Stupid Question

[madbeancounter1]

Now that Jake's brought up the question of favorite breeds is there any truth to what I heard at the sale barn that the Maine Angus X was being recognized as a breed in it's own right?

Just curious... my boss puts Angus bulls and his Maine cows and Maine Angus X cows then registers them as % or the ones with lesser Maine blood registers them as "Mainetainers".

We have good results with growth and the cows make good mama's. Those that we have kept as replacements don't seem to have any trouble with calving... course that could be the Angus bull helping them out, too.

 

[certherfbeef]

It is called a maintainer. Just another clubby thing. My theory is this: The angus breeders started to want in the clubby world. So they started breeding their angus cows to Maine bulls to add quarter and bone. Then they still got their behinds wooped in the clubby shows. And could no longer compete with the maine due to lack of quarter and bone. (vicious cycle aint it?) So started their own breed to win their own shows...

Now there is a class just for a maintainer at the NAILE. Go figure. ;-)

 

[madbeancounter1]

permit me to ask another stupid question.

Why put a Maine bull on an Angus cow and not the other way around?

Seems to me that you'd have a better result that way. Course I am a green a freshly sprouted wheat... Please educate me.

 

[certherfbeef]

Can't answer mad bean. It might be that way. That was just my dimented theory behind the maintainer breed.

I use composite bulls in my commercial herd with lots of maine in them, I like the maine influence. I just don't agree with the addition of yet another bred up composite with papers.

Sorry, I'm just smarting off. :oops:

 

[madbeancounter1]

No problem ;-) I'm just trying to mine your brain for anything I can use in the future.

 

[Frankie]

Now that Jake's brought up the question of favorite breeds is there any truth to what I heard at the sale barn that the Maine Angus X was being recognized as a breed in it's own right?

Just curious... my boss puts Angus bulls and his Maine cows and Maine Angus X cows then registers them as % or the ones with lesser Maine blood registers them as "Mainetainers".

We have good results with growth and the cows make good mama's. Those that we have kept as replacements don't seem to have any trouble with calving... course that could be the Angus bull helping them out, too.

I think that the only organization that recognizes them as a separate breed is the Maine-Anjou Association. They are, quite frankly, struggling and will register animals with only a low percentage of Maine blood. They hope by OFFICIALLY incorporating Angus and Red Angus genetics into the breed and registering them, they'll keep the Association afloat. The Shorthorn Association is doing much the same thing with their Durham Red (I think that's what they call it) cattle. I hope things go well for both breeds.

 

[Frankie]

permit me to ask another stupid question.

Why put a Maine bull on an Angus cow and not the other way around?

Seems to me that you'd have a better result that way. Course I am a green a freshly sprouted wheat... Please educate me.

One of your biggest expenses is feeding cows. Generally, Angus cows are smaller than Maine cows, so, hopefully, the cost of maintaining the Angus cows would be less than a herd of Maine cows.

 

[bigbull338]

that cross was crated to get the angus more into the show steers.as well as the club calf market.if you look at the show steers.you wont find meny angus or herefords being shown.b/c their body stature is to dang small.mains are big boned an framed.so thats why you put the main bull on angus cows.so you can get get bigger bone on the calves. scott

 

[madbeancounter1]

for the sake of further education.... What about the Maine bulls causing calving problems in the Angus cows or do you just look for low BW and high WW epd's (I have been learning something :lol: I think).

I understand the rationale behind the feed consumption and wasn't really thinking that way. I was looking at the equation of Maine on Angus vs Angus on Maine and trying to learn if one direction would outperform the other.

 

[bigbull338]

yes with using main bulls on angus cows you would be going for calving bulls.so you would not have calving problems.scott

 

[certherfbeef]

I use this bull on my "clubby type" heifers. That way I don't have to sacrafice a years worth of calves just to get them on the ground. He is 3/4 maine.

Will add bone and quarter, moderate frame and add LOTS of maternal to the calves. Problem is I can't seem to price them right...I can't manage to keep one.
Here is the link to his pedigree... He works good for me and shouldn't cause any problems in angus cows
http://onlinebullstud.com/Maine/TLM%20Bouncer.html

 

[madbeancounter1]

Thanks... I appreciate the education.

Now maybe I'm just dense but does that mean if one were to use a Maine bull like Cert does that throws small calves that the results are likely to be similar to using an Angus bull on a Maine cow.

I mean are you going to get similar type animals if all factors are equal. Maybe I don't know how to ask what I am trying to learn.

Not trying to be a pain just want to have a good answer so my kids think I know more than I do. :shock: :lol: :cboy:

 

[showme]

Down south if it aint got Stripes are it aint black then you wont get a whole lot of money.

 

[certherfbeef]

Down south if it aint got Stripes are it aint black then you wont get a whole lot of money.

We are NOT talking money here. Keep your behind out of the conversation please!!

 

[certherfbeef]

Now maybe I'm just dense but does that mean if one were to use a Maine bull like Cert does that throws small calves that the results are likely to be similar to using an Angus bull on a Maine cow.

We are going to have to get txag the resident genetics guru in on this after I flub it up. But I'll take a stab at it with my halfwit theory.

My opinion is that, I need to use the bull to correct the flaws on the cows. I need to mate the cow's weaknesses to the bull's strengths.
So if udders are fine on the cattle but I want a thicker quartered, heavier boned offspring, I'll use the maine.

If on those same cows I want a more feminine appearence (finer bone and cleaner head and neck), in theory I'll use the angus.

I do not have black angus in my herd. Not that I put there non-diluted at least. I have some stout clubby type heifers that I want to add maternal traits to...I used a red angus bull. I also feel that by using that particular bull I will not give up as much natural thickness as I would by using a black angus.

All just an opinion here. Now txag can come in and straighten out what I screwed up. :oops:

 

[bigbull338]

certs your right in your thinking.you want the bull to correct the weaknesses in your cows.wich in turn will produce the type of calves that you want.scott

 

[Angus Guy]

certherfbeef

I am going to make a ass out of myself, so please forgive me. Do you happen to have a picture of your bull that shows him in his working clothes. He looks like pretty good bull through.

 

[certherfbeef]

certherfbeef

I am going to make a ass out of myself, so please forgive me. Do you happen to have a picture of your bull that shows him in his working clothes. He looks like pretty good bull through.

Sorry angus guy, that is just an AI bull. And the only picture I've ever seen of him.

 

[Angus Guy]

Thanks cert
He should throw some good show steers.