Steer breeds

[Calhoun Farm]

I've been attending feeder calf and regular sales lately and noticed about the only steer breeds I've seen is angus, angus x charolias, charolias, angus x holstein. Oh, and very few hereford's. As many beef breeds as there is how come you don't see more calves of those breeds selling?

 

[dun]

Popularity and breed association marketing

 

[smnherf]

What makes you think that there wasn't some Limosin, Simmental, Gelvbeih or saler in some of those feeder catlle. It takes a very well trained eye to tell the difference in an all black calf?

Sometimes what you see in one or two sales is simply a snapshot of whats available in the immediate area and not really a good indicator of what is available regionally or even larger scale. Some times it is a case of a couple of large breeders in an area and there simply is more of those genetics available in the area. Supply and demand is a factor too.

 

[Calhoun Farm]

The two sales I've been to are about 75miles apart. The sale up to the north gets alot of KY and VA cattle to so thats why I ask. In my area, and others also I'm sure, Angus brings the most money. Or should I say "all black cattle", good hereford steers won't bring what an avg black calf brings.

 

[M.Magis]

The two sales I've been to are about 75miles apart. The sale up to the north gets alot of KY and VA cattle to so thats why I ask. In my area, and others also I'm sure, Angus brings the most money. Or should I say "all black cattle", good hereford steers won't bring what an avg black calf brings.

I think you answered your own question.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

The black advertising is responsible IMO, a good Hereford is just as good when you peel the skin off in my opinion.

You might want to buy a few of those Herefords if there at a pretty good discount, they might bring a little less, but they also cost less and they will gain good, I have always liked buying the first step down from the highest cattle to feed.

 

[kenny thomas]

The two sales I've been to are about 75miles apart. The sale up to the north gets alot of KY and VA cattle to so thats why I ask. In my area, and others also I'm sure, Angus brings the most money. Or should I say "all black cattle", good hereford steers won't bring what an avg black calf brings.

What sale did you go to that had Va cattle? Very few leave here going to TN. Just curious.
But also very few of the very few that leave would be angus. Almost all my calves are black and most have very little angus in them. I still think a Charolais bull crossed with a black cow makes a calf thats hard to beat.

 

[SPH]

The black advertising is responsible IMO, a good Hereford is just as good when you peel the skin off in my opinion.

You might want to buy a few of those Herefords if there at a pretty good discount, they might bring a little less, but they also cost less and they will gain good, I have always liked buying the first step down from the highest cattle to feed.

It is amazing how you can go to different parts of the country and get way opposite opinions on Herefords. I'm admittedly a little biased being a Hereford breeder but I think here in the midwest Hereford cattle is selling very well and people are finally realizing the value of the Hereford breed both commercial and purebred operations. For the past 3 years all our purebred Hereford yearling bulls have been bought by commercial breeders who are looking to breed them to their black cows and cash in at the sale barn as black baldy calves are bringing premium prices right now around here. One buyer even told us he sold all his bulls and breeds nothing but Hereford bulls now as they are putting an extra 100 lbs on his calves. The commercial breeder right down the road from us finally decided to AI some of their black cows to Hereford bulls this year and we can't wait to see what they think of the black baldy calves they get.

Last year at the Iowa Beef Expo the Herefords had the top sale average across all breeds and has been either the top or top 3 sale averages for the past few years now as well which is a good barometer of where the breed stands I think. like the poster above said, they gain well and are cost effective to feed and will make you some good profit margins. If you find someone discounting black baldies at the sale barn jump on that as I bet you they make you more money than the black cattle that are going for more on the same sale.

 

[Calhoun Farm]

The black advertising is responsible IMO, a good Hereford is just as good when you peel the skin off in my opinion.

You might want to buy a few of those Herefords if there at a pretty good discount, they might bring a little less, but they also cost less and they will gain good, I have always liked buying the first step down from the highest cattle to feed.

I agree, when you go to Walmart to buy a steak the package doesn't say "certified hereford beef".

 

[Jake]

The black advertising is responsible IMO, a good Hereford is just as good when you peel the skin off in my opinion.

You might want to buy a few of those Herefords if there at a pretty good discount, they might bring a little less, but they also cost less and they will gain good, I have always liked buying the first step down from the highest cattle to feed.

I agree, when you go to Walmart to buy a steak the package doesn't say "certified hereford beef".

There is a store here that sells CHB. I've had it a couple of times. It's pretty good, you can just barely taste the pinkeye. :nod:

 

[M.Magis]

I agree, when you go to Walmart to buy a steak the package doesn't say "certified hereford beef".

We have a local chain here that carries nothing but Certified Hereford Beef.

 

[Calhoun Farm]

There's a guy local who raises limousin cattle, you can buy his steaks at his house or the local organic store.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

The black advertising is responsible IMO, a good Hereford is just as good when you peel the skin off in my opinion.

You might want to buy a few of those Herefords if there at a pretty good discount, they might bring a little less, but they also cost less and they will gain good, I have always liked buying the first step down from the highest cattle to feed.

It is amazing how you can go to different parts of the country and get way opposite opinions on Herefords. I'm admittedly a little biased being a Hereford breeder but I think here in the midwest Hereford cattle is selling very well and people are finally realizing the value of the Hereford breed both commercial and purebred operations. For the past 3 years all our purebred Hereford yearling bulls have been bought by commercial breeders who are looking to breed them to their black cows and cash in at the sale barn as black baldy calves are bringing premium prices right now around here. One buyer even told us he sold all his bulls and breeds nothing but Hereford bulls now as they are putting an extra 100 lbs on his calves. The commercial breeder right down the road from us finally decided to AI some of their black cows to Hereford bulls this year and we can't wait to see what they think of the black baldy calves they get.

Last year at the Iowa Beef Expo the Herefords had the top sale average across all breeds and has been either the top or top 3 sale averages for the past few years now as well which is a good barometer of where the breed stands I think. like the poster above said, they gain well and are cost effective to feed and will make you some good profit margins. If you find someone discounting black baldies at the sale barn jump on that as I bet you they make you more money than the black cattle that are going for more on the same sale.

Here a black baldie and a yellow baldie will sell right with the black cattle if there good, but a Hereford will be about 10 to 15cwt cheaper.

What I really like is that Hereford cows are also discounted some here, so that's my favorite thing to buy.

 

[Stocker Steve]

What I really like is that Hereford cows are also discounted some here, so that's my favorite thing to buy.

Got started in cow calf by buying running age Herf, rwf, and red cows back in 2008 and 2009. Paid $550 to $650 for most of them. These Herfs did not raise the biggest calf but they were pretty bullet proof. Now I am cullin' them hard and replacing them with mostly bwf heifers.

Ran BA bulls for a while, then Limi, then Balancer. I think a Herf or SH F1 replacement is the way to go. The GV x Herf my current F1 heifer favorite. Seems like certain cows throw good heifers consistently - - so I keep these "select heifers" even though it may be is cheaper initially to buy at the sales barn.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

What I really like is that Hereford cows are also discounted some here, so that's my favorite thing to buy.

Got started in cow calf by buying running age Herf, rwf, and red cows back in 2008 and 2009. Paid $550 to $650 for most of them. These Herfs did not raise the biggest calf but they were pretty bullet proof. Now I am cullin' them hard and replacing them with mostly bwf heifers.

Ran BA bulls for a while, then Limi, then Balancer. I think a Herf or SH F1 replacement is the way to go. The GV x Herf my current F1 heifer favorite. Seems like certain cows throw good heifers consistently - - so I keep these "select heifers" even though it may be is cheaper initially to buy at the sales barn.

You got some bargains, nothing wrong with that, I do the same. But if you buy the right ones a Hereford will wean as big if a calf as any cow.

 

[Calhoun Farm]

Last sell I went to hereford and char cows wouldn't even sell by the head and they were heavy bred. People just wouldn't bid on them. I was there to buy steers or I would have brought a couple of them home. Easy money IMO. Even if the cow isn't the best you can make money on the calf then sell momma.

 

[denvermartinfarms]

Last sell I went to hereford and char cows wouldn't even sell by the head and they were heavy bred. People just wouldn't bid on them. I was there to buy steers or I would have brought a couple of them home. Easy money IMO. Even if the cow isn't the best you can make money on the calf then sell momma.

Yep, if they have a decent bag buy them, let them calve then split them up, weigh the cow and sell the calves for nearly what you paid for the cow, that's a heck of a grazing bill for a few months.

 

[Calhoun Farm]

I'm going to try and go back next weekend, if they run any through like that again I may buy 1 or 2. We have way more hay than we can even feed so a couple big mommas won't hurt us.

 

[sim.-ang.king]

The black advertising is responsible IMO, a good Hereford is just as good when you peel the skin off in my opinion.

You might want to buy a few of those Herefords if there at a pretty good discount, they might bring a little less, but they also cost less and they will gain good, I have always liked buying the first step down from the highest cattle to feed.

I agree, when you go to Walmart to buy a steak the package doesn't say "certified hereford beef".

There is a store here that sells CHB. I've had it a couple of times. It's pretty good, you can just barely taste the pinkeye. :nod:

I like it better when it has a little bit of prolapse mixed in with the pinkeye. ;-)

 

[denvermartinfarms]

I'm going to try and go back next weekend, if they run any through like that again I may buy 1 or 2. We have way more hay than we can even feed so a couple big mommas won't hurt us.

The only way that kind of deal doesn't work is if they die, other than that you will make money guaranteed.