Just a bull calf , to keep or not to keep ???

Ive got this halfblood simmy , quarter maine , quarter angus mid march bull calf im thinking of keeping back. His dam has been a great cow for me over the years , she goes back to Draft Pick and 6807 on the bottom side. She hurt her right front shoulder last winter and never truely came out of it so this bull calf is kinda my last chance out of her. Shes rope necked , square hipped , picture perfect udder , and the best disposition on the place. Not the greatest pictures as they are in the rough but this bull calf is long and stout. Came off momma over 800lbs ! Keep him and try him or ship him and forget about it ???  First pic is a couple weeks old , then after weaning , and last a pic of momma.

I dont know what his birthweight was but if its not too high i would think you could sell a black bull with that kind of performance.  He doesnt wow me with muscle expression but he should add some payweight to a set of calves.

Thanks for posting , he was 86 lbs at birth. I wish i would have taken a picture of him before weaning , he has been living on cornstalks and little grain as you can see lol ! If i were selling him for sure he would definitely get more to eat.

if you have to ask.. then more than likely he needs cut.

ALTSIMMY79
I guess I would want to know if hes a PHC first coming from Draft Pic. If he was there would be no question in my mind, I would cut him. That is one genetic defect I think is hard to work around, unless you are extremely diligent in checking you cattle. If you plan on using him as clean up bull all the cows in your herd would have to be checked if he is a carrier.
On the performance end, I think that is great. That is what raising these beast are all about. BUT if you are working in the club arena and raising show cattle this might not work for that group. He might have too much performance for show cattle. I know that sounds off, but the cows that perform like that for us raise some of my best freezer beef. The calves never make show calves usually because they are too big in the fall for our area for county fairs. If he is hitting scale at 800#'s in 6-7 months. at a year he should be at 1100-1200 on feed. If you have a market for calves in that finish in March or April then he might work for you. So this may not help and you may think I am crazy.
First things first get a blood test on him for PHA.

Mr Negativity I think you should have been cut ! But thanks to the rest for the input , yes I will have to test him for sure.

AS I read down the posting and run into one that kinda made me think ( give me a break mister ) and got to your reply  ALTSIMMY ,THAT IS A VERY SUTLE AND ADEQUATE  REPLY ....

Back to the cattle ,I had same questions as the two posts on birth and pha ...  Otherwise I think calf is real green yet and has done well for his circumstances
,cow has also done well for her problems,liked her structure though and think calf sure could help some people as and alround bull ....

Your a wise man Freddy. Yes I agree he's green yet , not pushed at all. And yes his mother did an excellent job bringing in a heavy calf despite her problems getting around. She got shoved and went down hard right when our first major ice hit the lots. Thanks

ALTSIMMY 79 said:

Mr Negativity I think you should have been cut ! But thanks to the rest for the input , yes I will have to test him for sure.

Click to expand...

IF you don't want to know the honest truth... don't ask.. simple as that...

Dude, dude, dude, "if you have to ask.. then more than likely he needs cut" How is that a truth? A saying, a quote, an ignorant rant, No real meat and potatoes to as why he should be cut. Again you have not really helped them out just came off as Donkey hind end, again.

Some people are aware that they can come down with a case of barn blindness, others are more critical of their own livestock, by asking for others opinions, they will either confirm their own thoughts or find out they may be way off on their evaluation of the animal. That is why they ask, and some just flat out know that animal is good and want to brag with out it looking that way. (got no problem with that either)

I think he would make some excellent replacements, bred to the right cows, used as cows or as recips they should be able to raise a calf to it's potential. I would find a good market for the steers as feeders, someone would be happy to have them. I think for the next few years replacements are going to be in demand.

Vc much appreciated you nailed it right on the head , I'm way critical of my own calves. Never quite sure if they are the right kind especially this guy with his different breeding twist. I've liked him since he was born but once again that's just me lol.

He has a great top and lots of length. (thumbsup) Too bad it's her last calf.