Large Bull / Smallish Heifers

[MissouriExile]

Good Afternoon;

Last Fall I bought 5 Hereford Heifer calves. They have been healthy and gained weight very well. What they haven't done is gain in height and frame. They were fairly cheap and I now suspect they were small culls from someone's herd.
Recently I bought a Registered Red Angus 3 Y.O. Cow with a bull calf at her side. (and bred back) She is literally twice the size of my Hereford Heifer yearlings. My thought was to let her bull calf mature and breed the herefords. Now that I have realized that these heifers aren't going to get much bigger I am thinking it wasn't such a good idea after all.
Large bull, small heifers....... ?

Jon Davis
Rank Amateur
SW Missouri

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Good Afternoon;

Last Fall I bought 5 Hereford Heifer calves. They have been healthy and gained weight very well. What they haven't done is gain in height and frame. They were fairly cheap and I now suspect they were small culls from someone's herd.
Recently I bought a Registered Red Angus 3 Y.O. Cow with a bull calf at her side. (and bred back) She is literally twice the size of my Hereford Heifer yearlings. My thought was to let her bull calf mature and breed the herefords. Now that I have realized that these heifers aren't going to get much bigger I am thinking it wasn't such a good idea after all.
Large bull, small heifers....... ?

Jon Davis
Rank Amateur
SW Missouri

cant go by size of the bull not a good indicator. they still got a lot of growin to do yet. they seem to get one size as yearlins and hang out there awhile. then bam. they hit a growth spurt just like kids. i would do some diggin on that bull calf's sire's epd's before i bred them though. to get a idea what his birthweight was if you dont already know

 

[Txwalt]

Yup, they still have a lot of growin to do.

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Do you have any idea how much they WEIGH? Height isn't as important as weight. Unless they are pig fat.
If I understand you correctly, the bull is still just a calf, so the heifers won't be getting bred til next spring?

 

[MissouriExile]

Do you have any idea how much they WEIGH? Height isn't as important as weight. Unless they are pig fat.
If I understand you correctly, the bull is still just a calf, so the heifers won't be getting bred til next spring?

The heifers weigh about 600 lbs. The bull was calved on December 09, 2006. That's another question. They are already in heat, when will he be interested?

Jon

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

Bull calf can be "interested" from 2 months of age & older. But, likely won't be able to breed til he's close to 1 year old.
Always exceptions, he CAN be able to breed by maybe 7 months of age, but not the norm.
Personally, I would keep him away from the "girls" til at least late this fall, better to wait til he's 12 months old.

 

[vs_cattle]

What I always wonder is how many smallish heifers get hurt during breeding by larger framed bulls? I mean if they cant stand the wait on them

 

[Jeanne - Simme Valley]

I really don't think very many heifers are "hurt" from the weight of a bull. Most bulls are pretty quick. I've seen mature cows flatten heifers because they stay on so long. And never saw a heifer hurt from it. I'm sure it can happen tho.

 

[vs_cattle]

just wanted to know of any stories out there about heifers getting hurt

 

[aplusmnt]

Most bulls are pretty quick. .

Must be a trait that is common to all species ;-) :lol:

Sorry could not resist!