How do you determine Donor material?

Help Support Steer Planet:

buckeye

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2008
Messages
645
Location
clarington, ohio
You see in sale books that certain lots say future donor. Was just wondering how each of you determine if one is donor material?
 

BTDT

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 26, 2013
Messages
443
Some consider a "donor female" anything can is not bred and is being sold, or that can not raise their own calf due to lack of milking ability or bad mothering ability or unable to carry of pregnancy.  That is why I wish that more breed associations would offer the ability to look up offspring of a female.  When I see "donor potential" listed in a sale catalog, my first thought is "she did not get bred even though we tried", or her natural calves are poor due to milking ability.  I ask a lot of questions, and even though I may not get an honest answer, I can usually tell the true story. 

I personally consider "donor quality" a female that has at LEAST 4 calves that are of superior quality. 

I personally would NEVER flush an unproven female (heifer). 

I think probably 60% of the cows being flushed probably shouldn't be. I also think about 80% of the bulls that are being collected and sold as AI bulls shouldn't be either. 
 

mark tenenbaum

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 23, 2009
Messages
5,765
Location
Virginia Sometimes Iowa and Kansas
Ill flush a good one-given I know thier background-a great one is a great one-and waiting for 3-4 calves is a waste of time-NOBODY hits it ET everytime 100% of the time either-you gotta pay to play-and if the first doesnt succeed-you try other matings. O0
 

dimebag

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
810
Location
Texas
I make the decision to flush a cow based on several things : 1 , she has proven herself to me 2 , proven cow families (the heifer calves are keepers) 3 , has the look and power generate the good ones .
 

BroncoFan

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 24, 2013
Messages
552
I think "donor potential" gets thrown around too loosely. IMO a cow has to produce some great calves to be considered as a donor.  If I have a cow that really clicked with a certain bull then I might flush her to him but she wouldn't all of a sudden be considered a "donor cow." I believe some sellers just throw out "donor potential" as an attention getter.
 
Top