What's the scoop on braford attitude?

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Gobbler'sKnob

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Is it really true that braford cattle are ornery? I don't have much experience with them, I've worked around them a few times maybe but not up close. I had a fella tell me a while back that they're full of attitude and I did some reading that also hinted at it, but I've never heard of anyone having problems with them until I got curious. That said, not super common where I'm from, so maybe I wouldn't have heard anyway.
Thanks for any replies.
 
Everyone should raise some once in their life, preferably when they are young enough to move quick. We did here for a couple of years till brother and I went in the service in the late 60s and when we came back, my father had gotten rid of them thru breeding.
 
Everyone should raise some once in their life, preferably when they are young enough to move quick. We did here for a couple of years till brother and I went in the service in the late 60s and when we came back, my father had gotten rid of them thru breeding.
Darty or mean?
I've thought about them, but if they're mean... I have two kids and a wife that's hardly ever been around anything but pet cows.
 
Not specifically mean. Extremely protective of calves and their own space.
Great cattle tho, for the same reasons
 
Not specifically mean. Extremely protective of calves and their own space.
Great cattle tho, for the same reasons
Can they be gentled down with good handling and presence? I've been run over, taken a run at, stomped and kicked a few times too many already.

Maybe there's something good to cross them with?
 
Is it really true that braford cattle are ornery? I don't have much experience with them, I've worked around them a few times maybe but not up close. I had a fella tell me a while back that they're full of attitude and I did some reading that also hinted at it, but I've never heard of anyone having problems with them until I got curious. That said, not super common where I'm from, so maybe I wouldn't have heard anyway.
Thanks for any replies.
Only for people that don't know how to lead Brimmer cattle.
 
I'm not familiar with Bradford. But as with any breed, docility (or lack thereof) has a lot to do with their environment. Are you around them a lot? Yelling & screaming? How are they worked and how often? Is a hot shot your preferred method of moving cattle?
I don't own any currently, but in past ownership and working of cattle I have avoided unnecessary hooplah, ropes, and hotshots whenever possible. I've only ever had to be super firm with calves with little human experience and rodeo stock.
 
Only for people that don't know how to lead Brimmer cattle.
Can you elaborate a bit? Do you mean brahma/bremer strain animals? I've worked plenty of brangus crossbreeds but not so much else in that way except for a brahma-jersey cross I had and a few toss-in cattle. Bucking stock, too, I guess but I never lead those so much as threw open the next latch and gtfo the way. Is there a method? My uncle kept beautiful brahma cattle and crosses, but he also had cowhorses that would bring a tear to the eye.
 
Can you elaborate a bit? Do you mean brahma/bremer strain animals? I've worked plenty of brangus crossbreeds but not so much else in that way except for a brahma-jersey cross I had and a few toss-in cattle. Bucking stock, too, I guess but I never lead those so much as threw open the next latch and gtfo the way. Is there a method? My uncle kept beautiful brahma cattle and crosses, but he also had cowhorses that would bring a tear to the eye.
Everything on this place except the bull is part is F1 to 1/4 Brahman. That's what I started with over 50 years ago.
I can call every cow into the pen or into any pasture.
The play cattleman well they just don't play cowboy.
 
Everything on this place except the bull is part is F1 to 1/4 Brahman. That's what I started with over 50 years ago.
I can call every cow into the pen or into any pasture.
The play cattleman well they just don't play cowboy.
We were always able to do that with our mostly simm-brangus herd. Same methods (presence, good treatment, good habit making, good care and respect at calving time, etc)? As you can see above, I prefer to leave horses, hotshots, and ropes back at the truck whenever absolutely possible.
 
Well, Herefords are noted for being the most docile of the beef breeds. and very good mommas. Brahmas are also very, very good mommas. In their native land, they are virtually "house" cows. I have seen many Brahma cows and bulls that are as docile as any kid-broke horse. I don;t recall myself or a neighbor either with a Brahma bull, that you couldn;t walk up to and pet in the pasture. I had one that the kids would find lying down in the pasture, and they would go sit on him while he just laid there chewing his cud. That being said, they can be very excitable, mostly new mothers. I remember back in the 60's and 70's when the sale barns used hot shots on them. Idiots!

I won't work with cattle unless I am horseback, and I have had both Brahmas and Brafords that were as easy to get broke to a horse as dairy cows. Like Caustic said, once you learn how to handle Brimmer cattle, you will as soon fool with them as a Jeresy milk cow.
 
Well, Herefords are noted for being the most docile of the beef breeds. and very good mommas. Brahmas are also very, very good mommas. In their native land, they are virtually "house" cows. I have seen many Brahma cows and bulls that are as docile as any kid-broke horse. I don;t recall myself or a neighbor either with a Brahma bull, that you couldn;t walk up to and pet in the pasture. I had one that the kids would find lying down in the pasture, and they would go sit on him while he just laid there chewing his cud. That being said, they can be very excitable, mostly new mothers. I remember back in the 60's and 70's when the sale barns used hot shots on them. Idiots!

I won't work with cattle unless I am horseback, and I have had both Brahmas and Brafords that were as easy to get broke to a horse as dairy cows. Like Caustic said, once you learn how to handle Brimmer cattle, you will as soon fool with them as a Jeresy milk cow.
Thank you, while I prefer to leave the horses where they are myself when possible, there is much value in what you've said. I guess I just let some folks' opinions on them get at me.
 
And that's not to say I don't like horses, btw, I've stayed fooling with horses during the time I've been out of cattle... I just prefer not to have to juke around on one after cattle if they can be handled another way.
 
That's usually the point of raising them. (especially the F1s)

most continental breeds cross well with a braford as do angus if using a terminal bull. I wouldn't breed a braford using a composite bull tho, not in today's color bias world
Big rog. I'm guessing you'd just pull in some more braford replacement heifers down the road if you wanted to keep it braford x something else?
 
Then with brangus experience I should be pretty set?

Man, I gotta stop listening to everything I hear about some stuff.
Yes, if you are used to handling Brangus, then you can handle Brafords. Or Beefmaster or Gerts. I remember reading something on a Black Hereford breeder's website. It said: "While Herefords are good mommas, sometimes Angus can be too good of a momma, especially the first days after the calf is born." ( which was the intent....to get a cow that threw black calves with the Hereford disposition more than the Angus disposition with new calves) Kinda the same thing with Braford and Brangus.
 
Yes, if you are used to handling Brangus, then you can handle Brafords. Or Beefmaster or Gerts. I remember reading something on a Black Hereford breeder's website. It said: "While Herefords are good mommas, sometimes Angus can be too good of a momma, especially the first days after the calf is born." ( which was the intent....to get a cow that threw black calves with the Hereford disposition more than the Angus disposition with new calves) Kinda the same thing with Braford and Brangus.
Thank you for the response. Well, I got no problem giving a mama a little space for a few days before I mess with her and her calf. I guess, if worse comes to worse, I've had a run taken at me before. I'm young enough to recover if one gets on me... though she'll see the inside of the sale barn soon after.
 

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