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Replacement females???
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<blockquote data-quote="Ebenezer" data-source="post: 1843399" data-attributes="member: 24565"><p>Not sure that I understand the question. </p><p></p><p>Adequate frame score of a market calf is a profitable selection. Pure pounds at weaning to pick the heaviest heifers was proven out in the old BHIA days of selecting only for weaning weights for me - got a lot of fatter heifers and more milk: too much. Early calved heifers are the first choice for me. The next thing is the dam's record. Weaning weights are better in the 95 to100% range to hold to the type and some of the below 100% are coming from aged cows which needs to be considered. To always select for high growth is a self fulfilling prophesy: you get larger cattle and more milk. </p><p></p><p>The question for you (I cannot answer for you) is: if the heifers that are average can produce the desirable steers in the frame and weight that you want and calve in the 60 day season (or less) every year? </p><p></p><p>This whole discussion faults on the lack of adequate herd descriptions and stated goals. I breed for more of a do-all herd: great mothers, good sale barn results, useful replacement bulls, sale bulls... Others (the majority) go for the terminal types in high growth bulls and whatever cows. Larry Leonhardt thought in terms of paternal and maternal herds and selling all crosses of the two as feedlot calves. He saw the maternal herd producing great females and bulls used to make more great females. I cannot do that. I am one herd and so I balance the two. If I have to put my finger on the scales, it goes to the maternal side: great mother, longevity, early breeder once a year even if most calves are herd average. Herd average is not a sellout - it fits the environment.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ebenezer, post: 1843399, member: 24565"] Not sure that I understand the question. Adequate frame score of a market calf is a profitable selection. Pure pounds at weaning to pick the heaviest heifers was proven out in the old BHIA days of selecting only for weaning weights for me - got a lot of fatter heifers and more milk: too much. Early calved heifers are the first choice for me. The next thing is the dam's record. Weaning weights are better in the 95 to100% range to hold to the type and some of the below 100% are coming from aged cows which needs to be considered. To always select for high growth is a self fulfilling prophesy: you get larger cattle and more milk. The question for you (I cannot answer for you) is: if the heifers that are average can produce the desirable steers in the frame and weight that you want and calve in the 60 day season (or less) every year? This whole discussion faults on the lack of adequate herd descriptions and stated goals. I breed for more of a do-all herd: great mothers, good sale barn results, useful replacement bulls, sale bulls... Others (the majority) go for the terminal types in high growth bulls and whatever cows. Larry Leonhardt thought in terms of paternal and maternal herds and selling all crosses of the two as feedlot calves. He saw the maternal herd producing great females and bulls used to make more great females. I cannot do that. I am one herd and so I balance the two. If I have to put my finger on the scales, it goes to the maternal side: great mother, longevity, early breeder once a year even if most calves are herd average. Herd average is not a sellout - it fits the environment. [/QUOTE]
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