Pros and Cons of Herefords.

[ONLY-BEEF]

tell us a bit more about your ranch and maybe we all can help ya out with your problem.

Didn;t sound to me like she has a problem

dun

I aint trying ta cut nobody down here but ya know as well as the next fella that ifen your raising cattle an ya have ta give em free choice feed on top of yur grass ta keep em healthy ya have yur self a real problem! Now that dont mean it cant be fixed.

 

[J. T.]

If we'll get into the mindset that we're grass farmers, then we'll understand that we've got to do what it takes to produce that grass. Here in the South, we have virtually no native grasses that can be depended upon to provide forage for our cows. Fertilizing pastures keeps the grass growing which keeps much of the Southern pastureland from reverting back to hardwood forest. In other areas of the country, there are native grasses and these regions are not heavily forested, so pasture maintenance will vary from Alabama to Idaho to the Texas Panhandle. If I did not maintain a fertilizer program on my pastures and never bushhogged again, I'd have 4 ft. tall sweetgums, persimmons, and Virginia pines in as many years where I've got tall fescue growing now.

 

[Brandonm2]

If we'll get into the mindset that we're grass farmers, then we'll understand that we've got to do what it takes to produce that grass. Here in the South, we have virtually no native grasses that can be depended upon to provide forage for our cows. Fertilizing pastures keeps the grass growing which keeps much of the Southern pastureland from reverting back to hardwood forest. In other areas of the country, there are native grasses and these regions are not heavily forested, so pasture maintenance will vary from Alabama to Idaho to the Texas Panhandle. If I did not maintain a fertilizer program on my pastures and never bushhogged again, I'd have 4 ft. tall sweetgums, persimmons, and Virginia pines in as many years where I've got tall fescue growing now.

Your exactly right. I cut a large hayfield for a neighbor in 1988 and did real well with it. Nobody cut it since, until loggers thinned the pine pulpwood two years ago. They will be getting sawed timber out of there in another 7 or 8 years and they DID NOT plant any of those pines, though some 40 year old monsters lined all the drainage ditches and fence rows.

 

[topsquar]

herefords have lost alot of favor because of ignorance at the sale barn. obviously from a ranch/feedlot perpspective, there are pro's and con's to every breed and we can all type until our keyboards give out arguing about it. i personally have herefords and black cattle, and both do well, but esp. my baldies, most feedlots i deal with really like them. i am comfortable with my cattle and i'm still in business, and you all are apparently in the same boat, so i'm not gonna criticize your operation!

but the fact remains that there is this bias towards black hides and a big reason is because of the CAB program. i'm not knocking the CAB program, what they've done is pretty brilliant from a marketing standpoint. but check out the USDA's requirements for "Angus" beef and you'll start to realize that your "Angus" steak is possibly anything but angus.

i spent years in the beef business and while angus beef is generally regarded as good beef, hereford beef is regarded just as highly (check out the sheer tests). an example of what is NOT highly regarded beef is a simm or limo...and i believe there are quite a few black hided ones out there anymore. but when i black animal comes into the ring, most everyone sits up and takes notice only/simply because it's black.

Hmmm maybe you need to do some research on limousin cattle. they are the no1 breed in the UK. The UK has a very stringent beef grading system, they are a butchers beast specialist all around the world. Angus are good for the japanese market where they like large amounts of fat runing through the muscle, "marbling". most Simmi and Limos are now genstar tested for the tenderness gene. ;-)

 

[dun]

Hmmm maybe you need to do some research on limousin cattle. they are the no1 breed in the UK. The UK has a very stringent beef grading system, they are a butchers beast specialist all around the world. Angus are good for the japanese market where they like large amounts of fat runing through the muscle, "marbling". most Simmi and Limos are now genstar tested for the tenderness gene. ;-)

The european grading system is compltely diffrerent then the American and I think Canadian system. What is desirable in one system isn't in the other. On this side of the pond marbling (quality grade) is generaly a higher value carcass then lean muscle (yield grade)

dun

 

[farmwife]

If we'll get into the mindset that we're grass farmers, then we'll understand that we've got to do what it takes to produce that grass. Here in the South, we have virtually no native grasses that can be depended upon to provide forage for our cows. Fertilizing pastures keeps the grass growing which keeps much of the Southern pastureland from reverting back to hardwood forest. In other areas of the country, there are native grasses and these regions are not heavily forested, so pasture maintenance will vary from Alabama to Idaho to the Texas Panhandle. If I did not maintain a fertilizer program on my pastures and never bushhogged again, I'd have 4 ft. tall sweetgums, persimmons, and Virginia pines in as many years where I've got tall fescue growing now.

Well said JT. :nod:

 

[Roadapple]

If we'll get into the mindset that we're grass farmers, then we'll understand that we've got to do what it takes to produce that grass. Here in the South, we have virtually no native grasses that can be depended upon to provide forage for our cows. Fertilizing pastures keeps the grass growing which keeps much of the Southern pastureland from reverting back to hardwood forest. In other areas of the country, there are native grasses and these regions are not heavily forested, so pasture maintenance will vary from Alabama to Idaho to the Texas Panhandle. If I did not maintain a fertilizer program on my pastures and never bushhogged again, I'd have 4 ft. tall sweetgums, persimmons, and Virginia pines in as many years where I've got tall fescue growing now.

Finally , someone whose maximizing his crop and using no equipment to harvest it. We fertilize corn, soybeans, wheat, etc. but don't maximize the crop we're growing our cattle on. Seems to me, if we had more grass, we could have more cattle harvesting it, and providing they are profitable in the first place, more profit in the end. But I could be wrong. Happened before.

 

[Hill Creek Farm]

Did anyone see my ad in the 2006 July Hereford World Ad or the Buckeye Trends catalog? If so, what did you think about my new bull and my donor cows Keysha and Keya? :cboy:

Yes, I saw your ad and Keysha (pg 67) definitely looks good. The bull, SHF Red Oak M326 R96 (pg 66) profiles well, I like seeing the great Feltons 517 in the pedigree, 205 day wt of 803 is impressive, heck of a butt, nice strong level top; but IF I was going to fault him.....he looks JUST a little postilegged in that photo. Keysha on the opposite page has almost perfect rear wheels (in her photo) a little sickle to the hock a little cushion on the pasterns. Red Oak "looks" (in this one photo like there is not enough slope in any of the pasterns and no sickle at all in his rear legs. I think it is just a bad shot on uneven ground; but it makes him look a little awkward. I know I am being hypercritical and did not notice the bulls feet at all until you brought it up and I opened the magazine (for about the 10th time this week). Keysha is a Hereford goddess and I am not a huge fan of Keynote; 15G on the bottom side on the other hand is a cow producing super STUD. Some people today may not like the perhaps excessive white; but I don't have a preference one way or another. Red Oak I would like to see walk; though if I was motivated enough to look up another pic where he was better set, I think I would be less wary of those rear wheels.

Brandon, The picture of Red Oak was taken on flat ground, but Fred Stivers the photographer slopped the picture of him a little. Keysha is truly our top donor cow. One of the most impressive donors in the Hereford Breed. Red Oak walks like a panther and none of his legs sway out like some show bulls have before. Red Oak will be on display in Denver 2007. We are selling breeding shares in him at the Denver sale. Also, we are selling a 1/3 interest in Keysha and will be showing a heifer calf out of Keysha sired by PW Victor Boomer P606. Thanks for your comments. :cboy:

 

[J. T.]

If we'll get into the mindset that we're grass farmers, then we'll understand that we've got to do what it takes to produce that grass. Here in the South, we have virtually no native grasses that can be depended upon to provide forage for our cows. Fertilizing pastures keeps the grass growing which keeps much of the Southern pastureland from reverting back to hardwood forest. In other areas of the country, there are native grasses and these regions are not heavily forested, so pasture maintenance will vary from Alabama to Idaho to the Texas Panhandle. If I did not maintain a fertilizer program on my pastures and never bushhogged again, I'd have 4 ft. tall sweetgums, persimmons, and Virginia pines in as many years where I've got tall fescue growing now.

Finally , someone whose maximizing his crop and using no equipment to harvest it. We fertilize corn, soybeans, wheat, etc. but don't maximize the crop we're growing our cattle on. Seems to me, if we had more grass, we could have more cattle harvesting it, and providing they are profitable in the first place, more profit in the end. But I could be wrong. Happened before.

Well, the Lord blessed me last fall with plenty of rain from Katrina the day I fertilized my fescue. I kept the cows off of it until December 10 and let them graze an area for about two weeks until moving them to the next area. I didn't feed any hay and only supplemented with a little shelled corn on cold rainy nights. The cows came through the winter just fine. If we get the rains this fall I intend on doing the same thing, but expanded my stockpiled acreage. I sure like the cows feeding themselves instead of me having to do it for them

 

[S.R.R.]

Hmmm maybe you need to do some research on limousin cattle. they are the no1 breed in the UK. The UK has a very stringent beef grading system, they are a butchers beast specialist all around the world. Angus are good for the japanese market where they like large amounts of fat runing through the muscle, "marbling". most Simmi and Limos are now genstar tested for the tenderness gene. ;-)

The european grading system is compltely diffrerent then the American and I think Canadian system. What is desirable in one system isn't in the other. On this side of the pond marbling (quality grade) is generaly a higher value carcass then lean muscle (yield grade)

dun

Dun you are right on the money! I just returned from a trip to Italy were I visited the testing center for the Piedmontese breed in the Piedmont area of northern Italy. Very interesting stuff they come right out and tell you that the meat from these cattle is not recommended for the BBQ there is not near enough fat in it. They recommend roasting it or boiling it. I will tell you it was not as flavourful without the fat but was as tender as all get out!! Wow was it tender! They said that the European grading system is based more on yield which is why these type of doubled muscled cattle sell well there.

 

[Alan]

I didn't read all 7 pages, cause I got all teared up and couldn't believe Bez was trashing Herefords.... I'm still kind of choked up.... I think I'll go and kick the dog.

Brings a tear to my one good eye.

Alan

 

[VanC]

Maybe we should start a pros and cons of Angus thread. That should be fun. ;-)

 

[Bez?]

I didn't read all 7 pages, cause I got all teared up and couldn't believe Bez was trashing Herefords.... I'm still kind of choked up.... I think I'll go and kick the dog.

Brings a tear to my one good eye.

Alan

Alan - you have made my day!

Bez?

 

[MikeC]

Maybe we should start a pros and cons of Angus thread. That should be fun. ;-)

There are "Cons" in the Angus breed? :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Bez?]

Maybe we should start a pros and cons of Angus thread. That should be fun. ;-)

There are "Cons" in the Angus breed? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now Mike - maybe you and frankie can tell us the "pros" and let others provide the "cons"?

Bez?

 

[MikeC]

Maybe we should start a pros and cons of Angus thread. That should be fun. ;-)

There are "Cons" in the Angus breed? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now Mike - maybe you and frankie can tell us the "pros" and let others provide the "cons"?

Bez?

Imagine that. Me and Frankie on the same team. :lol:

First "Pro" that comes to Mind...........

They can't be eating much.........cause they spend all day in the pond. :lol:

 

[Bez?]

Maybe we should start a pros and cons of Angus thread. That should be fun. ;-)

There are "Cons" in the Angus breed? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now Mike - maybe you and frankie can tell us the "pros" and let others provide the "cons"?

Bez?

Imagine that. Me and Frankie on the same team. :lol:

First "Pro" that comes to Mind...........

They can't be eating much.........cause they spend all day in the pond. :lol:

Oh - ok - cheap to feed - pro number 1.



Bez?

 

[warpaint]

"Can't we all just get along?"

 

[Bez?]

"Can't we all just get along?"quote]

What in heavens name brought this comment on?

Bez?

 

[warpaint]

"Can't we all just get along?"quote]

What in heavens name brought this comment on?

Bez?

The arguin over what breed is best. ;-)