Good Beginner Breed??

[ND_Vicxen]

Hey there! :wave:
The hubby and I will finally be able to move out to the farm this spring/summer and after everything is finished out there (meaning the house getting finished) I could look into getting some cattle. My relatives have always had cattle and got to help with chores when I got to visit them. Use to work at a vet clinic and helped test bulls and run cows through the chutes, so not a total beginner but def have LOTS to learn. My husband's family use to run cattle when he was in high school, so I wouldn't be totally alone doing this. I will be doing most of the handling and taking care of them. I need help learning about good beginner breeds. Ive heard that miniature herefords are great, the size would be very beneficiary! But not sure if I would need to go to the minis to get a good tempered cattle?? :???: I know that even though a breed may be known for his docility there will always be a few sticklers in the group ;-) Also i live in western North Dakota so our winters can be extremely cold! Thanks for you're time and I'm anxious to see what you all recommend!! :cboy:

 

[ALACOWMAN]

if i were in the north west,,, id be raising hereford or angus, black or reds

 

[ND_Vicxen]

if i were in the north west,,, id be raising hereford or angus, black or reds

Besides physical appearance what are the difference between Herefords and angus? Pros and cons?

 

[pdfangus]

first define some goals of what you want to do with the cattle and how you expect to manage and market them.
then find cattle that will help you achieve those goals.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

first define some goals of what you want to do with the cattle and how you expect to manage and market them.
then find cattle that will help you achieve those goals.

sounds like you'r describing black baldies :cowboy:

 

[pdfangus]

they could do worse ....

But really I like to see folks give it some thought before the lay down the cash and unload the stock.

not much use starting with hostein heifers only to discover that you have to have belgain blues.

those who want unusual looks might need a scotch highland or a galloway.

those black baldies are good cattle but what is the plan for replacing them ?

dairy or beef.....
AI or bull....
stockers or brood cows....
year round or seasonal.....
profit motive or hobby.....
future aspirations....
kids to show livestock....
lots of things can be considered and discussed before starting out may make life easier down the road.

 

[novatech]

Anybody going into the cow business ought to start with a bunch of F1 Brangus or Braford. After they learn how to handle them everything else will be down hill. :lol2:

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Anybody going into the cow business ought to start with a bunch of F1 Brangus or Braford. After they learn how to handle them everything else will be down hill. :lol2:

yep i cut my teeth on brahman F1's.................................and broke a few :cowboy:

 

[ALACOWMAN]

if i were in the north west,,, id be raising hereford or angus, black or reds

Besides physical appearance what are the difference between Herefords and angus? Pros and cons?

read knersies poll on hereford cattle, you'll see the major con's on them from a breeder perspective, truthfully its hard not to like hereford cattle ,i dont care who you are.. though they have had a few correctable problems they are docile, easy keeping. are great range cattle won't give any con's on angus im not a authority on em just my own experiance with them which aint been very long

 

[Jake]

Go for a drive around your area and look at what other people are raising. Angus are most likely going to dominate the area with herefords being dotted across the landscape.

Like said before identify some goals for the herd and then combine them with what others in the area are doing.

 

[bigbull338]

since your just getting back into cattle you dont need the tempermental breeds or crossbreeds.an you just cant beat herefords for being gentle.but mond you theres also some wild highstrung herefords.but thats due mostly to the way they are handled an treated.

 

[piedmontese]

saler is an easy breed.they do well on there own.heifers and cows alike calve easily and they maintain condition well.would be great in your cold climate as well.very hardy and great legs.i have not found a negative with mine yet.some say they can be wild but i sure aint seen it.grow fast and milk alot more than a hereford or angus but there udders never get too big or low to the ground.

 

[3waycross]

Take a run around where you are going to live. You will see a lot of Herf, more Angus and most likely in that country a fair share of Charolais and some Gelbvieh. Ask the neighbors what works for them and LISTEN to what they tell you. Then find some HONEST old fart and have him help you pick out a few cows to play with that won' t hurt you physically or financially.my :2cents: worth.

 

[robert]

good advice 3way, look local (within 100mi or so) go find some cattle you like the look of.

 

[Northern Rancher]

Lots of good cattle in your neck of the woods-are you around Williston?

 

[ND_Vicxen]

they could do worse ....

But really I like to see folks give it some thought before the lay down the cash and unload the stock.

not much use starting with hostein heifers only to discover that you have to have belgain blues.

those who want unusual looks might need a scotch highland or a galloway.

those black baldies are good cattle but what is the plan for replacing them ?

dairy or beef.....
AI or bull....
stockers or brood cows....
year round or seasonal.....
profit motive or hobby....
future aspirations...
kids to show livestock....
lots of things can be considered and discussed before starting out may make life easier down theroad.

Oofdah! Lots of questions for me! :mrgreen:
Beef
Bull but would like to eventually AI
I guess you would need to explain stockers and brood cows for me :???:
Year round but never thought of seasonal
Profit motive
And yes if my son will be interested in showing when gets abit older :cboy:

 

[ND_Vicxen]

Lots of good cattle in your neck of the woods-are you around Williston?

Yep I sure am!! :cboy:

 

[ND_Vicxen]

I am definitely in angus country! Have seen charlois and limosoin(sp), not much Herefords and have seen belted galloways.

 

[pdfangus]

well the questions you need to answer may be very different but my point is establish some goals and a plan for what you expect to accomplish.
I work in conservation and something i ask people all the time is what is the vision for ten years down the road.
amazingly very few have a vision past next year or two.
take a lot of time figuring out the plan before you give in to the desire to have a cow...any cow.
lots of good advice has been given in this thread.
find a local mentor who actually knows something and whom you can trust is good advice.
recognize that people in agriculture are notorious for their unwillingness to change anything or accept new ways. Newer is not always better....but sometimes it is and being tradition bound is sometimes just being bound.

Read this site daily.
check out some other cattle boards and read them daily.
there is a lot to learn from these folks.
I been in livestock all my life and I still can learn something almost every day if I keep my mind open.

 

[Northern Rancher]

I have good friends in Plentywood so have travelled your neck of the woods quite a bit. Was supposed to be headed there today but it's -40 here again lol.