Difference in calves.

[Ky hills]

We often talk about the issue of calving ease bulls vs more growth oriented bulls.
Seems like our fall calves are a good example of the difference in growth.
There is 2-3 weeks age difference between some of the calves between the bulls and some of the black calves are by heifers. There are a couple heifer's calves that actually out performed some of the cows. I attributed that to the heifers being somewhat larger framed.
All red calves except 1 are by a registered Simmental bull (not a calving ease heifer bull).
The black calves and the solid red brindle steer are by a 3/4 Angus bull that is a calving ease bull that consistently sired very small calves from both heifers and cows.
The two larger framed heifers calves are the BWF steer by the roan heifer and the solid red brindle in the middle of the group of red calves. Most of the other black calves are shorter and lighter muscled, in spite of their sire being fairly thick made.
Just thought I would show a side by side comparison. I'm not touting Simmental over Angus but showing the difference of CE vs growth.
It would be interesting to see a side by side comparison of CE Angus sired calves vs non CE high growth Angus bulls, or the same comparison within other breeds too.

 

[Logan52]

Interesting to see a comparison like this, and I am sure pounds are left on the table when using some CE bulls, especially when used on heifers and cows sired by CE bulls. However, the number of variables involved make it hard to put a number on.

 

[Travlr]

Interesting to see a comparison like this, and I am sure pounds are left on the table when using some CE bulls, especially when used on heifers and cows sired by CE bulls. However, the number of variables involved make it hard to put a number on.

Human beings like convenience and safety, that's for sure. But the dollars between the first lightweight calf and the ones that follow from a bull that throws heavier calves have numbers that may mean profit or loss, bacon or beans, paying off the mortgage or losing the farm. Choose wisely Grasshopper...

 

[GoWyo]

Human beings like convenience and safety, that's for sure. But the dollars between the first lightweight calf and the ones that follow from a bull that throws heavier calves have numbers that may mean profit or loss, bacon or beans, paying off the mortgage or losing the farm. Choose wisely Grasshopper...

Last few years haven't paid much for anything over 550# at weaning. Do need to have genetics that will get a 6-7 month old calf into the 5-wt range.

 

[Ky hills]

Last few years haven't paid much for anything over 550# at weaning. Do need to have genetics that will get a 6-7 month old calf into the 5-wt range.

there's a few of those smaller calves that will not probably hit 400# right now only 2 maybe 3 that will be in the 500-550 range.

 

[Ky hills]

I know there are a lot of variables with this group, ie sire breed, genetics, age.
I'd like to see a side by side comparison of same breed, age, similar cow genetics, with different categories of same breed sires.
There's a few calves in the group that kind of blur the lines, but the difference between the bigger and the smaller calves is extreme, and I will add that the Simmental calves are more uniform in size than the others. There's only one Simmental sired calf that is lighter, and he is still looks to me like in line with the biggest of the other calves. His mother is a lighter made lower milking cow.
I believe that the CE bred calves just have a lower ceiling for performance and regardless of milk are only going to grow so much. One calf in particular, is by a heavy milking cow, that calf is fat but no bigger frame than the smallest of the group but will weigh a little more.
We were not intending to use that bull but the Simmental bull had an injury and had to be replaced. Same story different situations with our spring calves. Had another bull injured and used that CE bull again in a pinch. Found another bull late and sold the CE bull. The new bull is also a CE bull but he is a registered Angus and made a little different than the other so hoping for some better quality and consistency from his calves.

 

[bird dog]

CE bulls work well until they run into a low birth weight cow. I bought a nice bred red angus cow out of big outfit that was selling out. She was affordable to me because he has a spot in one eye. She is a about a 1350 lb cow but her calf may have weighed 50 lbs. I thought, well let me try my medium CE bull on her. The next calf was probably 55 lbs.

They grow out well but are definitely 50 plus lbs lighter at weaning.

 

[elkwc]

We have had similar results. Most of our calves are Angus sired. We will have 20-25 head of black baldies. Some of our cows have Simmental and Gelveigh in there background. We use 1-2 Hereford bulls every year. Regardless of breed influence we have found a 60-70 lb calf never catches a 80-90 lb calf. Our goal is a steer over 700 lbs at 7-8 months on Mother's milk and grass. No creep. This allows us more flexibility when we sell. This year in March we had a major fire. Weaned fall calves born late October to early December. Steers weighed 560 with no creep. Heifers just over 500. Slow growth calves wouldn't have weighed that. I will try too get side by side pictures in the future. It is evident from birth. Our calves sired by our 6 mature frame or more sires will weigh more and do it more efficiently.

 

[wbvs58]

My heifers can usually raise a 300kg calf with a moderate BW bull but if combined with a specialty low BW bull they struggle a bit to hit the target weight. Older cows though can usually deal with a low BW bull a lot better.

Ken