Fall season in the Bitterroot Valley

Help Support Steer Planet:

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
I haven't had a chance to look at SP at all this summer. Fall is a great time of year for me as the pace slows a bit! I was able to take the video camera out yesterday and capture the bull calves on pasture. We haven't had any rain to speak of this summer. The irrigation pumps (and the "irrigator") worked a lot of overtime! The calves have been on good pasture since weaning a bit over a month ago, which is how long the pumps have been off also.

I never get tired of the view here! It's always changing. It was pretty strange weather the other night. When we went to bed at 10:30 p.m. the temperature was 80 degrees and very windy here in the valley. It was 71 at 5:00 a.m. with a fresh dusting of snow on the mountains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0BB_CsDSxo
 

GM

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
248
Location
Indiana
Awesome video!  Your bulls look great.  Thanks for sharing.  Talk about uniform!  They look like they're all cut from the same clothe.  I'm guessing majority are sons of your leaders bull.
 

Mill Iron A

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 12, 2011
Messages
516
I wish shorthorns looked like this throughout the breed. They would be more worth using. Especially on Red Angus!
 

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
Thanks for the comments! We select for cattle from "the ground up", placing more emphasis on structural soundness, udder quality, and function than we do for  performance. 5 of the calves in the video are from Coalpit Creek Leader 6th and 7 are from a home raised bull (YY105U) that saw commercial service for 3 years and then we bought him back. His dam is still producing the good ones here at 14 years. I like uniformity and the offspring from these two sires are difficult to tell apart without reading the tags. The overall actual BW average on this group was just over 87 lbs. and the 205 day weights were north of 725 lbs on mama's milk and grass. I was pleased with that. We do run on mostly irrigated pasture so that sure helps with the fall weights. We live in a 11" rainfall area so even the "wet" years are pretty dry. These calves will be going to the University of Idaho research facility near Salmon, ID next month to be grown out and tested using the "Grow Safe" system over the winter.

We're off to the NILE in Billings tomorrow as we have a pen of bred heifers in the Commercial Pen Show. Pretty sure they'll be the only Shorthorns there. This commercial pen show suits me fine, as there is no washing or clipping allowed. You just bring them off pasture, load 'em up and haul them in to their pen. They show the next day and are free to come home afterward.

I'm pasting a link to another video I took yesterday. The scenery isn't as nice but it's a little closer to the bulls.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2d95mhpWro

 

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
We got back from the NILE last night. We didn't place real high in the Commercial Heifer Pen show, but we did meet a lot of nice folks and had a great time! We did have a lot of favorable comments and quite a lot of interest for function oriented cattle.

Sorry for the late reply GM, but this is YY Gus' Double 105U. We select our herd bulls based primarily on maternal function. I won't use a bull unless I really like his dam and have heard (or seen for myself) good things about females in the paternal lineage. His nickname was "Droop". The kids named him that because his ear suspension muscles were damaged after years of bull battles. He went to town a couple weeks ago due to the fact that once he had his 60 cows settled the past couple years, a fence couldn't hold him and he would be off in search of more. Our Vet was amazed at the semen quality during his annual BSE. He will leave us another good 2016 calf crop. His weight was 2,300 lbs across the sale barn scale. He was a frame score larger than Coalpit Creek Leader 6th, but of similar body type. I am pleased with the blend of the two bulls' offspring.
DSC_0126.jpg
 

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
As long as I've had to relearn how to post pictures, I thought I'd share another one I found in the file. I really get a kick out of this little cow. She's an "Easy" daughter and her dam  is out of Diamond Baroness 21J. The old Baroness cow was purchased as a calf by a breeder in Washington State. I was able to purchase her when they disbursed. The old Diamond (Okotoks) cow has had a significant genetic impact on our herd and will continue to do so through our AI use of her DRC101VM sired son.

This little cow is easy to handle, but she's not a pet. It is a sure bet that when I'm out walking through the cows, she will be near by wherever I go and keeping an eye on me to see what I'm up to. She is one of my first "Easy" daughters and will turn 5 this coming spring. She sure knows her job and does it extremely well. I have a sneaking suspicion that she thinks she should be running the outfit. (She may be right)!

I sincerely doubt this cow weights much more than 1,150 as pictured. Last February, she birthed this YY105U calf unassisted and unobserved on pasture. He had nursed and was all cleaned up when I found him during the night check. This steer calf weighed an even 100 lbs at birth and was horned, so we banded him at branding time. My point is that cows like this make money. Due to her size, her maintenance requirements are less, plus she has the ability to birth and take care of a large calf with no interference needed. Horned genetics have become almost taboo to much of the beef industry. My feelings are that I can sure put up with de-horning a few if everything else is right. You can't see it in the picture, but this cow has a small picture perfect udder. This calf's adj. 205 day weight was 762 lbs. (735 on weaning day). So, even if she weighed 1,250 she still weaned 61% of her body weight. We used 171Y's (polled) full brother as clean-up on his paternal 1/2 sisters this year. So...I guess we'll see!

DSC_0155.jpg
 

r.n.reed

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2008
Messages
611
Very impressive Ralph.The uniformity of those bull calves shouts out focused, planned and disciplined breeding program.
The picture of the pair plainly states PROFIT and the data backs it up.Even more amazing is the fact that these results were achieved without the benefits of hybrid vigor.
I think % of cow weight weaned is a much more valuable measurement than weaning weight when looking to build or estimate profit potential in a cow herd.
Great program Ralph !
 

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
Thanks Gary. I’m pretty sure you agree that once a breeders’ desired type of Bovine is developed, line-breeding should be a tool used to firmly “fix” these desirable traits in place for genetic predictability. When these strains are crossed with other predictable “genetically fixed” lines, the Heterosis effect should be significant yet remain predictable for quality. Father Time is not my friend!
 

Okotoks

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 17, 2010
Messages
3,083
RedBulls said:
As long as I've had to relearn how to post pictures, I thought I'd share another one I found in the file. I really get a kick out of this little cow. She's an "Easy" daughter and her dam  is out of Diamond Baroness 21J. The old Baroness cow was purchased as a calf by a breeder in Washington State. I was able to purchase her when they disbursed. The old Diamond (Okotoks) cow has had a significant genetic impact on our herd and will continue to do so through our AI use of her DRC101VM sired son.

This little cow is easy to handle, but she's not a pet. It is a sure bet that when I'm out walking through the cows, she will be near by wherever I go and keeping an eye on me to see what I'm up to. She is one of my first "Easy" daughters and will turn 5 this coming spring. She sure knows her job and does it extremely well. I have a sneaking suspicion that she thinks she should be running the outfit. (She may be right)!

I sincerely doubt this cow weights much more than 1,150 as pictured. Last February, she birthed this YY105U calf unassisted and unobserved on pasture. He had nursed and was all cleaned up when I found him during the night check. This steer calf weighed an even 100 lbs at birth and was horned, so we banded him at branding time. My point is that cows like this make money. Due to her size, her maintenance requirements are less, plus she has the ability to birth and take care of a large calf with no interference needed. Horned genetics have become almost taboo to much of the beef industry. My feelings are that I can sure put up with de-horning a few if everything else is right. You can't see it in the picture, but this cow has a small picture perfect udder. This calf's adj. 205 day weight was 762 lbs. (735 on weaning day). So, even if she weighed 1,250 she still weaned 61% of her body weight. We used 171Y's (polled) full brother as clean-up on his paternal 1/2 sisters this year. So...I guess we'll see!

DSC_0155.jpg
Here is another Baroness by Diamond Prophecy 21P. She is a May 2, 2013 heifer with her February 26, 2015 bull calf by Eionmor Piper 23Z. On Sept 16 she weighed 1007 and her bull calf weighed 566 at 200 days.(56.2%) The roan yearling is out of Diamond Baroness 21J's maternal sister.
 

Attachments

  • rsz_1rsz_1rsz_56a.jpg
    rsz_1rsz_1rsz_56a.jpg
    26.8 KB · Views: 755
  • diamond_baroness_3b.jpg
    diamond_baroness_3b.jpg
    455 KB · Views: 163

RyanChandler

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Messages
3,457
Location
Pottsboro, TX
RedBulls said:
Thanks Gary. I’m pretty sure you agree that once a breeders’ desired type of Bovine is developed, line-breeding should be a tool used to firmly “fix” these desirable traits in place for genetic predictability. When these strains are crossed with other predictable “genetically fixed” lines, the Heterosis effect should be significant yet remain predictable for quality. Father Time is not my friend!

(thumbsup)

 

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
Technically, it's still fall so I thought I'd share a link to a video of the heifer mates of the bulls at the first of this post. We've really warmed up here the past few days after having about 10 days of 0 to +15 degrees. We had a little snow, but the heavy rain last night pretty well took care of that!

These heifers have been on pasture only since weaning but have been supplemented with grass hay now that winter is almost here. They will winter on hay, salt, mineral, and creek water as they begin their education into becoming cows.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggJUm3Y5STA
 

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
3 Eagles shorthorns said:
AWESOME (clapping)set of bulls your raising in the valley of my ancestors.

Thanks 3 Eagles! Hope you can make it down to the Valley of your Ancestors to stop in for a visit.
 

librarian

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2013
Messages
1,629
Location
Knox County Nebraska
Are some of the 2015 heifers sired by 105U?
If so, the uniformity is a real education about using convergent phenotypes from different bloodlines to fix type.
Also an education about the rewards of moving forward and breeding clean offspring from potential carriers.
 

Attachments

  • wp_ss_20151209_0003.png
    wp_ss_20151209_0003.png
    607.2 KB · Views: 161
  • wp_ss_20151208_0003.png
    wp_ss_20151208_0003.png
    184.7 KB · Views: 177
  • C__Data_Users_DefApps_Windows Phone_AppData_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved Images_Coalpit Creek L...JPG
    C__Data_Users_DefApps_Windows Phone_AppData_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved Images_Coalpit Creek L...JPG
    103.2 KB · Views: 166
  • wp_ss_20151209_0002.png
    wp_ss_20151209_0002.png
    165.4 KB · Views: 179

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
librarian said:
Are some of the 2015 heifers sired by 105U?
If so, the uniformity is a real education about using convergent phenotypes from different bloodlines to fix type.
Also an education about the rewards of moving forward and breeding clean offspring from potential carriers.

Yes, Librarian. Several of the heifers are by YY105U. Without seeing the tags though, it's hard to pick them out. I agree that good cattle can be found in the "carrier" population.
 
J

JTM

Guest
Very nice group of bulls Ralph! Really like their volume of rib, head shape, and how uniform the group is. Would love to know how the genetics are quality and yield grading.
 

RedBulls

Well-known member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
134
Location
Montana
JTM said:
Very nice group of bulls Ralph! Really like their volume of rib, head shape, and how uniform the group is. Would love to know how the genetics are quality and yield grading.

Josh, I don't have much actual carcass data as we've always sold the steers after weaning. I dug through some files and found a couple of sheets from the kids' 4-H Steers of Merit. I would imagine that the criteria for SOM's are pretty much the same across the country. Montana uses the following:
Carcass Wght- 650-950 lbs.
Dressing % 55-68
REA less than 17.5 inches
Back Fat 0.25-0.60 inches
YG-<2.99
QG- Choice minus or higher
Cutability- greater than 51%
No dark cutters

My son had three SOM's over the years. My daughter had one. I could only find data on my sons from 2012. He was 26th out of 110 head State wide that qualified for SOM.
This steer's stats were: 1,380 live weight, 812 lbs. hanging carcass weight; Dressing %58.84; Back fat .40; KPH 3.5 ; REA-15.9; YG-2.20; Quality Grade Ch; % cutability was 51.63%

A good bull customer shared this less detailed data from a couple years ago. These were from his home grown cattle which are grade purebred Shorthorns. He feeds several pens of cattle at Cozad, NE every year. These Shorthorns were only on feed for 159 days.
The steers weighed 705 going in and weighed 1,328 out. ADG was 3.9 lbs. Dry Feed Conversion was 6.04; average Yield was 65.71. They were all boxed for export, so no QG was done. Historically, he says his cattle have graded 90% -CH or better.
Heifers went in at 613 lbs and out at 1,187 lbs. DFC was the same and they actually yielded a bit better than the steers at 66.24. They were also boxed for export.
 
J

JTM

Guest
This next year you should think about getting a group of steers to the Tri County Steer Carcass Futurity in Gregory, Iowa. We need to get as many of these quality real world Shorthorns' data as we possibly can. The Commercial industry is demanding it from us along with calving ease and birthweights below 90 lbs. before they consider Shorthorns in any significant numbers. That and calf health from calf vigor, high quality udders, and a good vaccination program. Again, love the bulls and what you guys are doing out there! Have a great Christmas!
 

librarian

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 26, 2013
Messages
1,629
Location
Knox County Nebraska
After doing my homework, this is the bull calf (525C) I bought from YY. One of those in the video.
I chose him for a balance of marbling and maternal. I was surprised at the similarity in body type between him and the Shorthorn x Galloway bull calf I've been raising (4 months younger)
I really need to sell the Galloway X now, so if anyone is setting up on a Galloway% or ready for an F2 cross let me know.
Yes...a mongrel but they have their purpose.

The disposition on the YY bull is terrific.
 

Attachments

  • WP_20151209_12_20_50_Pro.jpg
    WP_20151209_12_20_50_Pro.jpg
    696.1 KB · Views: 194
Top