Hereford Bulls on Angus heifers

[customcattle]

I am wondering if anybody can give me some insight on putting Hereford Bulls on heifers. In the past we have run a mostly straight black herd, and always bred to Angus bulls, but have previously been keeping more heifers back. We keep what we need for replacements and sell whatever is left as bred heifers. I have been thinking for the last year or so about putting more maternal traits into our herd, and I really like the way the black baldy's perform, their milking abilities, and to be honest they don't want to eat me when I tag their calves. I am pretty sure that we are going to AI our cows to a Hereford bull this year. I'm not sure what to do with heifers as we probably won't keep replacements off of those first calvers anyways.
I'm just wanting some opinions on breeding (mostly) Angus heifers to a Hereford. I don't have much experience with Hereford bulls and don't know what to expect as far as birth weights, calving ease, and other general performance on the calves out of the heifers. Any input is appreciated.
Thanks a bunch.

 

[Son of Butch]

Hereford average 2.7 lbs heavier birth weights than angus.
Heterosis also increases birth weights, but I don't know by how much.
When breeding angus heifers to a Hereford bull, most will only do it with a bull Proven to be calving ease.
I tried to do a quick search on birth weight heterosis, didn't find what I was looking for, but came across this tidbit.
In mouth scores Crossbred cows had a 30% advantage in tooth retention and tooth size over straight bred cows.

 

[dun]

Our heifers have a yearling pelvic of a minimum of 161 cm. We use R294 from ABS on them with no problems

 

[customcattle]

Our heifers have a yearling pelvic of a minimum of 161 cm. We use R294 from ABS on them with no problems

I just looked at him on the ABS website. What are his calves like?

 

[True Grit Farms]

I am pretty sure that we are going to AI our cows to a Hereford bull this year. I'm not sure what to do with heifers as we probably won't keep replacements off of those first calvers anyways. 

Seems to me with what you said there, just AI to the heifers to a low BW Angus bull and don't worry about it.

 

[dun]

If a heifer is good enough to keep as a breeder, with proper bull selection there is no reason to not keep heifers from them.

 

[Black and Good]

Victor 719T Polled and Sensation Horned both are at Genex. B&G

 

[elkwc]

3027 or one of his sons. Sensation is a good choice if you don' use 3027. I'm going to use 3027. As one breeder who has used him on heifers and cows told me he is the real deal. Real maternal in case you decide to keep his daughters.

 

[customcattle]

So I have been looking at the ABS website and was wondering if any of you have heard of Progress? The link below takes you to his EPD's on their website.

http://abs-bs.absglobal.com/beef/herefo ... o=29HP0901

 

[Son of Butch]

....we run a mostly straight black herd,
We keep what we need for replacements and sell whatever is left as bred heifers. I have been thinking for the last year or so about putting more maternal traits into our herd, and I really like the way the black baldy's perform, their milking abilities, and to be honest they don't want to eat me when I tag their calves. I am pretty sure that we are going to AI our cows to a Hereford bull this year. I'm not sure what to do with heifers...
I'm just wanting some opinions on breeding (mostly) Angus heifers to a Hereford.

AI the heifers to a calving ease Hereford and just keep doing what you have been doing...
Keep any of the replacements you like and sell the rest as bred heifers.
You like Black Baldy cows and so does most everyone else.
They will sell as bred heifers just as well as the blacks and maybe better.

 

[Oldtimer]

I'm one of those that pasture calves both heifers & cows, do little checking during calving, and want as few problems as I can get-- so I wouldn't do it.... Some of the biggest calves (and toughest pulls) I've ever had was when crossbreeding hereford's and angus - and heterosis apparently kicked in early...

 

[Alan]

So I have been looking at the ABS website and was wondering if any of you have heard of Progress? The link below takes you to his EPD's on their website.

http://abs-bs.absglobal.com/beef/herefo ... o=29HP0901

I love that bull! Progress has done very well for me in the past years, he's a son of probably the most proven calving ease bull in the Hereford line up, legend 242. That said I was never as happy with my 242 calves as the progress calves. As Son of Butch said, Angus calving weights will run lighter than Hereford, I would rather use an Angus bull on Hereford Heifers.... I know that's not an option. I also agree if a first time heifer weans a nice calf absolutely no reason not to keep the calf. Although first time heifers may not wean as heavy as a calf as they would in future years....... But if the calf is nice, why not give it a chance?

 

[elkwc]

We each have different experiences when calving heifers. I have calved many through the years. In my opinon it depends on the bloodlines more than anything else regardless of what you use unless you want to use longhorn or corriente. I have seen many calved Hereford bull on an angus heifer with no issue if the correct mating was done. 3027 and his progeny have either led or been at the top of the Hereford charts for calving ease for many years. His calves are very desirable also. I wouldn't use anything with 242 in their pedigree or have it in my pasture but for a different reason.

 

[Alan]

I wouldn't use anything with 242 in their pedigree or have it in my pasture but for a different reason.

I agree with your thoughts on 3027, but you made a big negative comment on 242 without a reason to why. So I'm asking why would you not have any 242 bloodlines in your pasture. What's your experience or problem with him?

 

[dun]

I wouldn't use anything with 242 in their pedigree or have it in my pasture but for a different reason.

I agree with your thoughts on 3027, but you made a big negative comment on 242 without a reason to why. So I'm asking why would you not have any 242 bloodlines in your pasture. What's your experience or problem with him?

The only probelm I had when we used him was the calves weren;t very good and the heifers never made the cut as replacements.

 

[Alan]

I wouldn't use anything with 242 in their pedigree or have it in my pasture but for a different reason.

I agree with your thoughts on 3027, but you made a big negative comment on 242 without a reason to why. So I'm asking why would you not have any 242 bloodlines in your pasture. What's your experience or problem with him?

The only probelm I had when we used him was the calves weren;t very good and the heifers never made the cut as replacements.

Ohhhh, don't bale him out, I would love to hear his thoughts on 242. Dun, you may know my thoughts in him....... I wish I had a pasture full of progress cows.

 

[customcattle]

So I have been looking at the ABS website and was wondering if any of you have heard of Progress? The link below takes you to his EPD's on their website.

http://abs-bs.absglobal.com/beef/herefo ... o=29HP0901

. Although first time heifers may not wean as heavy as a calf as they would in future years....... But if the calf is nice, why not give it a chance?

I don't disagree, I would definitely give them a chance, but in the past we haven't really had any that made the cut off of the first calf heifers.

 

[Alan]

Custom, I agree, but some breedings are a little later maturing. Which doesn't cut it for some producers. But if I get a great producing cow out of a later maturing calf then I'm in. Although don't confuse that with a P.O.S. Calf out of a proven AI bull that has never hit the nick in your bloodlines, had that happen also.

 

[Alan]

I'll also add that I have more calves not hit the mark from first calf heifers than did. But I give them all a good look if the cow is good.

 

[mrvictordomino]

Should have no issues using the right Hereford bulls on Angus heifers. I calve out 30-40 heifers every year using my own bulls in my linebreeding program. With a closed herd for many years I know what is behind all of my cattle and have avoided any extremes therefore I am confident in using the bulls I select to breed to heifers. Do not have a "calving ease line" as most all of the herd bulls started out breeding heifers. Also, no reason to discard calves from first calf heifers if they have good performance, sure they may wean a little lighter but the genetic potential is still there. I retain several heifer calves from the two year olds for replacements and there are always a few bull calves out of heifers that are developed for bulls.