Their are several different breeders who have maternal herds, but it all depends on what you consider maternal is. I feel our operation is as or more maternal than most other herds out there, but the next guy may not think that. I encourage you to go and have a look at a few different programs, and see if that is the way you want to go. Their are some programs that are advertised as high maternal, but I personally wouldn't use that type of genetics, as they seem to be finer made from top to bottom and front to back. But that is just me. But most importantly, study the bulls you plan on using, as some have great maternal numbers, but their feet or their daughters udders aren't the kind that will last a long time, or some may be harder doing than others. To me a good maternal cow should be easy fleshing, deeper made, breeds back year after year, very sound on her feet and legs, has a good solid made udder, and has the ability to raise a top calf every year, without eating the profit away.
Our breeding program may be a little different than most. We will either spend alot of $ on a herd sire or keep one of our own, but we don't purchase much outside semen. I will study the bulls dam, sisters, and grand dam (if she is around yet). I will make sure they are what I am wanting my cowherd to look like. Then I will buy him and use him hard. He has to be out of a strong cow family, but also have to have some performance in them, as I am selling bulls as well. The bulls we keep from our program, are selected the same way. We do alot of embryo work. We flush what we feel are some of our top cows that are from our top cow families to outside bulls that we think will work in our program. Then we will select what we think is a bull that will work for us, both on the bull end and the female end.
Most of our customers sell off the cow in the fall or background and sell in January. They need to have a performance type calf with good stretch and muscle to get paid top dollar. Then we buy alot of our customers feeder calves and feed them out. They must have the ability to feed efficient and grow when asked to.
I invite you out to have a look at our program and cattle and you can make your own opinion on what we have.
Below are some pictures of our cows.
We kept a son out of this cow this year. She is 9 years old
She is 6 years old
A 11 year old cow
An 8 year old
a 6 year old
a 6 year old
What I call our best cow. This photo was taken in 2007 and she is a 2003 model. We sold a 1/2 interest of a son to 10 breeders and ABS out of her this spring. He is breeding cows for us right now and will again for our May/June calvers. I want to get 100 head bred to him. His sire is a little different breeding for us, and is known for outstanding daughters. I have seen several, and just love them.
Another 2003 model, photo taken on 2008
We are using a son out of this girl. She is a 1998 model. The photo was taken in 2006.
This is the dam to the cow above that I call our best cow. We are using 2 different sons of hers in our program.
Here is another good cow that we sold due to an injury. We thought about flushing her, but she tested positive for OS, so we just canned her.
Here is another cow that we are currently flushing. Her dam and grand dam are also donor cows for us. We have a maternal brother to her walking our pastures. He bred through AI and natural service, around 125 cows last year for us. Plus 5 different other breeders used him.
Here is a cow we sold to another breeder a few years back. She is currently in his donor pen.
We purchased this girl, and she may go into our donor pen. She raised a son that sold to ABS this past spring.
Here is a good 5 year old, that I think we will be flushing this year.
I also have photos of most of our herd sires dams if you want to see what we are trying to do.
Thanks,
Bryan
