?Looks nice, except he could drink milk out of a pop bottle.
A home raised commercial Angus bull.Nice looking calf. Who is he aired by?
His nose looks very long and narrow. (to my eye, anyway. It could just be the photo.)
Genetics aside, the brown (reddish) coloring may be a lack of iodine indication.This a 5 month old calf out of a 2 yr old first calf heifer. Both parents and grandparents are early and slick shedders so figuring he will loose that brown by next spring.
His dam is a calf from one of our old cows that was a regular producer.
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Thanks Jeanne SV! I said iodine and was thinking copper. I was multitasking at walking and chewing gum! LVRThe reddish color is quite common. Not an issue at all to me. I have lots of them. "IF" you have a herd of cows with reddish tinge - then I would worry about lack of proper nutrients. And I think it is lack of copper that causes the reddish tinge.
His sire's calves including him were very small even for first calf heifers. We don't weigh calves Several of them were born in winter weather, and I carried a couple to the house to warm up, this one included. Perhaps a little more than a 50 feed sack but close. His sire is very moderate framed, a little too much so, but his calves are consistent and the heifers look to be very nice though still young. My thinking was that maybe a son from a cow with a little more frame might be good.He looks good. What is his BW? and Dam's BW? BW in your own environment will help you answer your question about using on heifers.
As far as his phenotype, his long (not wide) face is a plus. He has nice flat shoulders. To me, he "appears" to be the right type to use on heifers - if you only have phenotype to go by.
I can't get there from here. Besides the feminine head he has a lack of muscle going down into the hock. I wouldn't expect him to throw calves with good conformation unless the cow could overcome what he brings to the table.This a 5 month old calf out of a 2 yr old first calf heifer. Both parents and grandparents are early and slick shedders so figuring he will loose that brown by next spring.
His dam is a calf from one of our old cows that was a regular producer.
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Well I've had a very hard time getting honest opinions from people when they are asked, even from strangers. I took a chance in expressing an honest opinion so I really appreciate that you weren't offended or defensive. That is rare too, and something to be appreciated. So thank you for that.@Travlr that was my reasoning for making the post to get others ideas. This one does not impress me greatly as an individual either, but we like to keep a spare or two around just in case they are needed. Will likely steer him the next time they are up.
I'm a pretty hard critic of my cattle, he had some things going for him as far as the cows in his background on both sides and he is black is why he made consideration this far.
I guess I did word it in a vague way. A lot of folks will give an opinion regardless.I agree with Travlr - but you weren't asking what we thought about the bull - only if he was a heifer bull prospect.
I've been at this cattle thing for quite a while, but admittedly I'm still learning, and I realize that there is still much I don't know. I have an idea in my head of what I want in a cow or bull. Sometimes I will miss something.Well I've had a very hard time getting honest opinions from people when they are asked, even from strangers. I took a chance in expressing an honest opinion so I really appreciate that you weren't offended or defensive. That is rare too, and something to be appreciated. So thank you for that.