Hereford bull pics to choose from

[ccr]

We are going to look at a couple of bulls and pick one out this weekend.

We’ve had cattle for a while and bought several bulls in the past, but I don’t necessarily know what to look for other than muscle, feet, and disposition. The other day in another post someone said they could tell about calving ease, milk, and something else from a picture. So any thoughts would be appreciated.

These bulls will be used on 7 red angus cows, 2 red heifers, and 2 Simmental cows. They are yearlings bulls now and we will not be breeding with them until the first of December. They are registered polled Herefords, but do not have epd’s. My understanding is AHA does not show epd’s on cattle from a pedigree breeder.

#806 dob 3/21/2018, bw 68#, ww 548#
[image] [/image]

#811 dob 6/01/2018, bw 69#, ww 548#
[image] [/image]
Don’t know if you tell much from these pictures, but thanks for looking.

 

[Ky hills]

I like things about both of them. I don't know much at all about Hereford pedigrees, just going on phenotype, I would guess the second bull to have a little more frame and possibly be more of a calving ease bull. He also looks to me to be more of a traditional Hereford marked calf. The first calf is nice and thick made, a lot of folks would like him having more red.
I believe all and all I prefer the second one.

 

[Hippie Rancher]

I like things about both of them. I don't know much at all about Hereford pedigrees, just going on phenotype, I would guess the second bull to have a little more frame and possibly be more of a calving ease bull. He also looks to me to be more of a traditional Hereford marked calf. The first calf is nice and thick made, a lot of folks would like him having more red.
I believe all and all I prefer the second one.

I agree, except I would prefer that he had horns.

 

[u4411clb]

I like the 2nd one better. But it is only one picture.

 

[wbvs58]

I like them both but the first one certainly caught my eye, seems to be very compact with lots of muscle and good angles in his legs.

Ken

 

[Ebenezer]

Might be the camera angle but are both sporting skewed scrotums?

 

[Son of Butch]

NUTS always look for large well portioned testicles. In addition to SC ask to see the semen mobility scores from their Breeding Soundness Exam. Both will be in the Vet report on each bull tested.

(I like Herefords with eye pigmentation.)

p.s.
Ask to see the dams when you visit.

 

[Davemk]

If I have to buy based on these pictures it would be the 2nd bull. I would not save heifers from either one.

 

[Son of Butch]

I understand when working with just a dozen commercial cows $$$ are a huge consideration.
IF the dam's udders are sound, I would not fault you for keeping best daughters from your best cows
but I'd pass on replacements from the 2 red heifers.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

"My understanding is AHA does not show epd’s on cattle from a pedigree breeder. " :shock: I know nothing about AHA, but that does not make any sense to me?????

Before anyone recommends either bull, we should know what your goals are? Feedlot cattle, replacements??

With their numbers, both should be easy calving. What heifer shouldn't be able to have a 60+ BW calf????
Going strictly by the pic, the 1st bull appears to be the meat wagon. You definitely want to look at dams udders if you want to keep replacements.

 

[ccr]

Might be the camera angle but are both sporting skewed scrotums?

Looks like one is bigger than the other on both bulls. If so what does that indicate?

 

[ccr]

If I have to buy based on these pictures it would be the 2nd bull. I would not save heifers from either one.

Thanks Davemk. Why would you not save heifers from these two?

 

[ccr]

I understand when working with just a dozen commercial cows $$$ are a huge consideration.
IF the dam's udders are sound, I would not fault you for keeping best daughters from your best cows
but I'd pass on replacements from the 2 red heifers.

I appreciate the comments. Would you pass on replacements from the heifers because of being their 1st calf?

 

[ccr]

"My understanding is AHA does not show epd’s on cattle from a pedigree breeder. " :shock: I know nothing about AHA, but that does not make any sense to me?????

Before anyone recommends either bull, we should know what your goals are? Feedlot cattle, replacements??

With their numbers, both should be easy calving. What heifer shouldn't be able to have a 60+ BW calf????
Going strictly by the pic, the 1st bull appears to be the meat wagon. You definitely want to look at dams udders if you want to keep replacements.

Jeanne the calves would be feedlot and maybe replacement heifers.

The AHA pedigree breeder rules make no sense to me either. The total performance records breeders do have their epd's displayed on the certificate but my understanding is that the birthweight is not a requirement to submit for registration (that makes no sense to me either). I read thru the rules yesterday, but I might not have read them right.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Of the 2 ""from pictures"" I like the stout masculine look of the first one.hes got the look.with cross breeding he would be my choice..

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Might be the camera angle but are both sporting skewed scrotums?

Looks like one is bigger than the other on both bulls. If so what does that indicate?

It's correlated to Udder quality and stucture on replacement..fixed it ....I hope :cowboy:

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Might be the camera angle but are both sporting skewed scrotums?

Looks like one is bigger than the other on both bulls. If so what does that indicate?

It's correlated to Udder quality and conformation on replacement..

:clap: :lol: :lol:

 

[Ebenezer]

Might be the camera angle but are both sporting skewed scrotums?

Looks like one is bigger than the other on both bulls. If so what does that indicate?

It indicates that I would not be interested. I think it is a trait that I do not want to breed into a herd.

 

[Allenw]

The second one has more Hereford breed characteristics then the first one.

My hats off to all of you who can judge the differences between the bulls from the pics shown.

 

[Son of Butch]

I understand when working with just a dozen commercial cows $$$ are a huge consideration.
IF the dam's udders are sound, I would not fault you for keeping best daughters from your
best cows, but I'd pass on replacements from the 2 red heifers.

I appreciate the comments.
Would you pass on replacements from the heifers because of being their 1st calf?

Not necessarily. Why I said it in this case.
A color description such as red/black heifer says to me crossbred of unknown heritage.
A breed specific description such as red angus to me says commercial cow with identifying traits close to the standards of the purebred breed.

I would keep a good looking replacement from a good 1st calf heifer over a poor old cow's calf.
After all the best cow in your herd was once a 1st calfer and in all likely-hood your best 2 yr old
even if you were unaware. But it carries more risk as sometimes you'll get fooled.

Bought a red angus x shorthorn that I loved as a 2 yr old, but after 3 calves her udder dropped
and her teats ballooned. Came to find out her shorthorn mother was also the same way.
At first I was disappointed she always had bull calves, now I'm glad.