Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

Two March yearling Shorthorn bulls . Top one is a Coalpit Creek son 77lb bw out of a first calf heifer. Second is a Cabrera son 102lb Bw from a proven Betsy cow. Both fed with hay and oats since weaning. What are your thoughts?

Russ

The lighter BW bull is deeper, looks to be better conditioned, but doesn't look very expressive. Maybe a picture from behind would show him with a bit more muscle?

I think the bigger BW bull definitely has the advantage in muscle shape, but is a little tight ribbed. Not sure I would use him with the 102 lb BW though.

Id want to see the low bw bull from behind-if he doesnt have any butt-i wouldnt have kept him a bull-the Roan is way more attractive in type, muscle expression-and everything else.Again-you are in Canada-so if his BW works up there-so will he. JMO hes better to me than Cabrera- thicker to me than Cabrera and deeper ribbed-and most likely bigger butt

I just had to wade through the muck and try to get a picture from behind lol

Based on pics, will choice the roan.
What is the SC each one?

Depends what the purpose is.  As with all designs, each has their own strengths and limitations.  I'd use the the maternally bred leader 6th son myself as he exhibits more of the characteristics I associate with strengths of the shorthorn breed. The Cabrera son's bw alone would exclude him from my consideration  but he does look to be a pretty powerful bull - his design in general is more along the lines of what I want to see in a Charolais.  That thickness from behind that Mark always wants to see is a maternal antagonism. His strengths are more suited for those seeking to inject some terminal traits into a market bound calf crop whereas, if taking home the daughters, I'd take the leader 6th son every time.

Good example, Mark.. If you prefer cows like that, make sure the environment is so that the nutritional quality of the forage is good enough, as it appears to be here, for the calf to do most of its raising itself!

Just imagine how big that calf would be if her type had the ability to convert all that pone fat into milk hahaha