Hopefully the gentleman will not bring you sickly calves if he has a good reputation for buying cattle for larger farms. If he knows one of his best customers sent you, he will not let that customer down. Knowing that you are starting off, his reputation for bringing you sick animals would not be good. But sometimes people will pull some doozies on you. I agree with Jeanne, just make sure that the weight goes with the age of the calf. If they are stunted, and small, when they begin to calve, the baby may not be able to pass through the pelvic area from not having enough room. Just ask dun and Jeanne how much fun it is when you start pulling something through a hole smaller than it is supposed to fit through. When calves are developing, minerals and food play a big part pm their reproductive system and everything else inside the cow. A heifer is born with so many eggs and as she develops, the nutrition that she receives can affect the development of the eggs that she drops to be fertilized for years to come. I have seen cows that continually drop calves that look like sticks, no matter how much clover is in front of the cow and calf. The mamma cow is not a meat wagon, but the calf is a lot uglier than she is. A good bull didn't couldn't save her offspring either. So, I would want a heifer that had a good nutrional background vs.a dickweed pasture, and sagegrass hay and a white salt block occasionally. The man that purchases from the buyer, that you like, have him check out the calves, and see if he feels the age and the growth match. Right now, fluffy hair is hard to see through. Sort of like wetting down a poodle!!!! :lol2:
Chuckie
Chuckie