showmomof2
Well-known member
We just bought our hereford bull this fall-can't wait to see his babies!
Prairiegrass":xlcji0s5 said:I use Herefords for Mama makers, but I did vote for a couple of things I think need improving. Marbling and vaginal prolapses aren't on the list. Marbling I can find if I look hard enough, never read they were working on improving the VP's. You buy a bull out of the wrong bull, and 90 % of your heifers may prolapse. That was in the late 90's, so maybe things have improved. I also have problems with milk and teats. However, there are good ones out there if you're willing to spend some time on it. Almost guaranteed gentle, and a good component of any range cow. If pushed, udders/teats and milk I worry about most.
Don't know if this a breeder issue, but on a website ~2 years ago a major Hereford breeder in my area was bragging that he used no AI. Don't understand how any pure bred breeder would find that a selling point.
how come ? he may have a cow family of his own thats working fine .. that would sell me quicker than one thats AI'd his herd to every ""bull of the month"" as they say and his bull's should have enough homozygosity built in to give me a good bang of heterosisPrairiegrass":37r0uyo2 said:I use Herefords for Mama makers, but I did vote for a couple of things I think need improving. Marbling and vaginal prolapses aren't on the list. Marbling I can find if I look hard enough, never read they were working on improving the VP's. You buy a bull out of the wrong bull, and 90 % of your heifers may prolapse. That was in the late 90's, so maybe things have improved. I also have problems with milk and teats. However, there are good ones out there if you're willing to spend some time on it. Almost guaranteed gentle, and a good component of any range cow. If pushed, udders/teats and milk I worry about most.
Don't know if this a breeder issue, but on a website ~2 years ago a major Hereford breeder in my area was bragging that he used no AI. Don't understand how any pure bred breeder would find that a selling point.
Prairiegrass":kpzf5hx9 said:I can't help you on the blood lines- if I knew at the time I've forgotten. All the problems I saw were in commercial bulls owned by either neighbors or clients of a company I worked for. It caused me to stop using Herefords 12 years ago. I have e-mailed the Hereford Association three times over the last 8 years asking them if they were making any progress on getting rid of the PV issue, or even if they recognized a problem. No one ever replied, which wasn't much of a comfort. I have recently started using them again- I do believe the breed has a lot to offer.
AL, As to Purebred Breeders, it's just my opinion, but if a seedstock producer isn't using any AI in his program, and never has, I want no part of his genetics. Even good genetics can always make some improvements somewhere. Again,just my opinion.
Prairiegrass" AL said:Don't completely understand this statement, but just because a breeder uses AI doesn't automatically make his
cattle superior.
Prairiegrass":rm3pap0f said:I can't help you on the blood lines- if I knew at the time I've forgotten. All the problems I saw were in commercial bulls owned by either neighbors or clients of a company I worked for. It caused me to stop using Herefords 12 years ago. I have e-mailed the Hereford Association three times over the last 8 years asking them if they were making any progress on getting rid of the PV issue, or even if they recognized a problem. No one ever replied, which wasn't much of a comfort. I have recently started using them again- I do believe the breed has a lot to offer.
AL, As to Purebred Breeders, it's just my opinion, but if a seedstock producer isn't using any AI in his program, and never has, I want no part of his genetics. Even good genetics can always make some improvements somewhere. Again,just my opinion.
mrvictordomino":29r0c9bg said:exactlyDon't completely understand this statement, but just because a breeder uses AI doesn't automatically make his
cattle superior.
Beef Man":2ninc4ff said:Beleive it or not there is some of us hereford breeders thay do focus on a lot of essential things. As i wrote on here many months ago that Ive been in the hereford biz all my life and have seen everything that has come along and been done or undone or could be tried in a breed.I would be proud to show anyone over 300 hereford cows and heifers that all have good bags ,excelent feet,all willing and able to calve and raise it to 205 days as efficient'ly as any cowherd in this N.E. Mont enviorment . We never had a Harris study done but have succsesfully marketed both hereford bulls and females into some great herds of angus comercial herds for many years.We have a standing order for genuine hereford angus f1 females at all times. One of our customers has asked for 200--250 bred 3 year old f1 females and whould give a dandy premium every year. Anyone with a proven black or red angus herd are leaveing a lot of $$$ on the table at this time. Not our perticaluar worry as we have a lot of customers been crossing for a long time and have 2 ranch's that have purchased heifers for 25 years or more and 1 even crossed them a few years with char bulls and liked them. Like Northern Rancher says these baldy female[at least under our range conditions] are most certanly the way to go .
This doesn't take rocket science to figure out,just go look at a few Hereford Bull Sales.Northern Rancher":t12myzie said:True f1's are hard to find-I got lucky and found 150 out of Angus hfrs and a set of the right half brother Horned Hereford bulls on the weekend. Both sides of the equation have got to be good cattle-if it is they are tough to beat. Where are you located Beef Man I'm headed stateside this spring-looking for some high accuracy older bulls to add to our A'I lineup.
Beef Man":2w7thbmc said:Beleive it or not there is some of us hereford breeders thay do focus on a lot of essential things. As i wrote on here many months ago that Ive been in the hereford biz all my life and have seen everything that has come along and been done or undone or could be tried in a breed.I would be proud to show anyone over 300 hereford cows and heifers that all have good bags ,excelent feet,all willing and able to calve and raise it to 205 days as efficient'ly as any cowherd in this N.E. Mont enviorment . We never had a Harris study done but have succsesfully marketed both hereford bulls and females into some great herds of angus comercial herds for many years.We have a standing order for genuine hereford angus f1 females at all times. One of our customers has asked for 200--250 bred 3 year old f1 females and whould give a dandy premium every year. Anyone with a proven black or red angus herd are leaveing a lot of $$$ on the table at this time. Not our perticaluar worry as we have a lot of customers been crossing for a long time and have 2 ranch's that have purchased heifers for 25 years or more and 1 even crossed them a few years with char bulls and liked them. Like Northern Rancher says these baldy female[at least under our range conditions] are most certanly the way to go .
And down south the Tiger is also a big reason for increased Hereford demand. It amazes me that some will pay $1500 for a sub-par heifer just because she is a Tiger down here. Take a look at the cattlerange.com site and look at the Tiger page. Sold, sold, soldsmnherf":110e9xze said:Beef Man":110e9xze said:Beleive it or not there is some of us hereford breeders thay do focus on a lot of essential things. As i wrote on here many months ago that Ive been in the hereford biz all my life and have seen everything that has come along and been done or undone or could be tried in a breed.I would be proud to show anyone over 300 hereford cows and heifers that all have good bags ,excelent feet,all willing and able to calve and raise it to 205 days as efficient'ly as any cowherd in this N.E. Mont enviorment . We never had a Harris study done but have succsesfully marketed both hereford bulls and females into some great herds of angus comercial herds for many years.We have a standing order for genuine hereford angus f1 females at all times. One of our customers has asked for 200--250 bred 3 year old f1 females and whould give a dandy premium every year. Anyone with a proven black or red angus herd are leaveing a lot of $$$ on the table at this time. Not our perticaluar worry as we have a lot of customers been crossing for a long time and have 2 ranch's that have purchased heifers for 25 years or more and 1 even crossed them a few years with char bulls and liked them. Like Northern Rancher says these baldy female[at least under our range conditions] are most certanly the way to go .
I agree 100%. The baldy female is in high demand. I had a customer that sold their heifers in January and the buyer made them sign a right of first refusal on the 2011 crop of heifers. First I had heard of that.
Brian