Dual purpose breed. Beware that they are not a calving ease breed.Bought two Monty bull calves for $100 each. Liked one so much we kept him intact and will try him as our bull. Anyone ever raise a Monty or have any knowledge of them? Thanks.
I have had many dairies use them over the years. They tend to make a much stouter, stockier, calf. The ones that have milked them, have found that they milk well, they hold alot more weight on their body, and good dispositions. I really like them. They do well in a grazing situation. I would call them more along the lines of a dual purpose than just a dairy breed because of their being beefier but they are not slouches with putting milk in the tank. I want to breed a few of my nurse cows to a montebliarde this next time around.
A dairy bull is no more "satanic" than a beef bull would be if her were penned up in a little pen and got to smell cows day in and day out that were in heat and such. Yes, most dairy bulls need watching, and many get to feeling a little too big for their britches after they hit 2-3 yrs old. I also agree that a jersey tends to be more likely to turn on you..... that said we have had more problems with holstein bulls getting aggressive on most of my farms. I ran a jersey bull with some cows for about a year at my nurse cow field. He was quiet and knew his place and I never trusted him but was not afraid of him either. Respect helps... but I have had 2 beef bulls over the years that I would never go further into the field than I could run out of, or would only go in because I had the truck... they never actually did anything, but I just did not like their "way of looking and snorting a little".... Granted, the safest bull is in a little straw......
Yes we will use him on a few small beef heifers. To be honest, this is a straight up genetics play, a "hey, what if we …" type of deal. I am utterly fascinated with genetics.I had never heard of the breed, so I Googled it. It appears to be a dairy breed. Do you have a dairy herd, or do you plan to use him on beef cattle? And if you plan to use him on beef cattle, why?
What is driving the goat market? I know very little about goats. I am considering getting a few but I don't understand the market. Will be watching for future posts of your cattle project.Yes we will use him on a few small beef heifers. To be honest, this is a straight up genetics play, a "hey, what if we …" type of deal. I am utterly fascinated with genetics.
We also raise goats and I've been experimenting with crossbreeding Nigerians with Spanish and Boer bucks. I had plenty of people tell me that couldn't be done - or that doing so would kill the mother. Nonsense. The experiment has gone extremely well so far. Better than expected. A mature Kiko, Boer or other meat goat sells for $350-1000. Average $450 from what I've found. We spend $125 max on each Nigerian doe, and I can't tell you the number of them we've bought who were also pregnant. Two or three months later we have 2-3 free kids. So for each Kiko I would have bought we got three mature Nigerian does. Their kids are bringing $3.25-$4 a pound at 60 lb weights. Nigerians have a monthly breeding cycle, meat goats twice a year.
We will cross Monty with charolais we have and see what we can get. Then see what kind of beef he produces. Hoping for nice marbling.
Straight up demand, mostly from Muslims and Hispanics, especially on holidays. I'm not sure of these numbers, but a huge amount of US goat meat is still being imported. Like 40%? Mostly from AUS.What is driving the goat market? I know very little about goats. I am considering getting a few but I don't understand the market. Will be watching for future posts of your cattle project.
Interesting. Thanks for the replyStraight up demand, mostly from Muslims and Hispanics, especially on holidays. I'm not sure of these numbers, but a huge amount of US goat meat is still being imported. Like 40%? Mostly from AUS.
During Ramadan I saw a few goats run through at a little over $5 lb live weight. Back down to around $4.20-$4.50 now for premium kids, but that's still very strong for post-holidays.
Here is a link to the San Angelo, TX auction. It will give you an idea of the market.Interesting. Thanks for the reply