Heifer calves

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I luv herfrds

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Here is one of our calves. This calf was almost one of the last calves born and was pretty small. She sure surprised us by growing so well. I wish she had a better frame and her top line was more even, but other then that she looks pretty good.

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This is one of our first calves born and I think she is the best of the bunch. Only thing I would change about her is her top line.
From one of the cousin's discount bull's we got in our herd that sway in the back instead of a flat back, got a better bull and will try to change that problem.
 
The first one would be my pick. She looks pretty good to me and I would have her in my herd any day If I bred herefords.
You obviously have various shades of red in your breed too ?
 
redpoll52 alot of the breeders like to have more yellow in their herd. We like the dark red.

nap they are one big bunch of spoiled cows. :lol2: :lol2: :nod: :nod: :lol2:
Rather intersting bunch of cows. After they calve they look terrible, but those pics were taken about 2 weeks ago and they condition back rather nicely. We only leave the calves on them for 6 months.
They are eating on the first bale of this fall. We start the calves on it with the cows out in the pasture, some guys have told us that it is a waste, but the calves start on feed in a corral much better. I just fed them bale #5 this morning. Calves were right in there eating with the cows.
 
Im a dark red person myself too. In Red Polls we have got quite a variation in color. Some say it's lacking minerals and others say they are just like that. Could be both I think.

Its interesting you say some breeders want more yellow. Is it not about finding a balance that you preferr as individual breeders? I guess there is more to it than that.

I don't know anything about hereford genetics or pedigrees though
 
redpoll52 alot of the breeders like to have more yellow in their herd. We like the dark red.
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I thought the mellow yellow mentality didn't survive the transition from dinks to dinosaurs?

Colour really is a non-issue in my opinion, I prefer the lighter reds and from my experience as a whole you tend to get a better coat quality for the hotter climates out of the yellow and lighter reds. I see more coarse curly coats in the really dark cherry reds than in the lighter shades of red over here, we need a slicker shorter coated animal that sheds their winter hair early and in my herd the lighter shades seems to meet my requirements more often.

The trend seems to be going towards the dark cherry reds, especially in the showring, but the showring has always been the downfall of the hereford breed in the past, hope they don't become completely silly about coat colour as well. We had an Australian judge here for the 2005 Nationals and even though he had been briefed what we require and select for he still placed darker animals infront of lighter shades of reds of higher quality. It made a mockery of the national show and has hurt the opinion of the breed in the eyes of many onlookers.

Whatever your personal preference, don't fail to see the forest for all the trees, select quality animals based on functional and phenotypic traits first before looking at fancy points like the shade of red.
 
I luv herfrds":2q1gizk5 said:
redpoll52 alot of the breeders like to have more yellow in their herd. We like the dark red.

nap they are one big bunch of spoiled cows. :lol2: :lol2: :nod: :nod: :lol2:
Rather intersting bunch of cows. After they calve they look terrible, but those pics were taken about 2 weeks ago and they condition back rather nicely. We only leave the calves on them for 6 months.
They are eating on the first bale of this fall. We start the calves on it with the cows out in the pasture, some guys have told us that it is a waste, but the calves start on feed in a corral much better. I just fed them bale #5 this morning. Calves were right in there eating with the cows.
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I only see a few patches of green grass around there, no wonder you are feeding hay now. Havent had any snows yet have ya?
Those are some really good lookin calves.
 
Actually we have had a couple of rain storms that had some of the white stuff in them.
They are still eating pretty well on the pasture.
can hardly wait til next month when we find out their weight.
 

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