Weaning 2014

[Backbone Ranch]

We were able to move the cows to the corrals with ease this morning. We got everything weighed and separated without any issue. Our bull calves were about 20 pounds lighter than I would have liked, but our heifers were quite a bit heavier than in the past. However, we did wean the biggest bull calf and heifer calf to date today. Our largest bull calf was 710 lbs. His dam is about a frame score 5 and weighed 1540 lbs. Our largest heifer was 614 lbs. And her dam is a frame score 4 and weighed 1,485 lbs. She is an extremely easy keeper. Here are some pics of our 2014 weaned Murray Grey calves.

This bull calf was the one that weighed 710 lbs. He was 82 lbs at birth.

Here is a pic of another one of our bull calves. He is sired by our 2 1/2 year old herd bull, and will be kept as a back up bull for the time being. Both parents were a frame score 3.

This heifer weighed 592 lbs at weaning. She was 76 lbs at birth. We plan to keep her as a replacement heifer. Her dam is 6 1/2 years old.

This heifer was born much later than everything else in our herd. However, her dam bred on the first cycle this year and we will be keeping this heifer as a replacement as well. She was 66 lbs at birth and weighed 500 lbs today. She was born on April 25th and had an average daily gain of 2.14 lbs per day.

What are your thoughts on them?

 

[Nesikep]

They're very nice, and those are good gains for smaller framed animals.. I only have a couple cows that come close to it, one is a frame 6 and usually will wean a 750 lb bull or 675 lb heifer.
(by weigh tape)
Your calves all have nice backs, meaty butts, and full bellies, and a feature I always look for in my replacements... the boxy look that comes from a full heart and waist girth.

When was that heavy bull calf born?

 

[Taurus]

Don't care about the first bull. I like second bull better, he is more bullish than the first one.

 

[AllForage]

Don't care about the first bull. I like second bull better, he is more bullish than the first one.

I see this type of judgement of young cattle on here and I just do not agree with it totally. We are looking at 6-700 pound calves. My particular line of cattle have certain times in their life that really show what they will become. Around the 3 week mark they show a mini version of themselves. Calves go through spurts where they look awesome then do some growing and fill into it. Hard to make a judgment of a young bull from a flash in time photo. just sayin...

Backbone, nice calves and impressive weights!!! I would not sweat the 20 pounds you wanted, its the type and quality that really matter.

 

[Taurus]

Like I said before, I just don't care about the first bull. I just like the second bull better that's all.

 

[branguscowgirl]

Beautiful cattle BBR! You have done well.

 

[Named'em Tamed'em]

Always liked the look of a nice Murray grey calf.

 

[WalnutCrest]

Nice!

 

[Williamsv]

Very beautiful calves! I like the Murray Grey's.

 

[Backbone Ranch]

I appreciate all of the comments. The 710 lb bull was born on February 24th. His dam is this cow. She has not lost much condition at all while nursing her big bull calf. She is 7 years old in the photo.

 

[Backbone Ranch]

I was driving through the pasture and checking the cow herd this evening. This young cow stood still just long enough for me to get a picture. She will be 4 years old in April. We tested her with Igenity this summer for tenderness and marbling genes. She was 8 out of 10 stars for tenderness and 6 out of 10 stars for marbling. So far, her calves have averaged about 70 lbs at birth and grow very well. Her dam is still producing in our herd and I hope that she has many years in front of her still.

 

[Nesikep]

She's well camouflaged in that grass!, She's nice, but I like that 7 year old above better

 

[hillsdown]

Nice cattle Bb R !

 

[CaddoFarms]

I just have to compliment your cattle. Ive been reading this forum and looking at your murray greys for awhile but this is my first post. Im not far from you up here in caddo mills, just starting out and was leaning towards baldie mamma cows but ive fallen in love with greys as it seems many are....great cattle!

 

[East Caney]

Very good looking cattle. I also like the look of that second bull calf better…no knock on the first. From the weights of your cows, it sounds like you've got some moderately framed females with a lot of body to them. That's my type.

 

[highgrit]

Nice looking cattle, you have good looking pastures also.