2 months old Shorthorn plus hiefer bull prospect STEER or BULL?

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mark tenenbaum

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This calf is 2 months old and BW was 73 pounds-his Shorthorn dam is 0 BW EPD -and hasnt had anything over 78 pounds-Shorthorn Grandam ditto-just flushed her at almost 13, great granddam-1.1 BW-born 1987-dam of several good bulls including UB Junior Walker and Byland Explosian (went to Australia @ $13000 fall 1991).His sire is a red Smilin Bob out of a Majors Money ManxAngus-shes a huge embryo producer:and calving ease for many generations-he has sired all small ones.This calf already looks like a bull to me-but very nice fronted etc-BULL OR STEER-thanx in advance 1st pic is him now  2nd is his dam last winter
 

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DakotaCow

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He looks older than two months old in that picture. If he is indeed that young and still has a set of rocks that big I would say keep him intact for a while longer. Wouldn't use him on pedigree alone but if you like him nothing says he won't cover cows (or heifers) for you.
 

BTDT

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The photo is taken at an odd angle, so it is hard to judge his length, front, structural correctness, and front end.  But, you can his quite large testicle development for a 2 month old calf, and what appears to be a neck crest forming.
If he is that early maturing (testicles and crested neck) then he will not get very large, and sire calves that do not grow and will not maintain during a show season.  For that reason, I would castrate him.
I also have a theory that too many bulls are kept, so if you have to ask, or are asking yourself if a calf is "good enough", then that calf certainly is NOT "good enough".

 

mark tenenbaum

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Rather get a live calf than not-although Ive been involved with a number of National show winners over the years I never tried to get one out of a hiefer-lets test your "theory" and see some of thelow bw bulls you thought were good enough out of your breeding O0
 

BTDT

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My theory has nothing to do with BW, in fact, I prefer larger calves but small ones that grow work well also.
My issue with the calf is he appears to be very early maturing, which is totally independent of BW's.  If he is 2 mos old, his calves will mature at the same rate, and therefore MIGHT lack growth and holding ability that seems to be popular in the show world.

I hold fast on my theory that too many bulls are kept (regardless of BW) and so if there is ANY question about if they are good enough, they probably are not.

 

nck21

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Appreciate your input BTDT. The calf is out of our bull. Like Mark said he bred the cow. I'm leaning towards steering him. We only spring calve so he was very late. He will be around this winter.
 
J

JTM

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Mark, he looks like a freak to me. I'd say keep him a bull for a long time. Shoot, you can cut him at 800 lbs if you like but dag gone that dudes got a butt on him! <rock>
 

RankeCattleCo

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I'd keep him intact. If he has a history of good bw and fertility then hell yeah I would. Looksto have really good growth, but I would agree that that may be a problem in his offspring.. as far as a show steer, that neck may be a problem. He may not promo extremely pretty either, but for a flat out good bull with low bw's that adds rapid growth I feel like he shoukd work really well for you.

RCC
 

vc

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I posted this before but must of messed it up, now with AJ's thread on masculine Shorthorn bulls he started kind of fits with this. We have a  bull that is masculine at a young age, he gets knocked for that. He would probably be a great bull for someone who was wanting to raise grass fed beef, low birthweight, faster maturing, earlier finishing, or even put some umph back into those late maturing, heifer looking bulls and steers. I always thought that the saying went feminine cows and Masculine bulls for maternal type calves. So now we have masculine heifers and feminine bulls?
I would leave him intact for now, it is easier to cut one later then to put them back on, well it use to be, now you just clone the ones the should have left a bulls.
 
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