Sean I've read all the stories about hybrid bulls that
retain nearly 85% of potential hybrid vigour - I just
question the science. I bet when they figured out the
theoretic maximum of 100% they didn't cross two
unrelated, tightly bred lines exhibiting a fair bit of
inbred regression. If they had I suspect they may have
had 130% compared to your 85%.
Gary I didn't appreciate your program had a terminal
and maternal strain - that makes sense. Interesting
that you would have 50% continental in the maternal
strain but predominantly Angus in the terminal strain.
That's contra-logical to me but you certainly were
ahead of your time implementing this 24 years ago.
The Angus breed as a whole has definitely moved in
that terminal direction in this timespan.
I guess everyone has their own definition of condition
but we aim to grow bulls at 2.2lbs/day until they
reach maturity and they are never thin. They might
grow faster in summer and slower in winter but they
are never thin.
I would not use a bull that was grown to yearling size
at 3lbs a day. If you start testing them at 600lbs?
grow them at 3lbs/day for 200 to get a yearling
weight of 1200lbs I feel you get a body weight of
animal that has too much weight of flesh in relation
to muscle - particularly the muscles that he uses as a
bull. To be able to cover ground, breed cows and
fight other bulls in a multi-sire situation you are
handicapping him akin to turning a feedlot steer out
with mature bulls.
You are right that many buyers don't choose less fed
bulls but I see that as an education opportunity.
Anyone that comes here and says my bulls aren't big/
heavy enough for their age gets asked what size their
heifer replacements are. Most don't have their
yearling heifers weighing 12-1500lbs and two year
olds weighing a ton because it would cost them too
much and would be over developing them. So why do
they expect the bulls to be raised this way? The
resulting wastage this causes is a huge cost to the
commercial cattle producer but thus far most are
swayed by the "bigger is better" mentality.
retain nearly 85% of potential hybrid vigour - I just
question the science. I bet when they figured out the
theoretic maximum of 100% they didn't cross two
unrelated, tightly bred lines exhibiting a fair bit of
inbred regression. If they had I suspect they may have
had 130% compared to your 85%.
Gary I didn't appreciate your program had a terminal
and maternal strain - that makes sense. Interesting
that you would have 50% continental in the maternal
strain but predominantly Angus in the terminal strain.
That's contra-logical to me but you certainly were
ahead of your time implementing this 24 years ago.
The Angus breed as a whole has definitely moved in
that terminal direction in this timespan.
I guess everyone has their own definition of condition
but we aim to grow bulls at 2.2lbs/day until they
reach maturity and they are never thin. They might
grow faster in summer and slower in winter but they
are never thin.
I would not use a bull that was grown to yearling size
at 3lbs a day. If you start testing them at 600lbs?
grow them at 3lbs/day for 200 to get a yearling
weight of 1200lbs I feel you get a body weight of
animal that has too much weight of flesh in relation
to muscle - particularly the muscles that he uses as a
bull. To be able to cover ground, breed cows and
fight other bulls in a multi-sire situation you are
handicapping him akin to turning a feedlot steer out
with mature bulls.
You are right that many buyers don't choose less fed
bulls but I see that as an education opportunity.
Anyone that comes here and says my bulls aren't big/
heavy enough for their age gets asked what size their
heifer replacements are. Most don't have their
yearling heifers weighing 12-1500lbs and two year
olds weighing a ton because it would cost them too
much and would be over developing them. So why do
they expect the bulls to be raised this way? The
resulting wastage this causes is a huge cost to the
commercial cattle producer but thus far most are
swayed by the "bigger is better" mentality.
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