Choosing the Right Breed

I am raising a heifer next year but I'm not sure what breed to go with. I really love Shorthorns, and would love to raise one but I want to give other breeds a fair chance .  I have the time and facilities to have a long haired cattle breed. So, what breed do you recommend, why, and what to look for in a heifer of that breed. Thanks in advance!

Red Angus can be a cool choice as long as your pick bloodlines with great hair.

I think more information is needed to answer this question.  Like what do you want in a heifer? What is your end goal? Are you looking to start a herd or just show? If you are gonna breed her and raise a calf, are you going to raise purebreds or clubbies? What is your climate like? How much are you willing to spend to be really competitive?
Personally I can see the value in all breeds and can pretty much appreciate the different breeds for what they are.  From a marketing standpoint everyone loves an Angus, and I love that they are easy to market, but there are a LOT of them out there and a LOT of good ones going to shows, so my drawback to Angus is often you have to spend more money to be really competive. I appreciate the muscle in Charolais and Limi's but they dont fatten as easy as some other breeds and thus I just to find em to be my kind of cow which is soft, deep sided, and soggy. Everyone appreciates the muscle and style of a Maine,and I love them to produce club calves, but I dont like some of the genetic problems being passed on in some of the real clubby Maine's that are often what we see in the show ring.
Now on to ones I recomend a lot. For young showmen I often recomend Hereford.  They are often my kind of cow big volumed, sound, deep sided, and soggy. And you cant beat their temperaments and personalities. Drawbacks with them which is the same with any white faced cow is that they are more susceptable to things like pink eye so you really have to watch them.  I also really like Shorthorns, well mostly just because I really like Shorthorns and they make really good mama's ussually. But lately I am leaning towards Simmentals. I just like their apearance, the big feet, big bones, etc.

But I think you have to figure out what you want out of your calf then compare breeds and decide which breed best exemplifies that, otherwise you are just gonna get everyone's favorite breed listed here and its not really gonna help you make the decision you need to make!

I really like Shorthorns and would choose them because of their temperament; they are very mellow and good animals for beginners, color variation; they have many different colors that come with this breed they come in red, white, roany.  So as Shorthorn Girl said, not every calf is the same.  You can breed them with about anything and the cross will be a good animal.  Easy calving since the calves are born small but they grow fast and are medium carcassed.  They produce a lot of meat.

Don't be too surprised if you come back to Shorthorns. After all, you do love them. Would hate to spend the long hours on a calf you're not really excited about.

I personally like angus, their normally well tempered and they can have great hair if you work with it. Other than that, there's Herfords. But they are piggies!

cattle nut said:

Red Angus can be a cool choice as long as your pick bloodlines with great hair.

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I agree.

cattle nut said:

Red Angus can be a cool choice as long as your pick bloodlines with great hair.

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Hair last, feet first. Assuming you want a functional show calf.

SongBird1232 said:

I personally like angus, their normally well tempered and they can have great hair if you work with it. Other than that, there's Herfords. But they are piggies!

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Your Angus must be a hell of a lot different to ours. If I were recommending animals based on temperament, they'd be luckt to make top 10

Find the" type" of animal no matter what breed that you like to look at. Many different types out there. I too love shorthorns but their are many variations of shorthorns these days. Find the ones that suit your eye and breed them. It is after all, all about you and your likes. A old farmer told me awhile back, "do for you son, cause nobody else will". I have always remembered that.

If you are wanting one to show, go with whatever animal you can afford the best quality on.  Worrying about breed is more important if you are wanting to start a significant-sized operation.  Otherwise, get the best you can - regardless of breed.  That depends on who you can buy from - if you there is a breeder in your area that would be good to deal with- start there.  If you are buying through a trader, buy whatever the best animal they have you can afford.

As someone else said, there is plenty to appreciate about any breed.

i personally love the shorthorn because there is so much variaty that comes with the breed, no two calves usually look alike! makes for a fun herd.  also they are easily crossed with just about anything.  just pick what you love. and you can always add different breeds or bulls for variety!

We (my kids) really get along GREAT with Simmental!  I appreciate pretty much all breeds if they have certain traits....phenotype... etc, that I need for our program.  Termperment is a huge factor right now with us.  Kids are young and I wont take the chance of owning ANY breed, or animal that will put them in jeopardy.  There are many directions the Simmies are going in crossbreeding that is pretty exciting.  The % show started out being competive, but nothing like they are now!!!  There are some flat out high dollar % simmies out there and it seems to be getting more popular.  Many more Angus breeders using the simmies.  Simmie breed is trying to stay proactive about genetic abnormalities as well, which will be a huge benefit for the future of the breed.  Some breeds seemed to have the "head in a hole" method of dealing with the genetic issues they encountered and now ...... it isn't good.

chambero said:

As someone else said, there is plenty to appreciate about any breed.

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good man.

squirt71 said:

cattle nut said:

Red Angus can be a cool choice as long as your pick bloodlines with great hair.

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I agree.

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Can you tell us a bit more about the cow in your Avatar?

GB

thunderdownunder said:

SongBird1232 said:

I personally like angus, their normally well tempered and they can have great hair if you work with it. Other than that, there's Herfords. But they are piggies!

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Your Angus must be a hell of a lot different to ours. If I were recommending animals based on temperament, they'd be luckt to make top 10

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I guess it really matters who you get them from or when you start working with them.

u live in tx right?? simi, limi, and red angus are eassssyyyyyy to win with at jackpots

I agree with the guy who said Angus would be the last he would recomend on temperament...I showed Angus growing up and I am not saying they are all bad, or bad all the time...but the thing I hated about them was I never knew what to expect...one day she could be your best friend and follow you like a puppy dog...the next day she may try to take your head off every 2 seconds...I agree they can be good calves...but if someone were looking based on temperament I would recomend Herefords all day long!
As far as the Jackpots in TX I agree the Angus are really easy to win with right now...especially if you want one of those pretty TJLA jackets for being in Top 10...doesnt seem like it takes many points to get there with the Angus!

if you look at any shows the calves who have been worked with the most act the best. whatever breed you choose if you work with it enough it will be fine

There are good disposition lines in most breeds but if you get a bad disposition it will never be fun and a lot of work. Even with a lot of work you could have a wreck,it just isn't worth it. Pick a quiet one!