farmerjan
Well-known member
I would either go angus, or a good black limousin bull. There are easy calving limi's around. Even a black simmental, but calving problems could be a consideration for something with dairy in it for first calf heifers.
Yeah, we are in a "black cattle" area too and the reds get docked. Don't mind when we get a red heifer born as we just usually keep them for replacements.
I have a vet dehorn any older cows. Uses a nerve block so it isn't as painful, uses a big pair of dehorners, does the bleeders and stuffs cotton in the holes. Shot of antibiotic. We watch for possible infection for a few days and they seem to do fine. When the animals all have horns, they tend to respect each other better, but I've got one that became a raging witch with her horns and she got a real comeuppance when they were taken off and she didn't have them to use anymore.
Have a longhorn heifer that I left the horns on. Never had used then as more than a shake of the head, "don't get too close" thing. I often see her going head to head, literally, with several heifers she grew up with in playing pushing contests, and when they are done, never tries to hook them. She has taken a dislike to one of my hol x cows and will try to corner her in a tight space, but doesn't bother her in the field. Gets along with all the angus and she is my "lawn ornament". She does not like dogs in the field though and that is fine with me.
Yeah, we are in a "black cattle" area too and the reds get docked. Don't mind when we get a red heifer born as we just usually keep them for replacements.
I have a vet dehorn any older cows. Uses a nerve block so it isn't as painful, uses a big pair of dehorners, does the bleeders and stuffs cotton in the holes. Shot of antibiotic. We watch for possible infection for a few days and they seem to do fine. When the animals all have horns, they tend to respect each other better, but I've got one that became a raging witch with her horns and she got a real comeuppance when they were taken off and she didn't have them to use anymore.
Have a longhorn heifer that I left the horns on. Never had used then as more than a shake of the head, "don't get too close" thing. I often see her going head to head, literally, with several heifers she grew up with in playing pushing contests, and when they are done, never tries to hook them. She has taken a dislike to one of my hol x cows and will try to corner her in a tight space, but doesn't bother her in the field. Gets along with all the angus and she is my "lawn ornament". She does not like dogs in the field though and that is fine with me.