clem
Well-known member
:?: At what age are cattle considered mature or old enough to breed to bigger birth weight bulls? Clem
clem":do6di65v said::?: At what age are cattle considered mature or old enough to breed to bigger birth weight bulls? Clem
clem":3vwlre3m said:I have medium frame Herefords and Black baldies, I have been using low birthweight bulls because I was keeping my better heifers. I'm thinking about getting a bull with higher birthweights. Clem
clem":34l2rsn2 said:Randi, thanks for telling me what would be a safe weight to shoot for. My calves have been averaging 70-75 lbs. Thanks,Clem
randiliana":3jywlqe9 said:clem":3jywlqe9 said:Randi, thanks for telling me what would be a safe weight to shoot for. My calves have been averaging 70-75 lbs. Thanks,Clem
Our cows average weight is 1250 lbs, and those weights work for us. BUT, we also buy bull that are smooth, with a lot of length to them. The build of the bull has as much to do with calving ease, as BW. You want to look at him from the front, and you don't want to see his shoulders sticking out squarely. Also, we are on hand at calving time in case there is a problem. We don't have very many, but there is always a few. And also, remember that the cow has a lot to do with BW too.
Are your cows older animals, or are you talking about 2-3 year old animals? 70-75 is a good weight for heifers, but cows should be able to easily handle calves 10-15 lbs heavier.
dun":39a0ee5i said:randiliana":39a0ee5i said:clem":39a0ee5i said:Randi, thanks for telling me what would be a safe weight to shoot for. My calves have been averaging 70-75 lbs. Thanks,Clem
Our cows average weight is 1250 lbs, and those weights work for us. BUT, we also buy bull that are smooth, with a lot of length to them. The build of the bull has as much to do with calving ease, as BW. You want to look at him from the front, and you don't want to see his shoulders sticking out squarely. Also, we are on hand at calving time in case there is a problem. We don't have very many, but there is always a few. And also, remember that the cow has a lot to do with BW too.
Are your cows older animals, or are you talking about 2-3 year old animals? 70-75 is a good weight for heifers, but cows should be able to easily handle calves 10-15 lbs heavier.
You're in Canada, he's in MS. A 75 lb calf in Canada would probably be a 65 lb or maybe even smaller calf in his area. There is also the diference in forage base that enters into the equation. You really can;t realistically compare weights between the 2 areas.
More important then raising birth weights is improving weaning weights. As I've said before and no doubt will say again, challenge your cows to wean a heavy calf not have a heavy calf. With proper bull selection you lose very lattle if any between a lighter and heavier birthweight when it comes to weaning or yearlings weights, daughters calving abilitys, carcass grade, etc.
dun
aplusmnt":1gw5yoer said:What is the contributing factor to Canada having larger birth weights?
dun":2zlqegwm said:aplusmnt":2zlqegwm said:What is the contributing factor to Canada having larger birth weights?
Colder climate
dun
aplusmnt":fro7yje0 said:dun":fro7yje0 said:aplusmnt":fro7yje0 said:What is the contributing factor to Canada having larger birth weights?
Colder climate
dun
I am assuming they eat more to stay warm? So calves come bigger?
dun":1kkkx0rg said:You're in Canada, he's in MS. A 75 lb calf in Canada would probably be a 65 lb or maybe even smaller calf in his area. There is also the diference in forage base that enters into the equation. You really can;t realistically compare weights between the 2 areas.
More important then raising birth weights is improving weaning weights. As I've said before and no doubt will say again, challenge your cows to wean a heavy calf not have a heavy calf. With proper bull selection you lose very lattle if any between a lighter and heavier birthweight when it comes to weaning or yearlings weights, daughters calving abilitys, carcass grade, etc.
dun
Obviously boosting bw isn;t the way to go. Maybe better growth genetics??
dun":3v1z11jj said:aplusmnt":3v1z11jj said:dun":3v1z11jj said:aplusmnt":3v1z11jj said:What is the contributing factor to Canada having larger birth weights?
Colder climate
dun
I am assuming they eat more to stay warm? So calves come bigger?
No, it has to do with the routing of the blood during pregnancy to the calf rather then to the surface of the cow.
dun
dun":2ajxso04 said:Last year our 70-77 lb BW calves averaged 675 weaning weights. Our single 90 lb bw calf weaned at 593. Heaviest bw calf she's ever had and the lowest weaning weight she's ever had. Obviously boosting bw isn;t the way to go. Maybe better growth genetics??
dun