On the bull hunt

[lithuanian farmer]

Started looking for a new bull. Have contacted one farmer, which should have quite promising Limousine cattle. At the moment he has 12- 17'November-18'January born bull calves, 3 are already reserved. 7 were born from AI, other from natural service. Should get some photos of the available bulls after the weekend. If we'll see something we like, we'll go for a visit. As for now got some info about the bulls. Have to say, quite impressive birth weights.
Available:
#712, 103.4lbs BW, 210days weight- 803lbs, AI.
#730, 103.4lbs BW, 210days- 777.4lbs.
#713, 116.6lbs BW, 210days- 781lbs, AI.
#152, 103.4lbs BW, 210days- 759lbs.
#728, 116.6lbs BW, 210days- 748lbs.
#723, 134.2lbs BW, 210days- 721.6lbs, AI.
#720, 85.8lbs BW, 210days- 668.8lbs.
#711, 92.4lbs BW, 210days- 642.4lbs, AI.
#153, 94.6lbs BW, 210days- 638lbs.

Reserved:
#714, 121lbs BW, 210days- 792lbs, AI.
#715, 121lbs BW, 210days- 774.4lbs, AI.
#725, 110lbs BW, 210days- 723.8lbs, AI .

Will see how they'll look in reality.

 

[5S Cattle]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a 134 lb calf born. Not out of one of my cows lol. Wonder what the dams look like

 

[ALACOWMAN]

Not seeing the calves but,I like the lighter BW with the heavier WW...

 

[ALACOWMAN]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a 134 lb calf born. Not out of one of my cows lol. Wonder what the dams look like

seen a calf that weighed just shy of 200 pds.pulled at the vet clinic..from a registered traditional type Simmental..

 

[Coosh71]

Wow... My calves are 70s average. For my cows sake I'm glad they are.

 

[Supa Dexta]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a 134 lb calf born. Not out of one of my cows lol. Wonder what the dams look like

There you go. Unassisted, on grass, she'd be 1500 and some lbs.

 

[5S Cattle]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a 134 lb calf born. Not out of one of my cows lol. Wonder what the dams look like

There you go. Unassisted, on grass, she'd be 1500 and some lbs.

Purt near grown. Come out shaving already I bet

 

[5S Cattle]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a 134 lb calf born. Not out of one of my cows lol. Wonder what the dams look like

seen a calf that weighed just shy of 200 pds.pulled at the vet clinic..from a registered traditional type Simmental..

Someone did everything wrong :shock:

 

[lithuanian farmer]

I wouldn’t mind seeing a 134 lb calf born. Not out of one of my cows lol. Wonder what the dams look like

We should go for a visit when there will be some time. Maybe in winter during holidays. Owner's herd is built from French genetics. Have seen one young heifer from his herd just recently. Nice long, round shaped heifer.
We had two bigger calves than this. Both limox, one was 145.2lbs, another +-154lbs, maybe 160lbs. Good 400lbs difference in dams weights. The first one needed assistance, the second born without any problem.

 

[elkwc]

On mature cows we shoot for around 85 lbs BW. We have been under the last few years. I feel you leave too much money on the table when you go under 80 lbs and especially 70 or lower. We have seen a few calves in the 90's but nothing like LF sees. I helped with a C section at the vets on a top bred Char cow in the 70's and with bathroom scales he was around 150 lbs. The biggest I've seen.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

On mature cows we shoot for around 85 lbs BW. We have been under the last few years. I feel you leave too much money on the table when you go under 80 lbs and especially 70 or lower. We have seen a few calves in the 90's but nothing like LF sees. I helped with a C section at the vets on a top bred Char cow in the 70's and with bathroom scales he was around 150 lbs. The biggest I've seen.

Our average BW this year is 101.2lbs. Some cows better have calves under 100lbs, but for most I don't mind calves up to 120lbs. I like heifers having calves under 100lbs too. 80-90lbs for heifers would be perfect.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Not seeing the calves but,I like the lighter BW with the heavier WW...

The main thing what I'll look at at first will be their muscularity. But for now the bull with biggest weaning weight will be the one I'd like to be the best looking. The new bull would be used on cows only.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

The sires of AI calves. One bull is sired by the first bull, all other are sired by the second one.
http://www.interlim.com/hamac-rrvs-france-et-export.html
http://www.interlim.com/engy-rrvs-france-et-export.html

 

[Stocker Steve]

On mature cows we shoot for around 85 lbs BW. We have been under the last few years. I feel you leave too much money on the table when you go under 80 lbs and especially 70 or lower. We have seen a few calves in the 90's but nothing like LF sees.

Agreed.
We have seen a few issues with thick shouldered 85 to 90# continental cross bull cavles from heifers. But no issues with cows.
Our biggest calf was a 128# bull calf delivered unassisted from a 1400# cow. He laid in the pasture for a couple days before he could follow her.

 

[frieghttrain]

The sires of AI calves. One bull is sired by the first bull, all other are sired by the second one.
http://www.interlim.com/hamac-rrvs-france-et-export.html
http://www.interlim.com/engy-rrvs-france-et-export.html

Both are good, i'd lean towards the 2nd one as he has a smoother look about him. Have they been tested for the f94L gene?

 

[lithuanian farmer]

The sires of AI calves. One bull is sired by the first bull, all other are sired by the second one.
http://www.interlim.com/hamac-rrvs-france-et-export.html
http://www.interlim.com/engy-rrvs-france-et-export.html

Both are good, i'd lean towards the 2nd one as he has a smoother look about him. Have they been tested for the f94L gene?

I doubt, or a least I haven't found anything about that. The only son from the first bull is already reserved. Both bulls seem to have similar calving ease, however, the first one seems to have more flesh, but the second has good milk figures. I personally liked the first one abit more deciding from the looks. Have found some photos of his calves too.
Everything will be decided by the look of the bull calves themselves. We still plan about looking what a couple other breeders has to offer. Trying to find something exceptional, what we would like from the first look.

 

[frieghttrain]

The sires of AI calves. One bull is sired by the first bull, all other are sired by the second one.
http://www.interlim.com/hamac-rrvs-france-et-export.html
http://www.interlim.com/engy-rrvs-france-et-export.html

Both are good, i'd lean towards the 2nd one as he has a smoother look about him. Have they been tested for the f94L gene?

I doubt, or a least I haven't found anything about that. The only son from the first bull is already reserved. Both bulls seem to have similar calving ease, however, the first one seems to have more flesh, but the second has good milk figures. I personally liked the first one abit more deciding from the looks. Have found some photos of his calves too.
Everything will be decided by the look of the bull calves themselves. We still plan about looking what a couple other breeders has to offer. Trying to find something exceptional, what we would like from the first look.

I hear you. We just got a fullblood bull picked up and he's all bull. Reason i asked about the f94l gene was for ease of calving as the muscling doesn't start developing till after the calf is born.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

I hear you. We just got a fullblood bull picked up and he's all bull. Reason i asked about the f94l gene was for ease of calving as the muscling doesn't start developing till after the calf is born.

Yes, I've done some research of this too. But it hasn't been mentioned for these two bulls.
I knew nothing about our two previous bulls, so it's quite entertaining to finally have more info.

 

[lithuanian farmer]

Have visited another farm today. Going to bring home the new bull next weekend. The previous farmer has showed me some photos, but nothing special. The one, which would have been my pick was already taken.
The new bull has just been weaned recently. Couldn't take a photo with him, as all calves were moving around alot.
A couple photos from the visit. Sorry for the quality. It wasn't very bright inside.
Older bulls under two years age. There were a couple good ones, but as we'll keep our new one with our weanlings, it's better to buy a similar age and size calf. Weaning weights average around 800lbs.

A group of weanlingss. The calf in the front was another calf I liked the most. Our new one will be quite looking similar to this one. Both have very nice rear and our should have nice wide front too.

The dam of our bull.

The group of weaned heifers. Actually, going to bring one home too (the one on the left). Will be the first fullblood registered female for us.

Very bad photo with the heifer. :oops:

An update with better photos will be when both will be brought home. The bull will cost $1900, heifer around $1100.

 

[frieghttrain]

I'd say you got a steal with those prices :D Make sure to get some good pictures when you get them home!