Who is buying cows?

[grassfarmer]

"I doubt if the niche market type of cattle are going to out sell the conventional beef animals in the future. Seems that most herds stick with the common breeds and likely keep to whatever pays the bills." HAHAHAHA!!! where is the logic in that? "Niche" market offspring are worth more money why wouldn't their parents be? Also the implication that only the "common" breeds pay the bills. Seems like lots of guys have gone broke with "common" breeds too. What a bunch on baloney!!

[cswilson]

I've A'I'ed quite a few cows Galloway for people over the years and one of the most interesting was a Belted Galloway yearling heifer-she wasn't very big and her cervix was about a half mile inside her-was wild as a snake-it was like trying to breed a Hampshire pig. The rest were nice cattle but that one gave me nightmares.

[cswilson]

grassfarmer you may feel the need to be overly critical of my comments but until pastures from one end of the province to the other are grazing a vast majority of niche breeds, then I stand by my position.

I have seen about five belted Galloway herds in my travels, but I have seen hundreds and hundreds of char cross. black, simi,limo RWF, BWF cattle so are you telling me that all those producers are idiots and don't know how to make money in the cattle business ????

[grassfarmer]

Emrald, Who is being overly critical? I never said, or implied, that producers with "common" breeds are idiots and don't know how to make money in the cattle business. Unlike you who implied the exactly that about breeders of "niche" market type cattle.

[grassfarmer]

If you read my post I indicated that I doubted that 'niche ' cattle would outsell conventional breeds.

I cannot see where making that comment is being derogatory to anyone raising the special breeds such as Belted Galloway, Luing etc.

[PureCountry]

grassfarmer, I can't tell you where the red came into the Galloways, but they've been in the herd book for a long time. maybe rkaiser can explain that one a bit better.

As for the spotted fellows and the riggot in that sale catalogue, they are straight Galloway. The riggot patterns come out when whites and blacks are crossed up. Or whites with duns and silvers, too.

[farmers_son]

Purecountry: For a history of Galloway cattle including color see:

http://www.galloway-world.org/intconf/sponen.htm

[grassfarmer]

Thanks for that f_s it was a very thorough and enlightening explanation.

[cowman]

You can probably make money with just about any type of cattle, if you market them right?
Now if you are raising "commodity calves" you need to pretty well provide what the market wants, if you intend to ring the bell? The so-called "niche type" market is a whole other ballgame and requires a different set of skills?
I have no doubt these type of cattle can make money? Just like a purebred herd can make a lot of money...or lose your shirt if you don't get it right? I guess it all comes down to how much effort you want to put into it?

[cowman]

emerald:You said "serious producers" are expanding? But wait a minute sean and kpb said you have to be crazy to expand at this time? They say $1300 cows don't pencil out...and I guess that might apply to heifers being bred this spring?....and here I sit with 25 heifers!
So am I a "serious producer" or a flipping idiot? Sort of damned if you do, damned if you don't!