Murray grey x Hereford

[susie]

Just wondering if this is a good cross for easy-keeping gentle beef cows? Are MG's on the smaller side? or does it vary alot like any breed?
I have a 14 month old Hereford heifer that I'd like to breed to get a easy keeping heifer or butchering steer. I need to have easy keepers because I'm on 4 acres, good grass, but can't support a big eater. I would llike to have 2 cows and raise the calves for beef.
If anyone has pic's of this cross I'd love thel link--
Thanks,
Susie

 

[mtnman]

No pics, but given the moderate size of some of the Murray Greys, you idea should work real nice.

We have been talking about a "Black Hereford" in another string here, maybe you can mae a "grey Hereford" Just Joking.

The ones our neighbors had as a kid were grey baldies, rather than black, or red baldies. He had MG's for years, he always sold them real well, buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales.

mtnman

 

[KEW]

[/img]

Hereford cows with Grey Baldie calves. This picture was scanned from a brochure from the Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society (Australia).

 

[SPRINGER FARMS MURRAY GRE]

No pics, but given the moderate size of some of the Murray Greys, you idea should work real nice.

We have been talking about a "Black Hereford" in another string here, maybe you can mae a "grey Hereford" Just Joking.

The ones our neighbors had as a kid were grey baldies, rather than black, or red baldies. He had MG's for years, he always sold them real well, buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales.

mtnman

Should work very well for you! They are very easy calving.

 

[ga. prime]

Springer , if you're not the President of the Murray Grey Association, you should be. You are a relentless promoter of Murray Greys. And I mean that in a good way. I really admire your low-key and upbeat approach. Wish I was a couple of states closer to you so I could come bull shopping at your place.

 

[greenwillowherefords]

I have suggested in a PM to Springer some time back, that this would be a great cross.

 

[mgman]

That is definitely an excellent cross...should give you exactly what you're looking for!

 

[tapeworm]

No pics, but given the moderate size of some of the Murray Greys, you idea should work real nice.

We have been talking about a "Black Hereford" in another string here, maybe you can mae a "grey Hereford" Just Joking.

The ones our neighbors had as a kid were grey baldies, rather than black, or red baldies. He had MG's for years, he always sold them real well, buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales.

mtnman

" buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales."

Thats why I say theyre just another joke breed. ONly way to sell them is if the buyers think theyre something else?? I'm sure theyre good cattle...just not enough of em to ever make an impact. Maybe I should find another word besides joke?? But that sums it up pretty good to me. Some of these MG breeders will try to make you think its the best thing going...sort of like black herefords. LOL

 

[mgman]

Tapeworm,
What would possess you to make such an ignorant statement...other than maybe wanting to start an agruement? You obviously have not had any experience with MG cattle to say something like that.
So, if I'm to follow your logic there is somehow a connection between quality and the number of animals a breed has? Guess it's kind of a size thing with you?
I can assure you that I have absolutely no problem finding buyers for my cattle without having to "disguise" them as something other than what they are. As has been stated many times on this board, quality animals are in demand...regardless of color or the small numbers their breed might represent.

 

[certherfbeef]

Any chance that cross would be too docile? I've worked with MG's. Almost need a fork up their butt to get them excited.

The MG's I have delt with were very well muscled, moderate framed and long as a freight train. And docile to the point they seemed almost dumb at times. Note: I said almost. The calves were stout little meat wagons too. Is this still an accurate description of the breed Springer? It has been over 10 years, maybe they changed with time??

There is probably more registered MG's out there than you might think. Especially if all the associations merged into one.

 

[mgman]

Even though you're question was directed to Springer MG I'll reply...yes, they are docile cattle and the rest of your description is accurate as well.
Have to say that I've never had to use any extreme measures to get my cattle to cooperate...usually just a bucket of feed will get them to go where ever I want them to.

 

[SPRINGER FARMS MURRAY GRE]

Any chance that cross would be too docile? I've worked with MG's. Almost need a fork up their butt to get them excited.

The MG's I have delt with were very well muscled, moderate framed and long as a freight train. And docile to the point they seemed almost dumb at times. Note: I said almost. The calves were stout little meat wagons too. Is this still an accurate description of the breed Springer? It has been over 10 years, maybe they changed with time??

There is probably more registered MG's out there than you might think. Especially if all the associations merged into one.

They are very docile and easy to manage,which is very important in the smaller herd owners business....have not had to stick a fork up their butt yet to get them to move. ;-) :cboy:

 

[SPRINGER FARMS MURRAY GRE]

No pics, but given the moderate size of some of the Murray Greys, you idea should work real nice.

We have been talking about a "Black Hereford" in another string here, maybe you can mae a "grey Hereford" Just Joking.

The ones our neighbors had as a kid were grey baldies, rather than black, or red baldies. He had MG's for years, he always sold them real well, buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales.

mtnman

" buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales."

Thats why I say theyre just another joke breed. ONly way to sell them is if the buyers think theyre something else?? I'm sure theyre good cattle...just not enough of em to ever make an impact. Maybe I should find another word besides joke?? But that sums it up pretty good to me. Some of these MG breeders will try to make you think its the best thing going...sort of like black herefords. LOL

Actually, I have had a lot of people think they were charolais from a distance, however when I educated them on the breed they were very pleasantly surprised! I can assure you that they are no joke. How many do you think it takes to make an impact? All of the people I know that breed Murray Greys are able to sell all they can raise...and usually to commercial cattlemen. They buy them for their calving ease with first time heifers,then like the calves so well they put them on the rest of the cows as well. They have many excellent traits which is why I chose the breed. Ease of handling was one of the main reasons I own Murray Greys.While I know that the other breeds have made improvements over the years,I still hear about the calving problems with charolais(the bulls more now than the cows),the crazy limosins and simmentals,etc. I have sold all the bulls I can raise,black,brown,and silver,and now am getting calls for heifers as well. I have kept a 31 head herd on my remote farm with "one" electric wire temporary fence for 5 years...they are not fence jumpers,I have moved them without "lanes" (though it would make it easier to do by myself) whenever I have needed too. People that have bought my bulls have always been very pleased.....and I have the letters from them to prove it. When I "cull" a bull or heifer yearling and send them down the road to the salebarn,I get a good price per lb.I have one bull and one heifer now that I was going to cull and send to the barn,but was called by a man in north Arkansas that made me promise to save them for him rather than send to the barn...so there you are.They are good mothers that give adequate milk to raise good calves,and I have no complaints. Even the bulls have good temperments and are not to "stand-offish", or too friendly.One of my customers,though I do not recommend it, tells me that he and his wife regularly walk up to their bull in the pasture and scratches his back. They would be an excellent cross with anyother breed,and would improve the commercial herd in the bargain.Ok,I will get off my soapbox now.Any questions anyone might have about the breed I will try to answer,or get you the information. ;-) :cboy:

 

[SPRINGER FARMS MURRAY GRE]

Springer , if you're not the President of the Murray Grey Association, you should be. You are a relentless promoter of Murray Greys. And I mean that in a good way. I really admire your low-key and upbeat approach. Wish I was a couple of states closer to you so I could come bull shopping at your place.

I wish you were as well. Maybe I could convince you to try the breed.One of the problems that we as breeders have is that the people that run the associations(and there are several) are volunteers and are not paid.They run the associations for the rest of us to benefit from.... but they do it to promote the breed because they are excellent beef cattle.Thus, we do not have the money and the focused effort to promote the breed like the Angus people for example.As I am sure most of the people on this board would agree, each individual has to go with what works for them...Murray Grey's work for me. ;-) :cboy:

 

[msscamp]

Any chance that cross would be too docile? I've worked with MG's. Almost need a fork up their butt to get them excited.

The MG's I have delt with were very well muscled, moderate framed and long as a freight train. And docile to the point they seemed almost dumb at times.

We have never had that problem. They are easy to work, easy to move, easy to handle. Most of the time, we open gates and try to keep up! They know where they are going and go.

 

[SPRINGER FARMS MURRAY GRE]

Any chance that cross would be too docile? I've worked with MG's. Almost need a fork up their butt to get them excited.

The MG's I have delt with were very well muscled, moderate framed and long as a freight train. And docile to the point they seemed almost dumb at times.

We have never had that problem. They are easy to work, easy to move, easy to handle. Most of the time, we open gates and try to keep up! They know where they are going and go.

There are Murray Grey's almost everywhere you want to go... from South America to Canada there are breeders fairly close by with cattle available for sale! ;-) :cboy:

 

[msscamp]

No pics, but given the moderate size of some of the Murray Greys, you idea should work real nice.

We have been talking about a "Black Hereford" in another string here, maybe you can mae a "grey Hereford" Just Joking.

The ones our neighbors had as a kid were grey baldies, rather than black, or red baldies. He had MG's for years, he always sold them real well, buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales.

mtnman

" buyers just assumed they were Charolais, Angus cross cales."

Thats why I say theyre just another joke breed. ONly way to sell them is if the buyers think theyre something else?? I'm sure theyre good cattle...just not enough of em to ever make an impact. Maybe I should find another word besides joke?? But that sums it up pretty good to me. Some of these MG breeders will try to make you think its the best thing going...sort of like black herefords. LOL

Actually, I have had a lot of people think they were charolais from a distance, however when I educated them on the breed they were very pleasantly surprised! I can assure you that they are no joke. All of the people I know that breed Murray Greys are able to sell all they can raise...and usually to commercial cattlemen. I have sold all the bulls I can raise,black,brown,and silver,and now am getting calls for heifers as well. I have kept a 31 head herd on my remote farm with "one" electric wire temporary fence for 5 years...they are not fence jumpers,I have moved them without "lanes" (though it would make it easier to do by myself) whenever I have needed too. People that have bought my bulls have always been very pleased.....and I have the letters from them to prove it. When I "cull" a bull or heifer yearling and send them down the road to the salebarn,I get a good price per lb. They are good mothers that give adequate milk to raise good calves,and I have no complaints. Even the bulls have good temperments and are not to "stand-offish", or too friendly.

We run ours on pasture with a one strand hot fence, also. With the exception of the occasional calf that wanders under the fence, we have had one heifer that was a fence jumper since we started breeding them back in the late 60's. We also had one bull that could (and would) jump a 6 strand barbed wire fence. Both of them went down the road and brought a good price at the salebarn. We keep all bulls that are quality and have not had any problem selling them. In fact, we have standing orders for bulls from a few people, and we don't advertise anywhere except in the herdbook. We also have no problem selling cows or heifers, and I'm not talking salebarn. We have had the occasional person who thinks they are Charlois from the color, but that has not been very often. The only problem the Murray Grey breed has is the fact that they are not promoted like they should be and the associations are fragmented, which reduces the effectiveness.

 

[Australian Cattleman]

A few people use Murray Greys over herefords here in Australia. They cross well and are good base cows to breed something else to.
They are an excellent calving breed. Great temperament.
Have found that Murray Greys don't seem to do as well in poor country,hence some Murray Grey breeders in the tougher country use a Brahman or Bos Indicus breed over them.Here sometimes they can be mistaken for Charolais/Angus. There has been breeders here in Australia that actually have slipped a Charolais in to boost there size. This act hasn't done anything for calving ease.
Colin

 

[greggy]

Digging up a few old threads.

Some years later, wondering if there has been more trying this cross ?

 

[TwoByrdsMG]

Just wondering if this is a good cross for easy-keeping gentle beef cows? Are MG's on the smaller side? or does it vary alot like any breed?
I have a 14 month old Hereford heifer that I'd like to breed to get a easy keeping heifer or butchering steer. I need to have easy keepers because I'm on 4 acres, good grass, but can't support a big eater. I would llike to have 2 cows and raise the calves for beef.
If anyone has pic's of this cross I'd love thel link--
Thanks,
Susie

Heifer calf was 62 lbs and is absolutely stunning now!
[image]224[/image] [image]328[/image] [image]329[/image]

1/2 sisters (1100 and 1200 lbs)
[image]72[/image] [image]71[/image]