Herefords

[runner]

Are Herefords cross calf's making a come back. Around here in central KY a lot more people buying Hereford bulls.

 

[Muddy]

No they're not making a comeback, black baldies have been so popular for many years in most areas.

 

[Ky hills]

I think they are gaining some ground. Like was said the BWF have always been well received. There are several registered Hereford breeders around the area, and there is a Hereford influence sale held twice a year.

 

[Coosh71]

In the Texas Panhandle black and red baldie calves bring the most (typically), at any sale I've been too. The all black groups are still out there, but there's also a lot of ranches that run Hereford Bulls over Black Angus.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

I think that Hereford "bulls in paticular"" are getting a toe hold ...these commercial black herds are getting a little stagnate... Commercial Breeders getting in on the heterosis wagon...

 

[elkwc]

In the west central OK area there has always been more of a Hereford influence than in most areas I frequent. And starting about 3 years ago I started seeing many commercial Angus breeders who had been all black starting to use some Hereford bulls. The demand for Hereford bulls was really high up until last year. Most breeders got their bulls sold last year if they were reasonable but those that had raised prices had lots of hold overs this spring. I know some are backing off prices now. The drought has hurt demand also. In the Panhandle and SW KS the amount increased significantly but in all areas I frequent the numbers are going down again from what I see. Some of it is the breeders have baldie replacements now and part of it is issues that some have encountered. Part of these issues were covered in another thread. We bought a Hereford bull this spring. But the only one I know who has added one and I know several who have quit using them in the last two years. A baldie heifer whether bred or as a pair will still top the market around here. We also bought some Hereford heifers and they have their first calves on the ground now. I like that cross the best. The Hereford cows will raise a good calf on less feed if you are careful in your selection and avoid some bloodlines. Again these are all my opinions and observations. But overall I've seen a slight decrease in Hereford bull numbers over the last two years. IMO if the Hereford association ever addresses the genetic defect issue you will see an increase in use again.

 

[True Grit Farms]

If you run Hereford bulls over black baldies you'll get a lot of red calves. But I'm presently surprised how dominant the baldie face is when using Angus bulls.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

In the west central OK area there has always been more of a Hereford influence than in most areas I frequent. And starting about 3 years ago I started seeing many commercial Angus breeders who had been all black starting to use some Hereford bulls. The demand for Hereford bulls was really high up until last year. Most breeders got their bulls sold last year if they were reasonable but those that had raised prices had lots of hold overs this spring. I know some are backing off prices now. The drought has hurt demand also. In the Panhandle and SW KS the amount increased significantly but in all areas I frequent the numbers are going down again from what I see. Some of it is the breeders have baldie replacements now and part of it is issues that some have encountered. Part of these issues were covered in another thread. We bought a Hereford bull this spring. But the only one I know who has added one and I know several who have quit using them in the last two years. A baldie heifer whether bred or as a pair will still top the market around here. We also bought some Hereford heifers and they have their first calves on the ground now. I like that cross the best. The Hereford cows will raise a good calf on less feed if you are careful in your selection and avoid some bloodlines. Again these are all my opinions and observations. But overall I've seen a slight decrease in Hereford bull numbers over the last two years. IMO if the Hereford association ever addresses the genetic defect issue you will see an increase in use again.

Difference in country I'm sure..you take a laxative here, it works the whole area..

 

[SPH]

No they're not making a comeback, black baldies have been so popular for many years in most areas.

This is the case around here. The Herefords used to get beat up on sales but over the past several years once a commercial breeder used a Hereford bull on his black cows they have been giving repeat business to Hereford breeders and the Herefords are topping the sale average at the state Beef Expo as well. We have been getting a lot of repeat business from guys who have black cows and tried out a Hereford bull for the first time. Seems like 2 or 3 years later once they have sold feeder calves, fed out calves, or kept some black baldy females they retained in their herd they are some of the first inquiries we get during bull sale season. Last year we had a commercial Angus guy buy 2 more Hereford bulls off us after he bought a bull the year before and told us he was done buying Angus bulls after he saw how well the black baldy calves did for him. Same thing this year, sold a bull to a mostly black Angus commercial breeder who bought a bull from us 3 years ago who wanted to add another Hereford bull because the baldy calves were doing so well.

To me the true judgement if you are making the right breeding decisions lies on the demand for the cattle you offer up for sale. If you aren't getting calls or visits the the farm then you need to evaluate the decisions you are making. The commercial breeder relies on his cattle being efficient and making him a profit and if your cattle is not making him profit he probably is not coming back to you if you are raising an inferior product that fails him.

 

[True Grit Farms]

You need Angus to make a black baldie. And anything more than 50% Hereford is to much.

 

[Hoser]

3 of the top 5 threads have Hereford in the title so maybe you're right.

 

[backhoeboogie]

A super baldy is my number one choice for commercial cattle in Texas