Murray Grey cattle

[HighTimeRodeo]

Hi all! Sorry it's been a while since I was on here. I got swamped at school this semester.

I was reading an article in Countryside Magazine and lady mentioned that Murray Grey turned out to be a good investment for her. I realize it's different for everybody, but could you guys with Murray cattle tell me the particulars about the breed? How well they do with forage, what kind of space to they need, and does anyone know how the carcass dresses out?

Thank y'all in advance!

 

[OK Jeanne]

Hello Rodeo

Here's a link to our assoc website, which gives some general info on the breed:

http://www.murraygrey.org

(I was lucky enough to reserve that address--almost 10-12 yrs ago I think)

They (your steers) will finish out to low choice on forage if it is good enough for good gains.
We generally slaughter at around 22 months old after they have been on green winter pasture
for 3+ months.

 

[cmf1]

My experience with them so far has been good.
Where you are it should be easier to find stock than down here on the coast.
They do very well on forage alone in comparison to comm. cattle that I've had. Not leaps and bounds better but better enough to where I believe my inputs will be less by moving to mostly a purebred herd which I am in the process of doing now.
I like the non black color for the heat down here as well.
Temperments are pretty easy.
I've only slaughtered half bloods to now but they have been excellent flavor and tenderness.
I rotation graze so area would be tough to figure.
Constantly improving pasture and am hoping to rid myself of even hay on the input side, or at least minimize it substantially.

 

[1wlimo]

If I was running a comercial herd using MG's and looking for black calves can I achive this?

What sort of bull would I maybe cross them with for replacement heifers to try and maintain my cows at or below 1200# and still get saleable calves?

There were a few here a couple of years ago. I really liked the fact that they could calve in weather that would kill most calves, and the calf was up sucking like it was mid summer.

Thank you

 

[OK Jeanne]

If I was running a comercial herd using MG's and looking for black calves can I achive this?

What sort of bull would I maybe cross them with for replacement heifers to try and maintain my cows at or below 1200# and still get saleable calves?

There were a few here a couple of years ago. I really liked the fact that they could calve in weather that would kill most calves, and the calf was up sucking like it was mid summer.

Thank you

If you use a silver MG bull on black or red cows, you will get chocolate colored offspring:

We have never tried the reverse(a black bull on silver MG cows) and have always used silver
MG bulls. I understand that some MG breeders actually have bred for the black color; but
personally, if I wanted black cattle I would buy another breed.

 

[waihou]

If you use a dark grey Murray Grey bull on a dark grey Murray Grey cow you have a 25% chance of black calves.

 

[waihou]

Some pure bred (several generations) black Murray Greys.
Sired by dark grey bulls like this one, Torrisdale Xtra,by a silver Aussie bull called Springwell Trumpcard

A heifer calf 6 months old

Same calf with her own calf by a silver bull

 

[1wlimo]

Thanks for the info,

So if I was to use a black limo bull I would get a high perecntage of black calves, if the cows were dark?