Udderly Important!

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Bulldaddy

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Joined
Oct 5, 2009
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1,131
Location
Valley Mills, Texas
Some say milk and good udders aren't important if you are raising show steers.  I have seen it stated from one very prominent steer guru that "it is not what they raise but what they produce that is most important."  I assume that by "produce" he meant the quality steers that are produced through embryo  transplant.  Coming from the purebred Simmental side of the equation,  I have always selected for maternal traits.  I am curious what other Steer Planet members have to say on the subject?
 

dimebag

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Joined
Apr 21, 2008
Messages
810
Location
Texas
I also came from the purebred side of cattle to develop my club calf herd and place a lot of importance on females that milk . I use bulls that can sire both good steers and keeping heifers .
 

cowboy_nyk

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Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
658
Location
Manitoba, Canada
I absolutely agree that milf and fertility are important and should be one of the very first factors when deciding on replacements.

The problem with most clubby bulls is there is no data collected.  The only info you can get is anecdotal at best.  No weaning weights = no milk number.  No scrotal measurements = fertility???.  Very tough to breed and select females strategically that way.
 

RyanChandler

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Jul 6, 2011
Messages
3,457
Location
Pottsboro, TX
Maternal traits are antagonistic to the traits desired in show steers.  I personally think sloppy udders are an embarrassment but I can see how those raising show calves can overlook it when they're weaning calves at 100 days old.  The next 100 days after that is when the cows maternal quality becomes really paramount.
 

Mainevent

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Joined
Mar 27, 2010
Messages
893
Location
Decatur Texas
Like xbar said I have two cows that have some god awful udders but all they have to do is produce colostrum and milk for 100-150 days and the calf is weaned and on show feed.
 

cowboy_nyk

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Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
658
Location
Manitoba, Canada
-XBAR- said:
cowboy_nyk said:
No scrotal measurements = fertility???. 

Is scrotal measurement an indicator of fertility or age of puberty?

From what I have read there is a very high positive correlation between scrotal circumference and fertility.  This stays true to a point then tapers off at more extreme measurements.  I don't disagree with you that it also measures the speed of maturation of the bulls as well, which is also a desirable trait in my opinion.

Some breeds have a heifer pregnancy and/or a stayability EPD that would ~directly measure fertility in females but I am not familiar with the details.
 
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