Plenty money around?

[whiteface]

Actually cs, I am, this year. I recall your mentioning that you had some at this time last year and the timing wasn't quite right for me but I think it just may be this year. I'm interested in knowing how many straws you have, I'd likely take all of them, how much you think you might want per straw or the lot and when you might be travelling to or past or nearest to Olds, AB (or Edmonton as I frequent there quite a bit as well) and we'll see if we can't meet up and make a sale. I have a darling 2 year old that needs to be flushed this year to "something different" as the Polled Hereford industry is just fed up to it's hatband with Remitall genetics. Cheque was good and would provide a genetic option for me. Get back to me when you can either here or email me if you still have my address. Thanks!

[cowman]

Well I don't want to ruin your enthusiasm for the purebred herford business whiteface, but the fact is if you raise commercial hereford cattle you are facing the kiss of death! Well at least at the marts I go to.
I too have not seen the ABS catalog this year but I doubt commercial prices are up? (Purebred prices don't reflect the real world in my opinion!) I mean look what our dollar has been doing against the US buck?
The point I was trying to make is this: Why use an expensive "maybe" bull when for less money you can use an AI bull that has proven progeny on the ground? I realize that it won't work for everybody and if not they should go out and buy whatever works for them. But I also believe AI can take you down the road faster and cheaper than hoping you guessed right and got a winner, instead of a dog!
I will also note if you aren't crossbreeding you are leaving a lot of money on the table. Or as my old AI instructor said it " If you inherited the farm or have so many oil wells on it that you can hardly get around, you don't need to crossbreed! If there is one thing that you can do to increase profits with your cattle...it is crossbreeding!"

[whiteface]

Anytime, cowman, I'm right here, less than 20 minute drive from your place to mine...
You haven't seen herefords like the ones I have...ever
And incidentally, I do sell at the auction mart that you frequent, and incidentally been near the top on more than one occasion.
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Only if you can get him out of the doghouse...
Git yer butt down here if you have any doubt what I'm doing...
No fear here!
Have yourself a grand day and I still enjoy your posts!
Northern Rancher, where the HE double toothpicks are ya!

[cswilson]

Cowman you come to the Meadow Lake yearling sale and you'll see straight hereford cattle sell as high as any cattle in western canada. When the community pastures gather the yearling fields there are some awesome bunches of yearlings come to town.

[cowman]

Well whiteface, I think I've always said we have to do what works best for ourselves. So if it works for you, good.
Because I no longer own any cows I don't have to worry about it, but the boy is bound and determined on Chars, which incidently I basically agree with. He intends to breed some cows AI to red angus, a select few to Char and the rest to white bulls. He picked up one big stout four year old last week from a herd dispersal.
Our Char calves consistently outweighed everything else last year and also outsold them per pound! All a matter of dollars at the end of the day?

[whiteface]

I like the Charolais quite a bit also cowman, and I also agree with the crossbreeding thing for maximum efficiency, heterosis and weight gain. I will however, in my concieted ways, continue with purebred cattle since I love showing, travelling, meeting new people with the same interests, at times meeting someone famous (Randy Owen and Booby Hull who both dabble in purebred herefords have also both signed autographs for me during my travels) and the best part for me is when my bull is chosen as the high seller or show champion and everyone claps...
I just don't get enough of that...
I'd put a white bull on my whiteface cows in a minute if I just needed to have good cattle, but it's a little more than that for me.
You still need to crossbreed cowman and I'm not convinced the Angus way is the most popular anymore. The buckskins are still the highest sellers at any market. Are you getting the "right kind" of buckskins using an Angus bull? Just asking. Alot of Red Angus will still throw you some grey and mousey colored calves that the buyers will find any excuse to discount you for when a hereford will get you the tell-tale white head or a red factor Charolais will breed a true red color into your calves that a red angus might not. Just my opinion.
Good luck and have a good day! Don't stop posting to me I still look forward to all your comments!

[ALICIA]

The best cross bred program is Hereford X Charolais. You get the buckskin colour I'd say every time, With the extra bone that every one seems to want.
I'm like you I'll take meat, with some fat for flavour every time over a longer leg bone with no meat on it.

[kato]

We bought a pure Hereford cow many years ago at a bred cow sale. She raised a pretty nice Hereford calf that weighed 450 pounds at weaning. Next year same cow, same kind of year for pasture, white bull, and the calf was exactly 100 pounds bigger. We kept that cow for quite a few years and she kept right on producing even better calves than the first two.

We've got a white herd of cows too, but breed most Limo, except the top ones that we breed Char to get replacement heifers from. We like that cross. They calf easy and even the heifers can outperform many steers in the feedlot.

We've been looking with interest at Gelbvieh too. We have heard however, that the Gelbvieh can have issues with losing baby teeth a little young, where Limo's keep theirs for a long time.

Anyone here have experience with Char/Gelbvieh?

[whiteface]

What are the consequenses of losing baby teeth "too early?" compared to later. I have never heard of that before. Have a good night all.

[grassfarmer]

I think the biggest drawback is you can't sneak the slow growers through as under 30 months on mouthing inspection.
LOL