I have a cattle question for the cows guys on here.

[cj7zrcool]

IMO, it's hard to go wrong with an Angus. We've had Hereford bulls up until the last few years and have zero calving problems since switching to Angus. All other things being equal, black seems to bring a little more at market.

[hoytboy]

go with a low birth weight maine or angus bull. and as far as big ears selling for less? F1s sell like hotcakes out here.

[Michael Chittum]

Keep in mind before discounting Herefords is that you are crossing them with your black cattle to make a white face for a more profitable sale or replacements. You cant use EPDs (expected progeny differences) to come up with what kind of calf you will have because you are not breeding it to another pure breed Hereford. Hence why they crossbreed. Your taking traits from both breeds of cattle. So with that being said any negative traits Herefords have such as pink eye problems would not necessarily hold true when breeding it to something other than a Hereford. Herefords have been used for 100s of years with a hopeful outcome of a white face because it works.And interestingly enough, white faces are more popular at many sale barns across the country and unlike many fads such as long ears, long cattle or short legged or color have come and gone. White faces have stayed top sellers for many years and on average bring more money.

Good luck on which ever you choose.

[Andy]

I agree with the Main Anjou. Just a little more height and muscle than than angus.I owner one here for 7 yrs. Never had to pull a calf with hefiers or had any problems. The breed is known to be calm like the angus...........Ask cattlemen what breeds is best. Is like asking what pickup you like best on here............Andy

[lameduck]

If you put a bull with cows... you will end up with pregnant cows and eventually more cattle. I don't think this is a good idea. Cattle are evil. Why would you want to bring more evil into the world?

This ^^^

[duck or bleed]

I would definitely go with Angus. But I am a Red Angus fan, and I prefer red cows. We get low BW and high WW from our Red Angus bulls, with great temperament and they sure look good in green grass. Our last weaned bulls brought over $165/cwt. So red cows can fetch a pretty good price too.

[Dale Moser]

The most succesful cattleman I know, swears by beefmasters......

[meathunter]

I did not read all threads but will throw my two cents in. The hottest selling at the auction in our area is black with white faces. We have herford cows with a black angus bull. We generally have a bull that will produce what the market is looking for. We had a brahma with the herefords before the Angus. The tiger stripe was hot for a while. Even in the show ring they have gotten away from the long legs typically. So my two cents would add up to a hereford, because he will allow you to throw calves that meet what the market is calling for.

[meathunter]

If you are looking for an Angus Bull, have a guy about two hours away from you that raises black angus.

[meathunter]

wouldnt use herefords.. they have more problems than most, what ever you choose make sure it throws small calves for first time mothers...

Had herefords for 30+ years with not one case of pink eye and have only had to pull two calves.

[muzzyslinger]

Semi x angus cross bull or maineanjoue cross

[bucksnducks]

Educate me please.

Why do cattle with big ears sell for less?

Ears can't weigh that much???

Interesting thread.

It's a popularity thing in the market right now. A few years ago the rage was angus and brangus, that's going away. 10 years brahma were the way to go. now they are the opposite. right now, with the lean beef craze the shorter and leaner angus and brangus hold top billing, but they are always followed close by the chars and beefmasters. Simms, longhorn, and the type don't breed the quality meet looked for nowadays. English breeds are the new thing (and French for you Char lovers). It's all about market trends, and where one is located. Different locales sell different breeds better than others. The cattle market is no different from any other consumer market. You have to know how to play the game.

[bucksnducks]

What you breed to what depends on first time calfers (like has been mentioned), where the cattle are (take disease factor into it), and what is selling in the market area. In my region the angus or brangus babies are outselling everything else by leaps and bounds. And selling is always the bottom line.

[neskora]

Very interesting thread... can't say I know a whole lot (of technical things) about cattle, although my dad (along with everyone else I know) has had about 40 head for longer than I can remember... I know the trend (down here at least) over the past 5 years has leaned toward breeding with angus bulls... My dad has Charolais heifers at two different places, one with an Angus bull, the other with a Charolais... I know we haven't pulled a calf since he went with the Angus, but I don't think we've pulled one off of the Charolais either... the Charolais bull we had before I remember pulling three of them... I really don't think you can go wrong with Angus, at least from a common sense prospective... I mean, look around at the supermarket next time you're there... I don't see any Charolais, Simmental, Hereford, or any other breed besides Angus charging a higher price for meat... So, while my heart says Charolais, my mind says Angus...

[Michael Chittum]

Had herefords for 30+ years with not one case of pink eye and have only had to pull two calves.

This has been my experience as well.....two different states and it didn't matter. Healthy.