BRAFORDMAN
Well-known member
I have just gotten started in the brahman business, but i do know alot about the bred and I am friends with some of the best breeders in the US. I am following their advice.
No I do not breed my brahman to calve at 24 months. Most brahman dont even cycle until 24 months old. They get bred between 18 months and 24 months. We (brahman breeders) want our brahman cattle to get as much growth as they can before having their first calf that is another reason why we breed them late.
Accuration is not like show feed or grain it has a limiter in it. It is used to help the brahman utilize their forage better. When the brahman or any other cattle have good grass or hay and they are on Accuration it puts them in top condition. Good condition means a better chance of them coming into heat earlier after calving and better conception rates. Neither my brahman calves nor my commercial calves are creep fed. They are raised on their mothers milk and grass( the brahman calves usually will not touch the accuration). From weaning until breeding age my brahman are fed something. I usually feed show feed or some kind of developer. My brahman heifers are not fed alot just enough to push them along. The best age to start brahman on the accuration is around breeding age which is around 18 months. If the brahman have access to very good grass then I can start them on accuration at 14-16 months.
I also would not make a profit by using accuration on my commercial cows. The commercial market is not as high as it is in other states. An 8 month old calves grass fed that weighs 600-700 lbs will not bring $800 like some other states or atleast that is what i hear it would sell for 600 maybe 650 if we are lucky. A polled or horned registered brahman calf will sell 4 or 5 times higher than a commercial calve.
I am just following the advice of top brahman breeders to see what works best for me and my cattle. I know some brahman breeders who use accuration and i know some who do not. My commercial cattle have been pretty much grass fed their whole lives, but brahman need a little more input. I put more into my brahman than i do my commercial cows, but I see a profit from each herd.
No I do not breed my brahman to calve at 24 months. Most brahman dont even cycle until 24 months old. They get bred between 18 months and 24 months. We (brahman breeders) want our brahman cattle to get as much growth as they can before having their first calf that is another reason why we breed them late.
Accuration is not like show feed or grain it has a limiter in it. It is used to help the brahman utilize their forage better. When the brahman or any other cattle have good grass or hay and they are on Accuration it puts them in top condition. Good condition means a better chance of them coming into heat earlier after calving and better conception rates. Neither my brahman calves nor my commercial calves are creep fed. They are raised on their mothers milk and grass( the brahman calves usually will not touch the accuration). From weaning until breeding age my brahman are fed something. I usually feed show feed or some kind of developer. My brahman heifers are not fed alot just enough to push them along. The best age to start brahman on the accuration is around breeding age which is around 18 months. If the brahman have access to very good grass then I can start them on accuration at 14-16 months.
I also would not make a profit by using accuration on my commercial cows. The commercial market is not as high as it is in other states. An 8 month old calves grass fed that weighs 600-700 lbs will not bring $800 like some other states or atleast that is what i hear it would sell for 600 maybe 650 if we are lucky. A polled or horned registered brahman calf will sell 4 or 5 times higher than a commercial calve.
I am just following the advice of top brahman breeders to see what works best for me and my cattle. I know some brahman breeders who use accuration and i know some who do not. My commercial cattle have been pretty much grass fed their whole lives, but brahman need a little more input. I put more into my brahman than i do my commercial cows, but I see a profit from each herd.
