"easy doing" maine genetics?

[TYD]

Ok frostback thanks for clearing that up I was not trying to start anything just trying to see where you were coming from and I agree those are the lead bulls in the breed just was not sure how old you were considering old genetics and in this racket 10 years would fit the bill ones that I have not used yet but would like to try are also open bar gucci and gvc special delivery

 

[kfacres]

Big boned and easy doing seem to be antagonistic traits.  My observation is that it is a fairly rare animal that is big boned and it still easy doing.  We have a Mainetainer cow by Irish Whiskey and out of a Paramont Ambush cow that is big framed and easy keeping, but she is the exception.  Strangely, despite her pedigree, she milks about like a heatwave, which could contribute to her easy doing.  Seems that if the cows are half Angus they are quite a bit softer looking in feedlot and pasture and have better performance on feed.

the freaky, big boned ones- don't last very long around our place- even though they are cool to look at- most stay around for 2 or 3 births.  It's the fine, to average boned ones that last the longest-- and make the best broodies- and live to be 10 plus.

 

[AAOK]

I know those of us trying to raise a maine show heifer use creep and I have been known to even add some grain to cows from time to time to try to keep condition up... my question is ...
are there Maine families that can maintain  good condition and raise a 600 pound calf  .. then breed back all on grass,grass hay  and some protein supplement from tubs or liquid?
I don't think beef cows should need alfalfa or grain supplement

I copied this from a post by DL, so make sure she gets the credit.  These bulls are listed in a good order, but I might move Strutt up a notch or two.  Put these on your newer genetics and plan to say WOW!

Purebred bulls that make great cows
FR Magic
DF Midas
Poplar Hvn Smithbilt

Streamliner (Twin Creek Etulason) is a big red real world performance fullblood bull - also sire of Power Plant

Ferris Ranch Strutt (Cunia grandson) sires bigger framed, narrower, pretty females making really good cows

Pistol Pete also made some really good cows, as did his DJ Bullseye - although he was not terribly consistent

There are also some fairly well known older cow families - DMCC Beauty & Dancer families, K&A Carlene, LLND Ashley, Dejongs had a great cow whose name I don't remember right now; Wise's had some exceptional cow families ZTA Black Ruby 224X and ZTA Lucy come to mind

 

[OH Breeder]

I have some Pistol Pete. Just don't know what kinda cow he'd work on today? More moderate female?

 

[JimF]

Pistol Pete means probably excess white on many and not so great rib shape - females with poor teat and udder quality that don't last very long as long-term fertility is also an issue - there are many better options including Maine Break and Witch Doctor and Dr. Who - probably would be easier to look outside the breed - frankly the breed moved toward the show ring in recent years, not for easy keeping production cows IMO - how many commercial Maine bulls do you see anywhere used by folks that make a living from cows?  that alone tells you something.

 

[kfacres]

I know those of us trying to raise a maine show heifer use creep and I have been known to even add some grain to cows from time to time to try to keep condition up... my question is ...
are there Maine families that can maintain  good condition and raise a 600 pound calf  .. then breed back all on grass,grass hay  and some protein supplement from tubs or liquid?
I don't think beef cows should need alfalfa or grain supplement

I copied this from a post by DL, so make sure she gets the credit.  These bulls are listed in a good order, but I might move Strutt up a notch or two.  Put these on your newer genetics and plan to say WOW!

Purebred bulls that make great cows
FR Magic
DF Midas
Poplar Hvn Smithbilt

Streamliner (Twin Creek Etulason) is a big red real world performance fullblood bull - also sire of Power Plant

Ferris Ranch Strutt (Cunia grandson) sires bigger framed, narrower, pretty females making really good cows

Pistol Pete also made some really good cows, as did his DJ Bullseye - although he was not terribly consistent

There are also some fairly well known older cow families - DMCC Beauty & Dancer families, K&A Carlene, LLND Ashley, Dejongs had a great cow whose name I don't remember right now; Wise's had some exceptional cow families ZTA Black Ruby 224X and ZTA Lucy come to mind

Ferris Strutt-- is that the triple bred Cunia deal?  The AMAA listes his color as other: would that have be roan-- and is this the same Joe Farris who was big into shorthorns?

 

[AAOK]

Ferris Strutt-- is that the triple bred Cunia deal?  Yes The AMAA listes his color as other: would that have be roan Solid Black and is this the same Joe Farris Glen Ferris who was big into shorthorns?

 

[kfacres]

Ferris Strutt-- is that the triple bred Cunia deal?  Yes The AMAA listes his color as other: would that have be roan Solid Black and is this the same Joe Farris Glen Ferris who was big into shorthorns?

Registration #: Name: Sex: DOB: Maine %: Color:
118925  FERRIS RCH STRUTT  B 09/25/1986 90.63 O  SOLID BLACK is an "O" for color-- wouldn't that mean "Other".

relation of the Ferris', or is it spelled different?

 

[wyatt]

Read my post again and I told you what I wanted Maine genetics for. I just dont see it in the newer bulls. Now the bulls mentioned like Ali, Hardcore, Hard Drive. will lets see Ali 2002 model makes him 10 years. Hardcore 9 years, Hard Drive 2005 son of Hardcore. Witch Doctor is a 1992. I-80 youngest mentioned but goes back to Ali and Hardcore. Where are the newer genetics that will do what I need and want?  Just not seeing anything new that does this anymore. Maybe I am not looking hard enough.

i think the new bull your going to want is hard whiskey but he also goes back to those older bulls

 

[DL]

I know those of us trying to raise a maine show heifer use creep and I have been known to even add some grain to cows from time to time to try to keep condition up... my question is ...
are there Maine families that can maintain  good condition and raise a 600 pound calf  .. then breed back all on grass,grass hay  and some protein supplement from tubs or liquid?
I don't think beef cows should need alfalfa or grain supplement

I copied this from a post by DL, so make sure she gets the credit.  These bulls are listed in a good order, but I might move Strutt up a notch or two.  Put these on your newer genetics and plan to say WOW!

Purebred bulls that make great cows
FR Magic
DF Midas
Poplar Hvn Smithbilt

Streamliner (Twin Creek Etulason) is a big red real world performance fullblood bull - also sire of Power Plant

Ferris Ranch Strutt (Cunia grandson) sires bigger framed, narrower, pretty females making really good cows

Pistol Pete also made some really good cows, as did his DJ Bullseye - although he was not terribly consistent

There are also some fairly well known older cow families - DMCC Beauty & Dancer families, K&A Carlene, LLND Ashley, Dejongs had a great cow whose name I don't remember right now; Wise's had some exceptional cow families ZTA Black Ruby 224X and ZTA Lucy come to mind

Ferris Strutt-- is that the triple bred Cunia deal?  The AMAA listes his color as other: would that have be roan-- and is this the same Joe Farris who was big into shorthorns?

Thanks AAOK -

I am not at all enamored with the new Maine bulls, actually any of the new Maine bulls - all I see is black hairy big butted bulls that maybe can't walk and have few if any maternal characteristics; unfortunately I think in general the Maines have run their course and it was of their own doing - so in that regard I agree with JimF. There is not a new Maine bull I would consider using and have started using Red Angus bulls because I am interested in producing fertile, functional cows with a great approach to life

I am still a big fan of FR  Magic - unfortunately, this years Magic turned out to be a bull calf - now a steer - Magic will throw color, mostly sox, spot on head and occasional midline white spot - the Magic cows are exceptional females and phenotypically very pleasing to look at with great temperament - My Magics are easy keeping, but they are bigger cows and tend to have a lot of bone

Midas is a great female maker - he is homozygous black and horned - my Midas cattle and all the Midas females I have seen are exceptionally easy keeping - the bull was bred by Flying Dutchman in Iowa and used extensively by Wise's in Alberta (http://www.wisemaines.com) - I would love a herd of Midas females

FR Strutt - bull was one of the 1st black "pretty" Maine Anjou - cows were bigger and what I didn't like about my Strutts was their attitude - he was a black bull, however his mother was "other colored" Glen Ferris of OK bought the cow (as I recall) and the bull was owned by the FR Syndicate - the Strutts were good cows but not easy keeping. Glen Ferris died way too young

The Witch Doctor although an old bull is one I still use - I like his females a lot (out of Maine cows) - mine are easy keepers, fertile, nice udders, with good feet and legs - he carries red

A Maine bull I really like is for females is Topper - another older bull who flies under the radar - females are calm, easy doing, fertile with nice udders and big feet

I do like some of my Impacts - out of a Witch Doctor cow the Impacts are moderate, easy fleshing, and appealing - however out of bigger Maine cows they are not so easy keeping

I liked the Pistol Pete female I saw and or preg checked and didn't notice the udder or fertility issues mentioned - unfortunately the Pete calves I had were all male. He does throw color. Maine Break is a Pete son out of a Streamline grand daughter - he is 25% Angus

Many of the bulls mentioned as good maternal bulls are actually 25% or more something else - Dr Who 3/8th Maine, Taz 50% Maine,

Of the Maine bulls listed Strutt, Witch Doctor and Topper are available at a reasonable price - Magic and Midas are hard to find and expensive



this is kind of interesting ....Beef Cattle Registrations

The National Pedigreed Livestock Council (NPLC) has released the most recent annual registry numbers of their member beef breed associations, reports Stephen Hammack, professor and extension beef cattle specialist emeritus in his January Beef Cattle Browsing newsletter. Referencing NPLC’s 2011-2012 Annual report (available at www.nplc.net), Hammack reported the following annual registrations:

Angus 282,911
Hereford 64,907
Simmental 49,000
Red Angus 46,094
Gelbvieh 34,963
Brangus 24,843
Limousin 23,716
Beefmaster 16,000
Shorthorn 14,653
Brahman 9,300
Texas Longhorn 8,400
Maine-Anjou 8,359
Chianina 6,374
Salers 5,536
Santa Gertrudis 5,000

Note: Some associations are not members of NPLC, so their registrations do not show up here.

 

[sue]

This thread is interesting.  Thanks for the wise maines link..  I dont breed Maine but if you dont mind could you post a picture with the name of the "easy doing" maine bulls..  Just trying to learn.

The  Registration link was very interesting.  More then likely all breeds have suffered in numbers? I thought Maine was closer to 12,000  and shorts were something 21,000 in recent years.  In 2007 Red Angus was approaching 40,000 and they show growth but not huge at 46,000?

 

[CAB]

This is JMO, but I think that the Habenero influenced Maines were & are harder doing/keeping type of Maines & can tend to be on the tubebier middled kind. It's hard to find any of today's popular bloodlines that get totally away from Habenero.

 

[jbzdad]

might look up DMCC diamond M cattle... picture there of bodybuilder.. I think Mark could still hook you up with some midas or magic etc ...

 

[AAOK]

Ferris Strutt-- is that the triple bred Cunia deal?  Yes The AMAA listes his color as other: would that have be roan Solid Black and is this the same Joe Farris Glen Ferris who was big into shorthorns?

Registration #: Name: Sex: DOB: Maine %: Color:
118925   FERRIS RCH STRUTT  B 09/25/1986 90.63 O  SOLID BLACK is an "O" for color-- wouldn't that mean "Other".

relation of the Ferris', or is it spelled different?

I don't know why the O is there.  I have seen the Bull.  He was Solid Black!!

 

[kfacres]

Ferris Strutt-- is that the triple bred Cunia deal?  Yes The AMAA listes his color as other: would that have be roan Solid Black and is this the same Joe Farris Glen Ferris who was big into shorthorns?

Registration #: Name: Sex: DOB: Maine %: Color:
118925   FERRIS RCH STRUTT  B 09/25/1986 90.63 O  SOLID BLACK is an "O" for color-- wouldn't that mean "Other".

relation of the Ferris', or is it spelled different?

I don't know why the O is there.  I have seen the Bull.  He was Solid Black!!

something useable by today's standards?  Most recently- had someone ask me-- and I thought he would be- even though I've never seen him- but figured that 3x Cunia would be worth keeping daughters from.

 

[AAOK]

I have stolen another line from DL - Glen Ferris died way too young

For our younger audience and even those with some years - Glen Ferris got our family into Show Calves, and somehow conviced me to take off to Karney, NE in the Summer of 1991 for the Nat'l Jr Maine-Anjou show.  We had two skinny, young heifers, a 15' bumper trailer, a pair of clippers, and a few Show Supplies.  We had plenty of help, and got along just fine, placing 11 out of 12 and dead last.  Our girls competed in several events, and had a great time
Glen was quite typical of a farmin' guy in that he always had a big dip of Skoal between cheek and gum.   By the time Oklahoma hosted the National Show in 1993, Glen and I were very close, and he had confided in me a couple months before that he had Throat Cancer.  Glen had to go to the hospital before the Junior week finished, and passed away shortly after.  Glen was 43 at the time of his death.  Guys, you may think tobacco is cool, or makes you look like a Stud. SOONER OR LATER, IT WILL KILL YOU!!

 

[jbzdad]

kinda makes me want to hug my family a little harder tonight... probably puts  our priorities a little in order

 

[dlc]

so what is everyone's thoughts on going back to witch doctor on hfrs. I know he's not all maine but I think foreplay makes great cows that may not look easy keeping, but they are for me. there are a few other older bulls that need mentioned, CKS  CHAMP and CIGAR,

 

[DL]

so what is everyone's thoughts on going back to witch doctor on hfrs. I know he's not all maine but I think foreplay makes great cows that may not look easy keeping, but they are for me. there are a few other older bulls that need mentioned, CKS  CHAMP and CIGAR,

The Witch Doctor is considered a purebred (87.5%) and I have used him on purebred Maine heifers with much success - he is certainly a bull who has stood the test of time - I have a WD bred heifer due soon and her full sib was to go to the MI Beef Expo but was bought off the farm...