them black or red angus and we like them.

The bull of the month is whatever bull has started getting the most publicity in the most recent journals. There are folks that have no real goals in mind so they think the newest greatest bull is the silver bullet.

 

[CowpokeJ]

I'm with Dun, RA.

 

[CowCop]

~

Congratulations on your new additions~!!
You can't go wrong with Simmentals.
Every British breed of bull compliments them.

Last years calves, here, were out of Simmental cows bred to Reg Black Angus.

Very Good calves.

This years calves were sired by a Reg Hereford.

Fabulous calves.

My experience;
If you want to grow your herd, breed your Simmental cow to a good reg Simmental bull and keep ALL the heifers. Breed those heifers back to a Angus or Hereford bull for some incredible hybred vigor.

Lets see some photos of your new cow & calf.

 

[MistyMorning]

Thanks all for the feedback. I really do appreciate it. Its my policy to ask a lot of questions, here, from my neighbors and my vet and read everything I can get my hands on. The cow/calf are settling in just fine. My husbands camera isn't working very well right now, but when it is I'll have him take some pictures(he can figure out how to get it on this forum!) I really do thank all of you for your time and input. :D

 

[mnmtranching]

MM, Congrats on the pair, to your daughter and you. Show pics when you can.

As far as what to breed the cow to next. What color is she?
If she is dark I would breed her BA.

If she is red, why not got with RA.
If she is red and white, why not go with Charolais?

As far as "funnel butts" don't waste your time.

 

[rouxshortorn]

glad to here your daughter getting into cattle, but was wondering what HFSimmOH reply about not using shorthorn for. i own shorthorn and never had to pull one yet after 13 yrs. and 20 something yrs. with my grand father and i beleive on a commercial end of the business shorthorns are being used more everyday for their cross vigor no matter which you use good luck and happy farming