Kingfisher
Well-known member
Why is eye pigmentation " important" in Herefords? Maybe it is in other breeds but I never see ya'll talk about it much in respect to other breeds. Can someone explain that to me?
Why is eye pigmentation " important" in Herefords?
KNERSIE":mnk89bve said:Why is eye pigmentation " important" in Herefords?
Because it sells bulls like no other trait.
Red Bull Breeder":evnkgsbb said:Or put a red head on them.
i seriously doubt that very much.KNERSIE":3icouoak said:Why is eye pigmentation " important" in Herefords?
Because it sells bulls like no other trait.
piedmontese":zz1w8obk said:i seriously doubt that very much.KNERSIE":zz1w8obk said:Why is eye pigmentation " important" in Herefords?
Because it sells bulls like no other trait.
KNERSIE":3cxmf4ty said:Put 10 hereford bulls in a pen, hand the potential buyer a stack of paper with performance data, scans, EPDs, pedigrees, photos of the dams and sires sit back and observe which bull sells first..... the one with the goggle eyes, regardless of how good or bad the eyes are otherwise.
if their set right and the pattern is right so they dont get irritated and run it will help plentybackhoeboogie":8jl9n2o9 said:After the drought I did not mow the weeds as hard. I was trying to salvage any forage grass left. That was the winter pink eye hit my brangus.
I see cows with "stick tights" or "Beggar's lice" all over their coats and head. It is nothing but a clinging weed seed. It will get all over your pants legs. Cows in pastures choked with weed are very susceptible to them. They are rubbing their heads and eyes on anything they can find. Flies all over them too. Close inspection will find those clinging beggar's lice all over their eyes. We have severe fly problems here too in this climate.
If neighbors are not taking care of their cattle, flies can spread practically everything into your own herd. Eye patterns won't help much.
oakcreekfarms":3lzrtbxc said:Knersie, can't say that is the same on my farm. I don't think my buyers have it in the top 3 traits. Most bulls go straight onto black cows, so they assume all the pigment will pass through that way.
Northern Rancher":2g7ssw53 said:The more I think about it I think eyeset has as much to do with it as anything-I get as much eye trouble in our black cattle as our white faced ones. I agree a heavily pigmented bull does draw the eye but I sure hope it doesn't become the main focus selection-were still dealing with the yellow haired silliness in Canada. There are areas where a Hereford bulls that is a pumpkin yellow shade of red sells for a pretty good premium.
Northern Rancher":13ydklev said:You know as well as I reason has no place in the cattle business lol.