Hereford bulls in fescue country
- Thread starter gb1911
- Start date
vontrapp1
Active member
Well those lines have been known to work good on fescue mostly because they were developed at least in part on fescue. However, you have another factor to consider which is most hereford lines will do fine on fescue if they have acclimated to fescue as a main forage. So if you are looking for stock I would not only focus on the line but look for a breeder who is close to your location that runs in similar conditions. Otherwise you could bring them in from far away but they may need as much as a year to adjust to the new diet. We have developed a herd of L1 Herefords that do great on fescue but they were raised on it.
mrvictordomino
Well-known member
The Victor Domino line of Polled Heredords works well on fescue grass.
This line was developed in the south and are very slick haired. You need
cattle to be able to shed off during the hot, humid, summer months.
Our herd is straight bred Victor Domino and has been developed on fescue
for over thirty years. Below is a picture of last years bull crop on fescue/clover
pastures.
url=http://ranchers.net/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/10176]
[/url]
This line was developed in the south and are very slick haired. You need
cattle to be able to shed off during the hot, humid, summer months.
Our herd is straight bred Victor Domino and has been developed on fescue
for over thirty years. Below is a picture of last years bull crop on fescue/clover
pastures.
url=http://ranchers.net/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/10176]
Red Bull Breeder
Well-known member
Most cattle of any breed will have a hard time if they have never been on fescue pastures. Buy a bull from your area that has been raised on fescue.
kenny thomas
Well-known member
Red Bull Breeder":3932jon3 said:
Agree.
Yup and not supplemented very much that would dilute the fescue.kenny thomas":2iu37g5g said:
We brought in a cow calf pair and open cow and a bred heifer that had been on fescue in TN. None of them have slicked out this year but they're gaining condition. They've been here since November.
mrvictordomino
Well-known member
There are certain bloodlines within most breeds that shed better than others. I ran a Red Angus herd for ten yearsdun":3cpwbjuo said:
on the side and hair coats was part of the selection criteria. There is a big difference within most breeds.
It is also true that supplementation will help out. Our bulls did have supplements on pasture. To get a true impression
you just need to visit and look at the cow herd and see how they are handling the fescue pastures before making
your selections.
mrvictordomino
Well-known member
Fescue pasture is fairly nutritious in the spring with the early growthdun":wg9x6n4m said:
and in the fall after several frosts if you have it stockpiled. In the summer
I have heard it said that it takes about as much energy to digest as the cattle
can get from it. I also have had it discribed as like a low grade infection where
the body temperature actually increases on animals not acclimated to it. Ever
heard of that dun? I know that I had some Red Angus delivered here from
Buffalo Creek Red Angus in WY that had a terrible first summer here, stayed in
the shade and ponds every chance they could get. (Will never do that again)
Just the opposite when moving cattle from fescue based pastures, they will
most always perform better. That's why I like having this herd developed
on this grass and when moved to another part of the country they do very well.
A major benefit of fescue grass is the ability to prevent soil erosion. We would be
in big trouble here if not for this benefit. It also is very drought tolerant, lack of rain
will not phase it. Will come back after the worst of droughts.
DOC HARRIS
Well-known member
1wlimo-dun":2gkyddcp said:
This answers to your question by dun, and mrvictordomino are shining examples of why "multiple trait selections" are critical in the management of ones' beef herd! EPD's are important, Phenotype is equally as important, as is understanding functional characteristics in the overall considerations of selecting seedstock. However, understanding other seemingly insignificant factors, such as the kind and type of Forage and nutritional feeds that your cattle consume, will be a deciding factor at the end of your fiscal year as to whether you are making a profit to justify your efforts, or just spinning your wheels.
I would suggest that you log onto the Internet(www. Dogpile.com) and SEARCH " Endophyte Fescue" (without the quotes). It may change your entire feed crop management protocols!
DOC HARRIS
thanks for all the input. I know all too well about the adaptation problems. I guess my topic should have asked for herds in this area.
mrvictordomino, good looking bunch of bulls. I am not a hereford expert so forgive a dumb question, but from the distance of the photo it looks like alot of white around the eyes. Will that cause cancer eye and pink eye trouble?
mrvictordomino, good looking bunch of bulls. I am not a hereford expert so forgive a dumb question, but from the distance of the photo it looks like alot of white around the eyes. Will that cause cancer eye and pink eye trouble?
That is the fescue toxicity caused by the endophyte in KY31. It's the endophyte that helps it to persist so well but in the summer the toxicity causes "summer slump". That's why it needs to be planted with something else (like clover) to help dilute the endophyte and decrease it's affects. Been cussed and discussed on these boards over and over for years. If you're in endophyte fescue country to only get stock from others that have the same thing. Even then if they move here from another area where they have been on endophyte it still takes them a year to 3 years to turn around and really do their best.mrvictordomino":1twp9pse said:
In the winter it decreases the blood flow to extemites and can cause sloughing of hooves and tails.
polledherefordsonly
Member
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well P606 would be my logical answer but his BW epd is high. So I would have to say if his progeny are nice the lowest birth, biggest growth numbered son of him would be my pick. Top numbered one I've ever found through research would be a bull in Tennessee at Candy Meadow Farms. His picture looks awesome in there latest catalog. CS CMF P606 MOJO U408 is his name. After reading the JWR sale results those P606s were well accepted. He is out of a Prince Victor 71I cow and they sold pretty good as well. Both are longterm bulls I think and I may see if I can get some semen to use that bull in my small herd to put back some daughters. Read were his first son in CMF bull sale sold 1/2 interest for $5000 to top the sale all 3 breeds. He was an april calf selling against oct and nov bulls. That says alot. Mojo is 1.0 on BW with a 91 on YW. Excellent ribeye and marbling. His Bw ratio is 100%. WW ratio is 116% and YW ratio is 122%. Anyone know if there is semen available. Cant believe hes not in an AI stud book???
mrvictordomino
Well-known member
From a distance, you really can't see actual eye pigment. We do not havegb1911":67i728c4 said:
many cattle with "Goggle eyes" that would show up from that distance.
I do select for pigmentation as I would think most Hereford breeders do.
I personally have not seen the correlation of pigmented cattle getting
pinkeye less than non pigmented cattle. Ran Red Angus and Herefords
together in bull and heifer groups, have seen the Angus get pinkeye first.
kickinbull
Well-known member
Interesting topic. We dairy, I wonder if buying semen from all over the world might effect cattle like this also. Would offspring from a bull say from Australia not do as good as a bull bought locally?
kenny thomas
Well-known member
With the fescue it is what they eat not the genetics although some genetics might be able to handle it better. I have used semen from several bulls from all over the US and have not seen any difference. It is eating and adapting to the fescue from birth that makes the difference.
Thanks for the info. I did the search and read a lot.
I had thought that I knew a fair bit about grazing, but it just goes to show that for every thing we think we know there is always so much more that we need to learn.
I had thought that I knew a fair bit about grazing, but it just goes to show that for every thing we think we know there is always so much more that we need to learn.
oakcreekfarms
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Call Jernigans
