Commercial type Shorthorns in Montana

I took some pictures today when checking the cattle, and thought I'd post a few. They're in their working clothes, so a bit dirtier and less well posed than you'll see in the glossy sale catalogs!

The calves were weaned about 3 weeks ago. These dams will be going into winter in good shape!



This is our main herd bull Coalpit Creek Leader 6th, who is the sire of most of the calves in following pictures.


A few sons...





A few daughters about a week after weaning


A 2 year old daughter and her calf this summer.


3 young daughters from early this summer also.


It was a beautiful day here today after a few days of most welcome rain. Thanks for letting me share!

Looking good, glad to see you finally got some rain! I agree they are commercial type shorthorns but at the same time they are great purebred bloodlines that could move the breed forward (thumbsup) Is that Y65R on the left in the cow photo?

Looking very good Ralph!  It took me a while to see the cattle in the pictures as I was concentrating on that green grass! We still have grass, but it is brown !

Thanks Dan and Grant. Yes, it's possible to keep this "high desert" green, but it sure takes a lot of time, effort, and resources! Electric rates here have increased tremendously in the past 5 years. Usually, we get a few rain showers during the summer that helps take a bit of the pressure off, but not the last couple years. I am pleased to see these cows have the ability to rapidly gain weight on the more "native" conditions they are running on now. Since they've been on this pasture, it's interesting to note that their mineral consumption has dropped to nearly nothing.

Dan, I couldn't identify Y65R in the first picture, but this is definitely her (3rd from left) when they were hurryiing up to visit yesterday. She's always one of the leaders.

Yesterday, I was parked up on the road and the cows were all bedded in the bottom about 3/4 of a mile away. When I called, it didn't take long for them to get up and come running to see what I was up to and a few of the leaders got a back scratch. I'm a firm believer in working cattle quietly, and this breed as a whole is sure conducive to that type of management with their generally docile nature. I have a few cows of another breed that will be going to town tomorrow, as I am no longer confident in my ability to out run them at calving time!

Beautiful cattle and beautiful country!

Thanks JTM. Yes, if looking at beautiful country with beautiful cattle were only a source of income, I would be a very wealthy man!

That's an impressive looking group. Obviously well managed....very professional.  What a great way to promote the Shorthorn breed. Wouldn't matter if you are a purebred or commercial producer. Those images would impress!

Was out checking things at dusk last night.....foggy and wet. This is an April 2 year old Shorthorn that calved a month ago. She's got a real nice HD Swagger heifer calf at side. Hasn't seen grain since in over a year and even then only very little. About as easy doing as they come. Her Dam was the Sonny Charm female that was reserve at NAILE as a calf. She's sired by Asset. Purchased from Greenhorn's in OH as a calf.....wish we could have more like her!

another shot

Very impressive Ralph,I really appreciate the uniformity.

I rarely post - but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to say what a BEAUTIFUL herd, in an equally beautiful setting!

We were in Missoula the second week of sept and now I really regret not getting ahold of you to look.

Great pictures Ralph , that is sure a nice pen of heifers you got there.

kiblercattle said:

We were in Missoula the second week of sept and now I really regret not getting ahold of you to look.

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It would have been nice to get acquainted! The latchkey is always out if you get back this way.

coyote said:

Great pictures Ralph , that is sure a nice pen of heifers you got there.

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Thanks Scot! After a couple years of sending heifers to thrive between here and the North Pole, it appears several of the heifers (and a 1/2 brother) will have the opportunity to digest some mid-west fescue in the near future. You folks going to make it down to try out the local ski areas this year? 

caledon101 said:

Was out checking things at dusk last night.....foggy and wet. This is an April 2 year old Shorthorn that calved a month ago. She's got a real nice HD Swagger heifer calf at side. Hasn't seen grain since in over a year and even then only very little. About as easy doing as they come. Her Dam was the Sonny Charm female that was reserve at NAILE as a calf. She's sired by Asset. Purchased from Greenhorn's in OH as a calf.....wish we could have more like her!

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Notice the difference in how this cow carries her fat compared to how the ones pictured above do.  This cow has fat deposits as opposed to the evenly laid cover of easier doing genetics. She's a good looking cow but it's worth pointing out that this cows genetics would also suggest the same fleshing ability indicators evident in the photo. 

Sorry, I have to disagree with you. I am skeptical as to how you can make such a detailed assessment only from viewing a couple of pictures.
Any female of any breed that can remain in good flesh on pasture alone 30 days after calving as a 2 year old is by definition easy doing. 

XBAR, I have been confused lately about "easy doing" and "easy fleshing" and your remarks about fleshing ability get at what has been bothering me. 
I also have a first calf 2 year old heifer, pictured with a little bull that was breeding her right on time, 6 weeks after she calved.  She has lots of milk and the calf is growing really well, but see how she has so much fat in her brisket?  Overall, she just looks fat in a way that seems odd given that she has a new calf and is just grazing on rough pasture.  These animals never get anything other than grass. Our grass is good this year, but it's just grass, weeds and goldenrod, not timothy or clover, and it's not an intensive situation where they are always getting the top 2". 
The idea of some animals laying on fat instead of flesh is something I have just begun to understand.  A Bonsma type female would be sharp fronted, but fat as this female is, she apparently is fertile.  Are you indicating that this tendency to lay on fat is heritable and the dressing percentage of her (or her type) offspring may be disappointing?  I'm not sure what you mean, but I'm very interested in the line of thought. Thanks.

You can take this as constructive or you can get defensive but the protruding pones around the cow's tail while having little fat cover over her ribs is what I based my assessment off of.

You can't make a blanket statement about 2yr olds,30days after calving, on pasture alone, and not recognize that 'pasture' holds no universal definition. 

XBAR....we all understand that pasture quantity, quality and composition varies from farm to farm and from region to region. The non reliance upon feed concentrates to maintain good condition through gestation and early lactation is the point being made here.
We have enjoyed excellent conditions this year and have an abundance of pasture.

Nothing more reassuring to me than images of animals that are obviously being well cared for. In the world of close  public scrutiny that we as livestock producers now live in, any opportunity we have to project positive animal care images is important.