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Truth or Judgement on Breeding
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<blockquote data-quote="Jeanne - Simme Valley" data-source="post: 1588145" data-attributes="member: 968"><p>Wow - just got onto this thread. Long read.</p><p>Back to original post.</p><p>AI sires vs local raised "live" bulls.</p><p>Really?? There is no difference if you are comparing a truly good breeder's herd. Yes, there are Joe Blow's that have registered cattle that doesn't have a clue about genetics. But, a true BREEDER can have bulls for sale just as good as any AI bull. Where do the AI bulls come from? good BREEDERS.</p><p></p><p>For most of 50 years, I have been 100% AI. I use bulls born all over, I don't care where they are born. Bred to my cows, I have never seen a difference where some sired calves don't perform as well as others due to my environment. As said, you have to do your homework before picking a bull - live or frozen.</p><p></p><p>I may not view the dams in person, but I talk to a lot of people and the DAM is most important to me. I do not breed for males. Before anyone should even think about buying a bull, they need to know what their goals are TO MAKE MONEY. Whether it is pounds of beef, future females that will make cows, show calves, bulls, etc. I think most on here know, I make money on show heifers. Good money. But, my steers are half my calf crop. So, pounds of beef at the end of nursing time, reflects a lot on my cash flow. All my steers, more than pay for their dams yearly expenses. </p><p></p><p>Not all breeds are soooo focused on EPD's (mainly CARCASS EPD's). I good give a rat's ___ (well, you know) what the carcass EPD's tell me - other than REA because that indicates muscling that I want. I have had bulls on bull tests for as many years as they were available here in NY, and have topped, or near topped almost every test. I have entered steers in feedlot/carcass Cornell run programs for every year they were here. My steers were ALWAYS the top MONEY MAKING group. Might not have always been the heaviest, most marbled, biggest rib eye area, highest gain, etc - but they made the most money. Kinda the type of males I want to produce.</p><p></p><p>AI sires pampered - well, yeah, most likely. But, once they are collected "most" AI sires that I know of (SIMMENTAL) are leased out and used for pasture breeding.</p><p></p><p>I liked Ebenizer's comment: "Cows are the key & bulls are a by-product." I breed every cow with the goal of getting a heifer. If I get a good bull, oh well, lucky me. I've mentioned it many times, I castrate "most" all my males at birth. They have to be special to get to retain his nuts. And then every time they go through the chute, they have to prove they deserve to keep them. Sell to repeat customers year in & year out. Get orders for bulls before calving season, because they know they won't be available for long. Only keep until steers are sold after preconditioning, because if not sold, they are castrated and shipped with the steers.</p><p></p><p>And, I've lost track of who said it, but the show ring "generally" wants MODERATE frame, scale mashers.</p><p></p><p>Good thread, but it was a marathon to read!!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Jeanne - Simme Valley, post: 1588145, member: 968"] Wow - just got onto this thread. Long read. Back to original post. AI sires vs local raised "live" bulls. Really?? There is no difference if you are comparing a truly good breeder's herd. Yes, there are Joe Blow's that have registered cattle that doesn't have a clue about genetics. But, a true BREEDER can have bulls for sale just as good as any AI bull. Where do the AI bulls come from? good BREEDERS. For most of 50 years, I have been 100% AI. I use bulls born all over, I don't care where they are born. Bred to my cows, I have never seen a difference where some sired calves don't perform as well as others due to my environment. As said, you have to do your homework before picking a bull - live or frozen. I may not view the dams in person, but I talk to a lot of people and the DAM is most important to me. I do not breed for males. Before anyone should even think about buying a bull, they need to know what their goals are TO MAKE MONEY. Whether it is pounds of beef, future females that will make cows, show calves, bulls, etc. I think most on here know, I make money on show heifers. Good money. But, my steers are half my calf crop. So, pounds of beef at the end of nursing time, reflects a lot on my cash flow. All my steers, more than pay for their dams yearly expenses. Not all breeds are soooo focused on EPD's (mainly CARCASS EPD's). I good give a rat's ___ (well, you know) what the carcass EPD's tell me - other than REA because that indicates muscling that I want. I have had bulls on bull tests for as many years as they were available here in NY, and have topped, or near topped almost every test. I have entered steers in feedlot/carcass Cornell run programs for every year they were here. My steers were ALWAYS the top MONEY MAKING group. Might not have always been the heaviest, most marbled, biggest rib eye area, highest gain, etc - but they made the most money. Kinda the type of males I want to produce. AI sires pampered - well, yeah, most likely. But, once they are collected "most" AI sires that I know of (SIMMENTAL) are leased out and used for pasture breeding. I liked Ebenizer's comment: "Cows are the key & bulls are a by-product." I breed every cow with the goal of getting a heifer. If I get a good bull, oh well, lucky me. I've mentioned it many times, I castrate "most" all my males at birth. They have to be special to get to retain his nuts. And then every time they go through the chute, they have to prove they deserve to keep them. Sell to repeat customers year in & year out. Get orders for bulls before calving season, because they know they won't be available for long. Only keep until steers are sold after preconditioning, because if not sold, they are castrated and shipped with the steers. And, I've lost track of who said it, but the show ring "generally" wants MODERATE frame, scale mashers. Good thread, but it was a marathon to read!! [/QUOTE]
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