I'd like to see studies done using the same cows on all bulls... but that's a can of worms. Still, it would be the only way to really get the best results.
That's exactly why I'm not a fan of pushing the carcass or any other single trait selection, and there really isn't a such thing as a curve bender on all traits either. Even though a lot of bulls show that on paper. Nothing works in the pasture in the real world like it does on paper.
Its just really odd to me. We run BA bulls but have never put an emphasis on carcass. We always bought from what seems like working, Angus bulls. We actually ended up with 3 bulls in total. I grabbed a smaller meat wagon for half the price as the "carcass bulls" that I couldn't pass up. Hes doing fine. Holding up good. No problems. Both the "carcass bulls" are trash.
I ran only registered Angus bulls for over 20 years, most were AI sired and a couple ET. Seemed like it was first one thing then another after a while and was having to replace bulls pretty often.
Both ours were ET bulls.
Yeah, it's bad when they don't work out a lot of money down the drain.
From what I have seen over the years, the AI bull of the month aka the latest greatest EPD wonder gets used heavily across the board by many registered multipliers hoping to breed the next great one. Those registered heifers are marketed at premium prices just like their bull counterparts. Stack a few generations of high growth, carcass, curve bender do it all wonders and then try to make a make a cowherd out of that. Been there done that.
True about the disappointment, but I don't think many of those registered daughters are ever marketed to be terminal cattle, they just end up that way after being failures in the field.
How have they fallen apart and why do you think they're not functioning to breed on pasture well?...besides the lack of calving. Is it the weight or small legs....why aren't they breeding well?
They lose condition to the point of having to be brought back in prematurely. Our F1s and Xs are out grazing and they are panting in the shade, laid up by a tank. We had to catch one yesterday in the pasture that could barley get in the trailer.
Yes, I found it interesting that the Enhance calves went 50% Prime and the other calves had 0% Prime. The choice/select spread is usually a significant amount and then the CAB and Prime premiums are on top of that. If there is excessive trim fat it lowers the yield grade but that deduction is small in comparison. The bottom line is that top quality carcasses pays the bills. The study used F1 Hereford x Angus cows bred to Angus bulls so they were all British breeding which would give better results than Brahma or Continental crosses but it shows what can be done with proper bull selection.
Brute as you said it isn't all of the black Angus bulls just those two, how do you know it's the marbling and not something else causing the problem?
I never said it was the marbling. I am am just stating I bought two ET, carcass bulls. Neither has been able to survive in our conditions next to their other BA counter parts. Every one can draw their own conclusions but I will not be a test dummy for that deal any more.
Are the sire and dam from warm weather climate? I ask because I have found that I don't have much luck with ai sires from cold weather climates and/or not from the fescue belt.
