CowGirl005
Well-known member
Breeding for beef (angus, hereford), what do you look for when choosing a good bull besides calving ease & carcass merit? What would you look for when looking at conformation? Thanks!
What do you look for in a bull
- Thread starter CowGirl005
- Start date
Help Support CattleToday:
dyates
Well-known member
Depends on what you have for cows and what you want to have in your calves.
Same thing as in cows but with more muscle. Substitute scrotum for udder. Start at the feed and legs, watcdh him walk, then from their you go up to the rest of the animal.
But I'm a lousey judge of bulls.
But I'm a lousey judge of bulls.
CowGirl005":3prjvxbn said:
Not trying to be a wise arse, but asking the questions you do you'll need more help than you'll be able to get out of the replies to your question on this forum. I can't even recommend a single book that has enough info to equip you to buy a bull and to develope the eye to see what you've read will take time and practice. You'll be better off going to a respected long time breeder, tell him your goals, show him photos of your cows and let him advise you on what you need. It may cost a little more, but i'm sure the first calf crop will make up for the difference in price.
Here's the bare bones version. The rest you will have to get on your own. Through experience and as Knersie said find someone to trust to help you select the right bull the first time. One thing to remember though is you will get the best advice from someone with impecable credentials who does not have a dog in THAT fight.
http://www.bovineengineering.com/linera_male.html
http://www.bovineengineering.com/linera_male.html
3waycross":1re78xo6 said:
I like that article and have read it numerous times in the past, unfortunately its very biased towards a certain type and for someone inexperienced its maybe a tall order to expect them to visualise the animal.
novatech
Well-known member
A place to start. Or maybe several.
http://www.beefcowcalf.com/pubs/Topics/ ... Selection/
I start with fertility.
As far as conformation, go to a lot of shows and ask a lot of questions. Make comparisons between winners and losers. This will aid with the experience department. Eventually you will be able to to start making choices on your own as to your likes and dislikes aiming toward a goal.
Do a serch on Cattle Today, alot of good info.
http://www.beefcowcalf.com/pubs/Topics/ ... Selection/
I start with fertility.
As far as conformation, go to a lot of shows and ask a lot of questions. Make comparisons between winners and losers. This will aid with the experience department. Eventually you will be able to to start making choices on your own as to your likes and dislikes aiming toward a goal.
Do a serch on Cattle Today, alot of good info.
CowGirl005
Well-known member
One cow is a Hereford/angus cross, and the other cow is a Hereford. I bred to a Hereford last year and got great looking calves that are growing like weeds! I am just not sure if we should breed back to the same bull this year or to try a different bull. I have looked at numerous bulls and can not decide. Thanks for the help! Much appreciated!
~ :cboy:
~ :cboy:
CowGirl005
Well-known member
I will most likely stay with the same bull, just thinking if I could do even better than this year.
novaman
Well-known member
AI would give you more options.CowGirl005":28vhwmbc said:
CowGirl005
Well-known member
We do AI, we use ABS global. Just was looking at all of the bulls on their site and was not sure what to look for exactly.
OLF
Well-known member
CowGirl005":36wdkofb said:
Who did you use last year?
\CowGirl005":369s02oz said:
That makes a differecne. Given that the photos may have been photo shopped I still look for leg/foot set. I use their GTS and compare bulls using that, EPDs also are considred. It depends on what I want to bull to do for me that will govern what I look for in a particular bull.
CowGirl005
Well-known member
OLF, I used "Master Duty" last year, a polled hereford. He threw some nice looking calves. The AI tech picked him out only because we were failry new and were looking for calving ease for our heifers at the time.
Thanks Dun, I wouldnt think they would be photoshoped, but you never know what people will do to make money these days.
Thanks Dun, I wouldnt think they would be photoshoped, but you never know what people will do to make money these days.
novaman
Well-known member
Somebody should correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure all the pictures I've ever seen are touched up.CowGirl005":7r2ejlf5 said:OLF, I used "Master Duty" last year, a polled hereford. He threw some nice looking calves. The AI tech picked him out only because we were failry new and were looking for calving ease for our heifers at the time.
Thanks Dun, I wouldnt think they would be photoshoped, but you never know what people will do to make money these days.
mnmtranching
Well-known member
If I were you I would trust the AI tech to help you again this year.
CowGirl005
Well-known member
Novaman, I guess I am just naive when it comes to looking at bulls for AI online. This will be my second time Ai'ing. The AI tech did a great job last year I guess I can just trust him again this year. Thanks
