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Heifer Retention ?
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<blockquote data-quote="simme" data-source="post: 1799952" data-attributes="member: 40418"><p>For those who would never use a terminal bull - I agree if you run all your cows together and retain replacements. But for a person that has multiple herds, what would be the problem with separating by type? A herd of balanced cows with good maternal traits (longevity, good udders, milk, good mothers, good growth, good disposition, etc) and use a balanced bull with similar qualities. Good growth and good maternal. Retain replacements from that group. </p><p></p><p>Other group of cows that have good growth but might not be quite as good as the first herd as far as maternal traits. (Or maybe they are identical to the first herd because all the replacements developed well and made top cows.) But use a very high growth bull on that second group without regard for milk, udder quality, disposition, longevity, and other maternal traits. Higher growth than that maternal bull. Maximize pounds (or maybe carcass traits depending on when and how they will be marketed). Sell every calf from that group. Who cares if they can't calve, won't milk, crippled at 2 years, won't let you tag their calf, will abandon their calf, etc. Because they will be slaughtered and sold by the pound.</p><p></p><p>Another way to ask the question - if one herd will produce sufficient quantity of replacements, why sacrifice any pounds on the calves in that second herd that will not be used for replacements? If the answer is that there is not a bull to be found with higher growth than your balanced maternal bull, then congratulations on that success. But are you sure?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="simme, post: 1799952, member: 40418"] For those who would never use a terminal bull - I agree if you run all your cows together and retain replacements. But for a person that has multiple herds, what would be the problem with separating by type? A herd of balanced cows with good maternal traits (longevity, good udders, milk, good mothers, good growth, good disposition, etc) and use a balanced bull with similar qualities. Good growth and good maternal. Retain replacements from that group. Other group of cows that have good growth but might not be quite as good as the first herd as far as maternal traits. (Or maybe they are identical to the first herd because all the replacements developed well and made top cows.) But use a very high growth bull on that second group without regard for milk, udder quality, disposition, longevity, and other maternal traits. Higher growth than that maternal bull. Maximize pounds (or maybe carcass traits depending on when and how they will be marketed). Sell every calf from that group. Who cares if they can't calve, won't milk, crippled at 2 years, won't let you tag their calf, will abandon their calf, etc. Because they will be slaughtered and sold by the pound. Another way to ask the question - if one herd will produce sufficient quantity of replacements, why sacrifice any pounds on the calves in that second herd that will not be used for replacements? If the answer is that there is not a bull to be found with higher growth than your balanced maternal bull, then congratulations on that success. But are you sure? [/QUOTE]
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